Today is Organization Day at the State House

Indiana’s lawmakers are at the State House today working on the setting the agenda for the upcoming 2009 General Assembly.  But how much work really gets done?  The Indy Star reports:

But today’s meeting will be more about pomp than policy as the House and Senate formally elect their leaders and swear in new members. They’ll return in earnest in January.

Rarely has any legislation come out of Org Day, mostly because, that’s not what it’s for.  But rumor has it, that the Indiana Associaition of Counties has prepped some of their members to begin lobbying legislators today to get a quick step against any more of the Kernan-Shepard recommendations from being passed in the upcoming GA.

But the state economy, and how that affects areas of the budget, is going to be the center of attention for most if not all members this session.

State revenue fell behind projections for the first four months of this fiscal year and is flat compared with last year. That means lawmakers might not have any new money for schools, universities, Medicaid and other social services, forcing them to pick and choose among priorities.

That could be especially difficult with Republicans controlling the Senate and Democrats holding the majority in the House.

Senate Republicans already have said that their goal will be to “protect” school funding, which means ensuring that education is funded at the same level as last year.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, told business leaders at a luncheon yesterday that there might not be any new money for schools.

“K-12 should be a priority,” Long said. But he added, “We have to be extremely cautious in what we spend. We’re going to take a hard look at what’s doable.”

Democrats plan to seek more cash for education. Yesterday, (Democrat Vi) Simpson said schools need at least a 2 percent increase just to keep up with inflation.

(Read more after the leap)

Also on the agenda for the upcoming session will be getting the permanent tax caps on property taxes finalized so voters can vote on it in a ballot referendum to amend Indiana’s constitution. Also the GA will be looking at further local government consolidation with November’s vote that eliminated 31 of the 43 remaining township assessors fresh on their minds.

What the GA should keep in the mind for the upcoming session, is that with a national economy slipping further and further into recession, Hoosiers will be looking to government to slash their spending and finding ways to save money.

It’s not going to be an easy session. And remember, this is the long session. It will definitely be interesting to watch and to cover here on HA.