By Bryan Corbin, Evansville Courier & Press
INDIANAPOLIS - House Democrats today are revising their state economic-stimulus proposal so that the Interstate 69 construction project is protected even as $1 billion in Major Moves funding would be shifted to other local projects.
The House Ways and Means Committee, originally scheduled to meet early this afternoon, has been delayed for several hours while the full House was in session. When it convenes early this evening, lawmakers are scheduled to consider an amendment to House Bill 1656.
That's the House Democrats' stimulus bill to reallocate Major Moves funding to 25 local road and infrastructure projects statewide. Indiana Department of Transportation commissioner Karl Browning has complained that the original bill, as written, would dry up funding for the ongoing I-69 project. Gov. Mitch Daniels recently called it "the worst bill of the session."
State Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, has filed an amendment today that significantly changes the wording of House Bill 1656. The amendment says that the $1 billion in Major Moves funding diverted from current INDOT projects to other local projects may not include any money currently appropriated, allocated or planned for future use on the I-69 extension.
The bill would also make changes to wording in the original 2006 Major Moves law. That bill said the I-69 extension could not be privatized or be a toll road on its northernmost stretch between Martinsville, Ind., and Indianapolis. Pelath's amendment, introduced today, would extend that ban, meaning I-69 could not be privatized or be a toll road anywhere along its Evansville to Indianapolis length.
State Rep. Dennis Avery, D-Evansville, serves on the Ways and Means committee. He said he expressed his concerns about I-69 funding to House Speaker Patrick Bauer, Ways and Means chairman William Crawford and to Pelath. They assured him that I-69 funding would be protected in the Democrats' stimulus bill, Avery said.
"That road will get built," said state Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, who is author of House Bill 1656.
Austin said while she still expects the stimulus bill to undergo drastic changes - especially if it reaches the Republican-controlled Senate - she doesn't expect other lawmakers to attempt to amend the bill in a way "that would put I-69 at risk."
The Evansville-to-Crane leg of I-69 construction that started last July in Gibson County is funded through part of the $3.85 billion in proceeds from the state's Major Moves lease of the northern Indiana toll road to a foreign consortium.
State Rep. Trent Van Haaften, D-Mount Vernon, contended INDOT commissioner Browning's recent assertions that the stimulus bill would immediately halt all major highway construction were political maneuvering. Van Haaften said because House Democrats' stimulus bill does not touch already-dedicated funds, it shouldn't affect I-69 plans.
"Any time anybody tries to do anything with Major Moves money, they (the Daniels administration) automatically throw the red herring that I-69 will fall," Van Haaften said. "I'm not falling for that red herring."
He said the amendment offered today would strengthen the guarantee that I-69 funding would remain intact.
The Ways and Means committee is likely to vote on the bill this evening. House majority Democrats intended to send the $400 million in funding to counties, $400 million to cities and towns and $200 million to INDOT to be used for so-called "shovel-ready" construction projects that could put people to work soon.
Very significant changes are likely if the bill moves to the Republican-majority Senate. And if Indiana receives $5 billion in federal economic stimulus funds from Congress, as expected, that could change the equation entirely.
Courier & Press correspondent Eric Bradner contributed to this report