Changes to the proposed balanced budget amendment swayed some lawmakers to support the measure Wednesday. The resolution would prohibit the legislature from spending more than it collects in taxes. The resolution passed both chambers with bipartisan support
Proponents of the legislation, such as its author Buck Creek Republican Senator Brandt Hershman, say it will provide fiscal guardrails for future budget crafting. But, critics of the resolution note that Indiana’s constitution already prohibits the state from incurring debt. South Bend Democratic Representative Pat Bauer calls the effort a gimmick.
“It’s nothing more than a mailer that you send into the ballot box to say, oh boy we are good boys and girls because we really, really want a balanced budget even though we’ve had one since the canals broke the states years ago,” says Bauer.
But before the session came to a close, clarifying language on funding public pension liabilities and the ability to use state reserves as income convinced some opponents to support the amendment, including Indianapolis Democratic Representative Ed Delaney.
"If we have to do this, even though we don’t need it, this is a better way to do it than we did it last time,” says Delaney.
The amendment must now pass a separately elected assembly before it can appear on the ballot for the public’s consideration.
