Rep. Bill Crawford just walked into House Speaker Pat Bauer’s office carrying copies of the budget bill.

I asked if he had signed it yet (in his role as Democratic conferee, a move required for a floor vote to take place.)   Said Crawford, “I’m just getting ready to.”

That should set the stage for an afternoon vote in the House.

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.”

Representative Bill Crawford and the other Democrats on a special committee considering Governor Mitch Daniels’ budget proposal walked out this morning.

They’re upset that the governor claims a 2-percent increase in education funding in each year of the proposal.  They say most of the increase comes from federal stimulus funds.   The increase in state funding is .25 percent per year.

It is the first public sign that a special session will be contentious.

The planned May 26th arrival of a new state Revenue Forecast won’t happen on time.

#Rep. Bill Crawford (D-Indianapolis) says its been delayed to the 27th.

He says state Senate Republicans are looking for methodologies that support a desired outcome.

This was resolution day in the General Assembly, a day when lawmakers honor those deserving of statewide recognition.

On the list today, among others:  Harlem Globetrotter great Hallie Bryant, the Ball State football team, and former WISH-TV news photographer Jim Hester.  Jim was recognized in a resolution authored by Rep. Greg Porter (D-Indianapolis) for his coverage of lawmakers over the last 23 years or so.

Rep. Bill Crawford (D-Indianapolis) called him ”an appropriate role model who understands the necessity of gaining knowledge.”  Rep. Brian Bosma (R-Minority Leader) said he was “just as much a public servant as the rest of us.”

For his part, Hes addressed the body saying, “What started as an assignment became a journey.” 

He got a standing ovation by members of the House.

The fashions here at the Democratic National Convention in Denver range from stylish to outlandish but two members of the Indiana delegation stand out for other reasons.

David Sanders appeared on the floor of the convention last night wearing tattered work gloves.  Sanders says he wore the gloves while taking part in an archaeological dig in Israel and the leader of the dig insisted that he wear them at the convention.  I wonder what I can talk him into?

Bill Crawford shows up everyday in a monochromatic outfit.  Everything matches, the shoes, the pants, the shirt, and the Obama ‘08 cap that tops it off every day.  Monday was white, Tuesday was orange, today is blue.

When is campaigning in the Indiana Legislature ok?  Or, maybe the appropriate question is:  what amounts to campaigning in the Indiana Legislature? 

Several Democrats, including Rep. Bill Crawford, wore Barack Obama campaign buttons on the floor of the Indiana House this morning.  

You may remember that Indiana Democrats recently videotaped state Representative and congressional candidate Jon Elrod doing campaign work in the House and accused him of ignoring his elected duty.  No campaign rule applies to elected officials, but Elrod admitted making a mistake.

Maybe its ok to campaign for others but not yourself.

The immigration bill passed by the Indiana House Public Policy Committee didn’t get recommitted to the House Ways and Means Committee, according to Chairman Bill Crawford, despite the fact that it has a $1.5 million appropriation in it.

Now its too late.  Crawford announced this evening that his committee is done with its work for the session.  According to House Rules re-committal was not mandatory but it is customary.

Questions:

Will someone object to a vote on the House floor? 

What happens then? 

Is this a strategy to kill the bill?

The first fallout from Mayor Greg Ballard’s Ways and Means testimony hit this afternoon and its not good for Ballard. 

Ballard requested passage of Senate Bill 280, a measure aimed at fire department consolidation in Marion County.  He said that if more consolidation takes place, that would make it easier to eliminate township trustees who oversee fire departments now.

Ways and Means Chairman Bill Crawford says that, by mentioning the trustees, Ballard politicized the issue.  Crawford won’t give the bill a hearing now.  Instead, he says he will wait to consider the Kernan/Shepard Commission recommendations next year and look at government consolidation on a statewide basis.

According to Crawford Ballard’s testimony means no more special treatment for Marion County.