Legislators hopeful about end of session

Mar 9, 2010 — The Herald Bulletin

Brandi Watters

Mar. 9, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- ANDERSON, Ind. -- As the session winds down, local legislators are optimistic that important legislation will get passed before the recess on March 14.

State Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, thinks the two most important pieces of legislation currently being considered concerns unemployment compensation and education.

An unemployment bill that would raise the rates employers pay into the fund will likely be slapped with a one-year delay, he said.

Lanane said employers have not seen an increase to the rate they pay into the unemployment fund in over five years, and the state's unemployment fund is now in the red.

Though he supports a one-year delay due to the state of the economy, Lanane said the fund must be fed with money, and that could mean borrowing more money from the federal government.

"That's the issue ... do we delay those payments and if so, what do we do?" Lanane said.

An education bill that would allow school districts to use their capital improvement funds to pay teachers is on its way to passage, but Lanane objects to a Senate provision that requires schools to freeze teacher wages if they opt to borrow from the funds.

"I think it complicates the matter. I really do. I'm not sure how legal it is if you have existing contracts between school corporations and employees," Lanane said.

Rep. Scott Reske, D-Pendleton, agrees.

"It's a red herring. It confuses the whole situation," Reske said.

Reske believes the education bill is "wonderful" because it allows schools to use local tax dollars to pay teachers.

"Property tax only pays for buildings. The state pays for the teachers and operations. What (the bill) does is allow property taxes going to schools, they can use a certain amount of that for teacher salaries. It'll keep them from laying off teachers."

Although he supports the bill, Lanane said it will do little to help the ailing Anderson Community School Corporation.

"It's my understanding this fix won't help Anderson schools. ... They don't have the extra money to transfer between those funds anyway."

As the session comes to a close, Rep. Jack Lutz, D-Anderson, said he's displeased with the way the House operated.

"That our caucus being the Republican House caucus was there to work and we got postponed, that has made this session under the House leadership bizarre, squirrely and mysterious," Lutz said.

More could've been done, he argued. "I think our caucus has been pretty willing to go along with a lot of things."

Lutz said he tried repeatedly to get something done in session to help Hoosier Park, which filed for bankruptcy this week.

"The legislators that represent Hoosier Park sure tried," he said.

Legislators do not return to session until January. When asked if he thinks aid will be offered to Hoosier Park at that time, Lutz replied, "I hope next year's not too late."

Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, also expressed frustration about failing to help the casino.

"I had a bill filed to eliminate the double taxation for them and it didn't get a hearing," Austin said.

Reske said he had some successes.

A bill authored by Reske that protects the victims of violent crime is on its way to the governor's desk, he explained.

"If you committed a violent crime, for ten days it's an automatic no-contact order with that victim."

Reske said he is also optimistic about a bill centered around medical records. "I'm working with state attorney general in a bipartisan fashion on fraud and medical records and what looks like will go before governor is language that clarifies that if medical records are abandoned by provider, like a doctor or dentist, in a flood or if the physician dies, it clarifies that the attorney general holds them and keeps them confidential."

The bill also gives sexual assault victims the right to demand that their attacker be tested for HIV-AIDS within 48 hours of the attack and makes sure that medical records used in court cases are not made public when court records are unsealed.

Austin is happy to see that her bill meant to aid Bright Automotive seems to be moving along.

The bill, on its way to the governor's office, allows Bright Automotive and other local electronic auto manufacturers to get a special manufacturers plate, giving them a chance to test drive their vehicles legally on Indiana roadways.

"They spent six months to get license plate to try and drive a vehicle," she explained.

Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0344-42696134