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Noon Edition

2017 Legislative Session Wrap-Up

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The Indiana legislative session wrapped up last weekend with a whirlwind of debate resulting in the resolution of many of the most contentious topics on the table this time around.

From road funding to cold beer sales and ISTEP reform, it can be difficult to stay on top of all of the bills that matter to you.

Statehouse Reporter Brandon Smith said the most notable thing that stood out to him about this session was, "The lack of a blowup over a controversial social issue that has sort of marked, in many ways, the last five or six session."

The panel discussed the road funding bill in length, such as Sen. Eric Bassler (R-Washington), who thought the portion regarding the gas tax was not perfect, but rather the best option, saying

"With respect for  example electric cars, I think  it makes sense to have some type of additional registration fee because they would have the opportunity to literally never pay one penny toward road funding", he said. "I find it a little bit more challenging for the hybrids, just from the perspective that without gasoline, those cars would not run. And so what they are are just very fuel efficient  vehicles."

Sen. Mark Stoops (D-Bloomington) and Rep. Jeff Ellington (R-Bloomington) held differing opinions on the language put into the budget bill which would essentially make Bloomington's bid for annexation obsolete, as well as delaying it for another 5 years, saying

"There was a lot of local opposition to the annexation, it was a big annexation proposal. I wish I could think it was actually local opposition by citizens that got that language inserted. But it wasn't, it was pretty much a corporate priority and the legislature answered with specific language in the bill", Stoops said. "The bill doesn't mention Bloomington but it basically is so specific that it only affects Bloomington and says that that annexation is void for 5 years."

Whereas Rep. Ellington said,

"This is not a Bloomington issue for me, this is a statewide issue. This is about involuntary annexation."

However reporter Ed Feigenbaum noted that this type of language being put into the budget bill so late was not unusual in prior years, or alone this year, saying

"It happens every year and this wasn't the only instance of something showing up in the budget last minute without even being considered anywhere before. You also had a provision inserted in the budget this year that allows for the Department of Corrections to purchase what they call 'lethal substances'. The medication they need for the lethal injection."

Guests:

Ed Feigenbaum: Statehouse Dispatch Columnist

Sen. Eric Bassler, R-Washington: Indiana State Senator District 39

Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington: Indiana State Senator District 40

Rep. Jeff Ellington, R-BloomingtonIndiana State Representative District 62

Brandon Smith: Statehouse Reporter, Indiana Public Broadcasting

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