That time could come Saturday, if the architects of the budget don't have a bill to submit to other lawmakers by late Friday. House Republican leader Rep. Brian Bosma said the 47 House Republicans will ensure that they have 24 hours to look through the more than 200-page budget bill before voting. Usually, lawmakers in the minority party get from 30 minutes to an hour to study the budget before voting. Republicans will ask to meet as a group when the budget is released, and not return for 24 hours, Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said. The House needs 67 members to conduct business and Democrats account for only 53.
Tough decisions have to be made in a short time.
Over the past decade, with budget sessions in odd-numbered years, getting done on time has become the exception, not the rule. In the early 1990s, the last time the growth of Indiana's economy slowed, lawmakers continued meeting until late June trying to work out a spending plan. The new fiscal year starts July 1. Chairman of the House-Senate conference committee working on the budget, Rep. Patrick Bauer admitted what had become the obvious conventional wisdom at a hearing Wednesday. Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, is one of those people.