Pence Team Delivers 1st Budget to Indiana Lawmakers
By The Associated Press
Gov. Mike Pence is rolling out his spending blueprint for Indiana one day after taking office.
The Pence administration plans to unveil its first budget before a hearing of the State Budget Committee Tuesday afternoon.
The new Republican governor has cash in the bank and a roughly $500 million surplus to work with, courtesy of former Gov. Mitch Daniels. But he also has many demands from lawmakers in both parties to restore spending cuts to education, child services and other areas.
Pence will also have to find room for his proposed income tax cut at a cost of roughly $500 million a year. He’s facing hesitation from lawmakers who say any tax cut proposal should wait until they receive new tax collection forecasts in April.