June 29th, 2009 at 8:54 pm by Jim Shella under Jim Shella's Political Blog
The General Assembly is done for the night with plans to return at 10am in both the House and the Senate. Leader predict a government shutdown will be avoided.
Votes will take place on a budget bill in both chambers. The bill has a 1% increase for schools in the first year, .3% in the second after $54million was added to the Senate plan. It has a billion dollar surplus and no restrictions on charter schools.
It also includes a CIB bailout that calls for an innkeeper tax hike only.
State Senate leaders predict passage and while House Speaker Pat Bauer says there won’t be many Democratic votes, House Republicans cheered the plan in caucus.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:42 pm by Jim Shella under Jim Shella's Political Blog
House Speaker Pat Bauer reports a “possible” agreement on a new state budget. The Indiana House will not vote on it tonight.
The state Senate hopes, however, to vote sometime after reconvening at 8pm.
June 29th, 2009 at 3:55 pm by Angela Buchman under Weather
An upper level area of low pressure will drop south. Cooler air will push south, along with the chance for a stray shower.
Expect partly cloudy skies overnight and lows in the 50s. Forecast highs are only in the 70s on Tuesday.
Skies will be partly sunny on Tuesday and Wednesday and there is a chance for a shower. There will be more dry weather both days, as the shower chances will be slim.
High temperatures stay in the 70s on Wednesday.
A gradual warm-up is expected for the end of the week and into the holiday weekend. Right now it looks like the storm chances will hold off until Sunday, leaving the 4th dry and warm. Stay tuned for updates.
June 29th, 2009 at 3:12 pm by Jim Shella under Jim Shella's Political Blog
Deate mocrat House Speaker Pat Bauer says budget negotiations are progressing slowly. He also say he thinks the governor will shut down some parts of state government before Wednesday.
Republican budget negotiator Luke Kenley, meantime, says the “legislature will not abdicate its responsibility,” predicting a successful budget vote tomorrow.
June 29th, 2009 at 1:57 pm by Jim Shella under Jim Shella's Political Blog
Rep. Terry Goodin/(D) Crothersville confirms that budget negotiators are working on a 2-year spending plan. The Democratic 1-year budget is off the table.
Rep. Bill Crawford/(D) Indianapolis says there will be no vote today. He says a budget might get passed tomorrow. He repeated “might.”
June 29th, 2009 at 12:40 pm by Ken Brewer under Weather
It looks like we are escaping the grip of the cold core upper-level low today, so we should see plenty of sunshine with highs in the low 80’s. The closest rain is in central Michigan, and it should stay confined there this afternoon. Enjoy your afternoon!
June 29th, 2009 at 10:27 am by Ken Brewer under Weather
So far, so good in the weather today.
Forecast 8 VIPIR shows rain up in the Great Lakes around the UP of Michigan, and it looks like that’s where the rain chances will stay for the most part today.
Temperatures have warmed nicely into the mid 70’s. We should top out in the lower 80’s this afternoon.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:19 am by Ken Brewer under Weather
TODAY: An upper-level low pressure system is slowly dropping down from the Great Lakes. The system will be slow enough that we may avoid rain chances today. What we should see is slightly cooler air. We will also see another breezy day with winds around 15 mph. Highs should top out around 80.
TONIGHT: Cooler air will be fully in place and lows will drop into the upper 50’s tonight.
TUESDAY: As the core of the upper-level low gets closer, the atmosphere will become a bit more unstable, especially in the afternoon. Expect to see pop-up showers and maybe a few storms by tomorrow afternoon. Otherwise, it would be a cool day, with highs in the mid 70’s.
WEDNESDAY: Rain chances will be a bit higher on Wednesday, but it will still be scattered in nature. Highs will be very cool, only topping out around 70.
June 28th, 2009 at 6:42 pm by Jim Shella under Jim Shella's Political Blog
A spokesman for Indiana House Democrats reports that budget negotiators met for a lengthy period today. He says technical support staff members are still meeting in the effort to reach a budget compromise before Tuesday’s deadline.
All 150 lawmakers will report to the Statehouse tomorrow to see what happens next.
June 28th, 2009 at 6:35 pm by Alicia Roman under Weather
TONIGHT: A beautiful and comfortable night is expected as clear skies will dominate the forecast area. Lows will be much cooler tonight in the lower 60s.
MONDAY: An interesting weather pattern will set up over the next few days. An area of low pressure will develop and build over the Great Lakes. As it does so rain will rotate around the low and bring a chance for showers to northern Indiana on Monday. Central Indiana will stay dry with sunny to partly cloudy skies and cooler temperatures.
By Tuesday, the low will move a little more to the south and east bringing a chance for rain to Central Indiana by Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. Also, cooler air will fill in on the backside of this low. Highs on Tuesday expected to be in the lower 70s by Wed. in the mid-upper 70s.
TUESDAY:
