House Republicans find themselves in an unfamiliar position this session, advocating more state spending.
Republican legislators were Governor Mitch Daniels‘ wingmen in calling for spending restraint, especially when Democrats held the House majority. But with an improved economic outlook, the House‘s proposed two-year budget envisions spending a billion dollars more than Governor Pence does, with most of the difference in school funding.
The House budget gives schools a two-percent increase in the first year, double what the governor proposed.
Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) says the House is just restoring two years of cuts made when the recession hit.