House Republicans want to tie the fate of their road funding plan to money for the Regional Cities Initiative and Hoosier pensioners. It's the GOP representatives' latest move to preserve a plan that is funded by contentious gas and cigarette tax increases.
The Senate and the governor have opposed the House infrastructure proposal because it's funded in part by gas and cigarette tax increases. So House lawmakers put their plan into a bill with two issues that enjoy broader support. The first is funding from the tax amnesty program for a third Regional Cities Initiative winner — the program aimed at helping bolster regional economic development. The second, called "the 13 th check," would provide additional pension money for Hoosier retirees.
House Ways and Means Chair Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville, says he's trying to forge an agreement.
"The amnesty money, in theory, is what we agree on," Brown says. "The 13 th check, in theory, is what we agree on. Road funding, in theory, is what we agree on. It's how we get there."
Democrats such as Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis mockingly chided Republicans' attempts to get "yes" votes for their road funding plan, which was originally contained in House Bill 1001.
"This is House Bill, essentially, 1001 … with some sprinkles, right? Okay. I gave up sugar for Lent — I vote nay," Porter says.
The committee approved the bill 13-8, sending it to the House floor.