House Republicans make plans for upcoming year

The Indiana House Republicans are looking in a new direction this year. With the release of the 2004 legislative agenda and the State of the State address, Republicans of the Indiana House of Representatives will look to topics such as job creation, eliminating executive branch scandal, taxpayer protection and the state's budget problems.\nHouse Republican Leader Brian Bosma said the current economic situation in Indiana needs to be remedied.\n"The statistics are staggering," said Bosma. "We lag the nation in job growth and continue to lose our college graduates due to the absence of quality jobs ... this must change. Our economic growth plan will protect the recent achievements we have made and further the House Republican goal to create jobs."\nBosma attributes the dearth of jobs to the lack of business growth in recent years. Bosma also attributes the lack of economic growth to Indiana's infamous "brain drain."\n"When I grew up in Indiana, the state's number one exports were soy and corn," Bosma said. "Today the number one export is college graduates."\nIn a press release, House Republicans said they will propose a package of economic development proposals to stimulate job creation. Indiana has fallen from sixth in the nation in job creation in 1988, to 50th in 2000 and was ranked 50th in job growth in 2001.\nBosma said there is a need to attract employers and provide tax benefits to locate new businesses in Indiana. \n"We need to provide strong incentives for employers to locate in Indiana and expand their business. Only then will we have a strong environment that employees will want to work in," Bosma said.\nThe current budget also has House Republicans concerned. Bosma said the fiscal situation continues to worsen, and will take in $450 million less than projected for the current biennium, which will result in a $1 billion budget deficit. \n"The problem is a result of overspending with money we never had. We need to get back to basic balanced budget." Bosma said.\n"The administration's fiscal management is causing hardships for Hoosiers that must be ended," said Rep. Cindy Noe, R-Indianapolis. "Our economy will not grow when we are constantly struggling to stay afloat ... This legislation will force us to adhere to fiscal discipline."\nTo solve the problem, Republicans have proposed a 99 percent appropriation limit which will redistrict annual appropriations to 99 percent of projected revenue collections.\nTo address the ongoing scandals and mismanagement, Bosma will introduce a bill to establish a non-partisan Legislative Office of Accountability. The office will provide a system for immediate accountability and ongoing review of state agency performance. It will be directed by the Legislative Council, an already-established body that includes bipartisan representation from all four legislative bodies.\n"Actions speak much louder than words," Bosma said. "Commissions and study committees have their place, but in the numerous cases of our most vulnerable Hoosiers dying, suffering from neglect or facing undue hardships because of a broken system, we need to act immediately and make changes. The Legislative Office of Accountability will serve Hoosiers as an independent entity with a mission to seek out the causes to these dangerous situations and eliminate them."\nHouse Republicans are also proposing a plan to create Agricultural Enterprise Zones to increase demand for Indiana agricultural output by encouraging investments in agricultural processing operations. \nRep. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo said the plan will help to stimulate the agricultural growth in the state. \n"One of the greatest economic assets for Indiana is our agricultural community," Buck said in a press release. "This initiative expands the opportunity for the agricultural community to grow and prosper from new technology and processing locations in closer proximity."\nThe press release also stated House Republicans will also propose amendments to bring tax relief to Hoosier homeowners. The amendment will address shortcomings in various House Democrat bills regarding property tax reassessment.\nHouse Republican Fiscal Leader Jeff Espich said the proposed legislation will help to give tax relief to Hoosiers. \n"Our legislation will offer responsible and attainable relief to Hoosiers," said Espich.\nOverall, Bosma hopes the new agenda will help get the state back in the right direction.\n"It's time we lead Indiana in a new direction," said Bosma. "It's time we end the downward spiral we have been caught in for several years. The results are devastating and they are hurting Hoosiers. It's time for efficiency, integrity and honesty. It's time for a new direction"