48 Hours
With 48 hours to go here’s your latest statehouse update, more to follow later today so check back regularly.
4:35 p.m.
- The House has adjourned for the day. There is still no budget (although Speaker Bauer told me they are not that far apart), no UI bill passed nor a CIB plan. They have about 31 hours left to get all this done.
- Good luck.
4:15 p.m.
- The Senate has adjourned for the day, however Republicans are scheduled to caucus this evening.
- House members have just come back in session. There are dueling budget conference committee reports, one House D and one Senate R. The difference I am told is about $100 million.
- No one in the business community is happy with the UI bill.
- State Representative Jeff Espich is going over his plan for the CIB bailout with conference committee chair Phil GiaQuinta.
2:35 p.m.
This Can’t Be Good
- Just heard from a key lawmaker that things are spinning “wildly out of control” behind closed doors. Looks like they may go home tomorrow, but be back next week.
2:30 p.m.
CIB
- It looks like neither the Pacers nor Colts will offer up any contribution in the state CIB rescue plan. More to follow.
2:00 p.m.
Mythbusters
- The House is still out and the Senate Republicans are still in caucus so I thought I would take a few seconds and clear up a couple misconceptions.
- First, if lawmakers miss tomorrow’s deadline, they can still adjourn. The Governor would just call them back at a later date.
- Second, if there is no solution to the Unemployment problem, there will be NO FEDERAL TAKEOVER. Instead employers would lose a federal employment tax credit over time and the state would lose about $100 million in federal aid to run the UI program. At the end of four years this would cost the state about $900 million annually. It’s not pretty, but it’s not a federal takeover.
1:00 p.m.
Recess
- The House has adjounred until 3:30 p.m. (which means 4:15 p.m. our time) I’m hearing the Unemployment deal is not being well received over in the State Senate because it does not include any reduction in benefits for workers, but does increase taxes on businesses. Stay tuned.
11:35 a.m.
Unemployment Deal
- State Rep. David Niezgodski just told us press guys they reached a deal on the unemployment trust fund.
Budget
- We’re told a copy of the budget proposal should be up on the state’ website about noon.
11:05 a.m.
CIB Deal?
- Now I’m hearing a deal on the Capital Improvement Board may be worked out. Things are moving quickly.
10:50 a.m.
Budget Deal?
- My colleague Norm Cox at RTV 6 is reporting there are two versions of the budget floating out there right now. It’s just a matter of who signs on to what. Stay tuned.
10:15 a.m.
The Budget
- If there’s any question that Governor Mitch Daniels won’t veto a budget he finds unacceptable, check this out. In a meeting yesterday with lawmakers Daniels reportedly told them that he didn’t like what they presented, and although he only has one vote in the matter, that vote is a “no.”
CIB
- It looks like Circle Center Mall will be part of a new downtown sports district to help shore up the Capital Improvement Board operational shortfall, if lawmakers can figure out the language to do it. The Governor gave his blessing to the idea on Friday, but there are some technical glitches that need to be worked out.
- It also looks like there will definitely be a ticket tax increase as well, once again, it’s hammering out the technical details.
Unemployment Insurance
- From what I’ve been able to gather the two sides are at a virtual standstill. Democrats won’t budge on benefits and Republicans on business taxes. There had been some talk of toughening up eligibility requirements as a possible compromise, but so far all that is for now is talk.
Check back later today for more info.
