Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed 80 bills into law Tuesday, including a new $28 billion state budget and redrawn political
maps that will help shape elections for the next decade.
Daniels also signed two immigration bills: one denying in-state tuition rates at state-supported universities for illegal
immigrants and another revoking some tax credits for businesses that hire illegal immigrants. The bills spurred protests this
week that led to five young illegal immigrants being arrested on trespassing charges at Daniels' office.
Daniels also signed bills to cut the corporate income tax, ban texting while driving and mostly prohibit Indiana cities and
counties from limiting gun possession.
Daniels praised the new state budget for including a taxpayer refund. If state reserves exceed 10 percent of budgeted spending,
half the extra money would be used for pension funds and half would be given back to taxpayers. Daniels wanted all the money
to go back to taxpayers, however, and said the state is no longer skipping payments to retirement funds. Directing more money
toward those pensions is unnecessary, he said.
"I'm very pleased at the enactment of the automatic taxpayer refund, though I would have preferred a simpler, cleaner
version that gave any refund entirely back to taxpayers," Daniels said in a statement announcing the bill signings.
The budget spends less than it takes in and leaves the state with $1 billion in reserves. It gives modest increases to public
schools, though critics say the school funding formula included in the budget will hurt some districts, especially the smallest
of Indiana's school districts.
Daniels vetoed one bill, which would have required the majority of the board of trustees at Indiana University and Ball State
University to be Indiana residents and required all members of the IU board be United State citizens. Daniels says requiring
that by law is too "narrow and provincial" given the schools' global scope.
"The day may well come when these world-class institutions will want to include illustrious alumni from around the globe
on their boards," Daniels said. "The universities should not be denied such opportunities, nor future governors
prohibited from making such appointments."
Daniels signed into law bills that will:
— Revamp political maps for the state's nine congressional and 150 legislative districts. The Republican-drawn
maps are expected to give the GOP the upper hand in seven of the state's nine congressional districts. Republicans say
the new districts are more compact and keep more counties together than the redistricting plan implemented in 2001 by Democrats,
who then controlled the once-a-decade redistricting based on census figures.
— Prohibit reading or typing text messages and email messages while driving. Violators would face a maximum fine of
$500. Supporters say the ban would increase awareness about the danger of distracted driving and save lives, while skeptics
questioned whether it could properly be enforced.
— Cut Indiana's corporate income tax rate incrementally from the current 8.5 percent to 6.5 percent in 2015. The
full tax cut is estimated to cost the state about $80 million a year, and the state will make up that money by starting to
tax the interest on out-of-state bonds held by Indiana companies and residents.
— Only permit local governments to ban guns from buildings that house courtrooms, meaning local ordinances banning
firearms from other buildings, such as libraries, wouldn't be allowed. Sponsors say the measure won't change laws
banning guns from schools and university properties.
— Ban synthetic marijuana known as spice or K2. Possessing or dealing such substances will be treated as possessing
and dealing real marijuana. Several Indiana counties have local ordinances banning the substance from stores, but supporters
of the bill say a state law criminalizing it is needed.

















IBJ Conversations
0 Comments
Add Comment