By Taylor Dixon

TheStatehousefile.com

The Indiana state budget proposed in House Bill 1001 passed the Senate Tuesday.

The bill will now return to the House and likely a conference committee where lawmakers will work to resolve differences between the two chambers on funding levels involving education, public health, infrastructure and other issues.

One of the biggest debates has been on the school voucher program for private schools, criticized as unfair to public schools. Some senators argue that the program is not fair to students who live in poverty.

Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, questioned why families of four who make about $95,000 a year qualify for the vouchers currently and if they really need the assistance.

“When you look at the bottom line, what we’re talking about is a more wealthy district versus a poor district,” Taylor said.

On Monday, HB 1001 was open for amendments on the Senate floor. Of the 46 proposed, only six passed. Many of the amendments came from Indiana Democrats, who are the minority in the Senate.

Some of the amendments that failed:

• Increasing Indiana’s minimum wage
• Increasing teacher pay
• Stopping a phaseout of corporate income tax
• Increasing the cigarette tax

Some of the funding the budget will include:

• $110 million to pay off debts, saving $10 million in interest according to Senate sponsor, Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen
• $250 million for broadband access across Indiana
• $150 million to make up for student education loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• $100 million to the Family and Social Services Administration to address mental health concerns after a spike in mental health issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic

FOOTNOTE: Taylor Dixon is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.