Timeline:

May 7th – A news release announced Senate Pro-Tem David Long and House Speaker Patrick Bauer created a “special legislative committee to handle the deliberation on a budget plan, which will be based on a proposal to be presented by Governor Mitch Daniels’ administration on June 1.”
DONE on May 7th

May 12th – State Budget Committee received a report from the governor’s administration on the state’s financial status including April revenue numbers, an early projection of May’s and a forecast for the rest of 2009 and beyond. They also asked that the Revenue Forecast Technical Committee prepare a revised revenue forecast for the biennium that begins on July 1, 2009 and ends on June 30, 2011.
DONE on May 12th

May 26th – The technical committee will present the new revenue forecast to the Budget Committee. The numbers will be turned over to the administration, which will prepare a new, complete budget that includes a school funding formula and school runs.
DONE on May 27th

June 1st – The administration’s budget will be presented to the Special Budget Sub-Committee led by Senator Kenley and Representative Crawford. The special sub-committee will meet June 1-15 to consider the administration’s proposal.
DONE on June 2nd

June 2nd – Governor Daniels’ presents his budget complete with a school funding formula and school runs to the special sub-committee. Special sub-committee co-chair Kenley announces that the special sub-committee will take public testimony on Governor’s proposed budget on June 4th and that a CIB proposed solution would be presented that afternoon.
DONE on June 2nd

June 4th –The special sub-committee met to take public testimony. Chairman Crawford and Representatives Pelath and Goodin stated that they felt the Governor was misleading folks regarding the increase in education funding. Chairman Crawford and the other House Democrat sub-committee members as well as Senator Broden left in protest. The rest of the committee stayed and took several hours of public testimony.
DONE on June 4th

What’s Next?

The special sub-committee will continue to work as was originally agreed to by all four caucuses.

Speaker Bauer and the House Democrats have chosen to walk out and create their own budget and process which they control instead of sticking with the bi-partisan one they proposed and agreed to.

On June 11th, the General Assembly will return in special session and the House Democrats have announced they will present their own budget.

What can you do?

1. Contact Your State Representative and State Senator and encourage them to support the Governor’s Budget proposal.

2. Write a Letter to the Editor in your local paper in support of the Governor’s Budget proposal.

3. Attend and testify at Budget Hearings.