By ANNIE GOELLER, Daily Journal of Johnson County staff writer
Indiana lawmakers gave key approval Monday to a measure that would allow the governor to build a toll road through six central Indiana counties.
The Indiana Senate gave its OK to a bill that packages the Indiana Commerce Connector and the Illiana Expressway, one of the governor's top priorities.
The bill allows a private company to build, maintain and collect tolls on the two new highways.
The Indiana Commerce Connector would pass through Johnson County.
Senators approved the bill 36-13.
Two local lawmakers, Sen. Richard Bray and Mike Young, approved the bill. The three other senators who represent parts of Johnson County - Brent Waltz, Greg Walker and Patricia Miller - voted against it.
Now, the bill will move on to a House of Representatives committee, likely the roads and transportation committee, before going to the 100-member House.
Several senators who voted for the bill said they were in support of the Illiana Expressway and funding the Interstate 69 extension between Evansville and Indianapolis.
Gov. Mitch Daniels has said that money from the lease of the central Indiana tollway would go to fund construction of I-69.
"We've been trying to get I-69 for years. The people I represent would like us to move forward," said Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville.
The Illiana Expressway also has been needed for more than 25 years, said Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary.
Supporters called the measure bold and said the toll roads were the only way to fund I-69 and to construct new roads in Indiana.
Opponents raised concerns about a lack of information, whether legislators will get a second chance to vote on the projects and whether the road is needed.
"Evel Knievel was bold, but he never strapped me to his motorcycle and took me over the ravine. We're asking (the governor) to take the people of Indiana across the ravine, and we don't know how it's going to work out," said Sen. Lindel Hume, D-Princeton.
Committees created to review the projects throughout the process will give lawmakers and the public additional input into both roads along with reviews at least three times by the budget committee, made up of five legislators, said Sen. Robert Meeks, R-LaGrange.
Opponents said they wanted a second chance to vote on the projects, instead of reviewing them.
"We can study it, we can write reports, we can make recommendations. And you know what? They don't have to listen because it never comes back to us again," said Sen. Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington.
The bill now will move onto lawmakers in the House. If any changes are made, the bill would have to again be approved by the Senate before going to the governor.