State legislators cram to meet self-imposed deadline

The Indiana General Assembly scrambled yesterday to meet a midnight deadline imposed by House Speaker Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, to conclude all legislation.

Although Bauer scheduled today as the last day of the session, the assembly still has nine days to finish its work if necessary.

Adjourning early would save Hoosier taxpayers more than $100,000 in legislator salaries.

While negotiations progress, major sticking points remain on bills between the Democratic House and the Republican Senate. Talks continue over amendments added by the House to a bill that would delay a tax increase that businesses would pay to the Unemployment Trust Fund.

The fund owes $1.6 billion to the federal government.

In the House’s version of bill, the tax increase would not only be delayed, but completely repealed. The House version also aims to expand unemployment benefits for workers, something the GOP sees as too much of a strain on businesses.

“There is no doubt in my mind that employers need this tax delay or repeal in order to save the jobs they have and create new ones,” Rep. Matt Bell, R-Avilla, said in a statement. “But I could not justify voting in favor of an amended bill that would place a heavy burden on business owners.”

The House also added provisions that would expand eligibility for unemployment benefits in order to acquire $148 million in federal stimulus money for the fund.
Republicans believe the expansion of benefits would only take the fund further into debt.

During the hectic all-day session, the House did find time to approve a bill that would allow Hoosiers to have firearms inside their locked vehicles while at work.

The bill will still need to go through the Senate but will likely be passed by the Republican-ruled chamber. If passed by the Senate, the bill will then go to Gov. Mitch Daniels for approval.

Supporters of the bill say Hoosiers have a right to protect themselves on their way to and from work.

Opponents say it takes away a company’s right to control their property and is a major security threat.

Multiple exemptions in the bill include schools, universities and day cares, among others.

While legislators toil late into Thursday night, because no agreement has been reached on adjournment, the session could still run into Friday or even later.