
State Rep. Todd Huston, R-Fishers, the architect of the 2020-21 state budget, speaks Monday in the Indiana House in favor of legislation reopening the two-year spending plan to cash-fund $291 million in university construction projects, instead of having the state borrow to cover the costs.
The Republican-controlled House overwhelmingly approved spending $291 million in surplus state revenue Monday to cash-fund construction projects at six state universities, instead of borrowing money to pay for new and improved campus buildings.
It is rare for lawmakers in an even-numbered year to reopen the two-year state budget adopted in an odd-numbered year, but Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb urged the General Assembly to pay cash for the projects, rather than bonding, to save approximately $130 million in interest costs over the next 20 years.
Democrats complained the money, generated by greater than expected tax receipts at the end of the 2019 state budget year, could be put to better use as a one-time bonus for Hoosier teachers, to expand Indiana's pre-kindergarten programs or address myriad other state needs.
"Why not take the money, which would be a half billion dollars in 2020 and 2021, and invest it in our communities?" asked state Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis. "This is an opportunity lost to take care of the human capital of our state."
In response, state Rep. Todd Huston, R-Fishers, said it only is because Indiana carefully manages its resources that it quickly can respond to financial surprises, such as directing $185 million in extra state funds to the South Shore Line expansion last year after the federal government scaled back its planned match to 38% from 49%.
"We have acted responsibly and positioned ourselves well because you never know what is coming down the line," Huston said.
None of the university projects in House Bill 1007 are located in Northwest Indiana. The measure also does not include Holcomb's request to cash-fund a new, $50 million Swine Barn at the Indiana State Fair.
It was approved 77-21 by the House and now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate.
Meet the 2020 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation
State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond

State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond
1st House District
Represents: Hammond, Whiting
Experience: State representative since 2018; retired Cook County, Ill. probation officer
Committees: Environmental Affairs; Family, Children and Human Affairs; Government Reduction (ranking member)
State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago
2nd House District
Represents: East Chicago, Gary (west side)
Experience: State representative since 2016; small business owner
Committees: Government and Regulatory Reform; Government Reduction; Ways and Means
State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary

State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary
3rd House District
Represents: Gary (downtown and east side), Lake Station, New Chicago, Hobart
Experience: State representative since 2018; attorney
Committees: Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development; Courts and Criminal Code (ranking member); Interstate and International Cooperation.
State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso

State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso
4th House District
Represents: Valparaiso
Experience: State representative since 2006; aviation safety consultant
Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Roads and Transportation; Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications (chairman)
State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City

State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City
9th House District
Represents: Michigan City, Chesterton, Beverly Shores, Long Beach, Westville
Experience: State representative since 2018; retired small business owner
Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Family, Children and Human Affairs; Interstate and International Cooperation
State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage

State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage
10th House District
Represents: Portage, Chesterton, Ogden Dunes, Burns Harbor, South Haven
Experience: State representative since 2008; financial solutions associate
Committees: Elections and Apportionment (ranking member); Employment, Labor and Pensions; Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron

State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron
11th House District
Represents: St. John, Cedar Lake, Lowell, Schneider, Hebron, Kouts
Experience: State representative since 2014; farmer, former state environmental regulator
Committees: Environmental Affairs (vice chairman); Local Government; Natural Resources
State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster

State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster
12th House District
Represents: Munster, Hammond (south side), Highland, Griffith
Experience: State representative 2006-14, re-elected 2016
Committees: Interstate and International Cooperation (ranking member); Roads and Transportation; Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications
State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary

State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary
14th House District
Represents: Gary (south side), Merrillville
Experience: State representative since 1990; education professor at Indiana University Northwest
Committees: Education (ranking member); Government Reduction; Local Government
State Rep. Chris Chyung, D-Dyer

State Rep. Chris Chyung, D-Dyer
15th House District
Represents: Dyer, Schererville, St. John, Griffith
Experience: State representative since 2018; real estate investor
Committees: Financial Institutions; Local Government (ranking member); Roads and Transportation; Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
State Rep. Douglas Gutwein, R-Francesville

State Rep. Douglas Gutwein, R-Francesville
16th House District
Represents: Newton, Jasper counties
Experience: State representative since 2008; small business owner
Committees: Agriculture and Rural Development; Environmental Affairs; Government Reduction (chairman); Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
State Rep. Lisa Beck, D-Hebron

State Rep. Lisa Beck, D-Hebron
19th House District
Represents: Crown Point, Merrillville, Winfield, Lakes of the Four Seasons, Hobart
Experience: State representative since 2018; attorney
Committees: Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development; Courts and Criminal Code; Employment, Labor and Pensions (ranking member)
State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie

State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie
20th House District
Represents: LaPorte County
Experience: State representative since 2016; small business owner
Committees: Elections and Apportionment; Government and Regulatory Reform (chairman); Roads and Transportation; Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications
State Sen. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond

State Sen. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond
1st Senate District
Represents: Hammond (south side), Munster, Highland, Griffith, Dyer, Schererville
Experience: State senator 1978-95, 1998-present; retired banker
Committees: Education and Career Development; Ethics; Health and Provider Services; Homeland Security and Transportation (ranking member); Local Government (ranking member); Veterans Affairs and the Military (ranking member)
State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago

State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago
2nd Senate District
Represents: Hammond, Whiting, East Chicago, Gary (west side), Griffith, Hobart, Merrillville
Experience: State senator since 2008, previously served 1994-98; attorney
Committees: Commerce and Technology; Corrections and Criminal Law; Ethics; Judiciary (ranking member); Public Policy (ranking member); Utilities
State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary

State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary
3rd Senate District
Represents: Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago, Hobart, Merrillville, Crown Point
Experience: State senator since 2016; community relations manager
Committees: Appropriations; Education and Career Development (ranking member); Health and Provider Services; Homeland Security and Transportation; Veterans Affairs and the Military
State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes

State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes
4th Senate District
Represents: Ogden Dunes, Portage, Chesterton, South Haven, Burns Harbor, Beverly Shores, Michigan City, Westville
Experience: State senator since 2005; attorney
Committees: Appropriations (ranking member); Corrections and Criminal Law (ranking member); Environmental Affairs; Pensions and Labor; Rules and Legislative Procedure
State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso
5th Senate District
Represents: Valparaiso, Hebron, Kouts, Jasper County
Experience: State senator since 2007; attorney
Committees: Appropriations; Ethics; Health and Provider Services (chairman); Rules and Legislative Procedure; Tax and Fiscal Policy
State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell

State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell
6th Senate District
Represents: St. John, Cedar Lake, Crown Point, Winfield, Lowell, Newton County
Experience: State senator since 2014, state representative 2012-14; small business owner
Committees: Environmental Affairs; Homeland Security and Transportation; Local Government; Veterans Affairs and the Military
State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores

State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores
8th Senate District
Represents: LaPorte County
Experience: State senator since 2016; consultant
Committees: Corrections and Criminal Law; Insurance and Financial Institutions; Judiciary; Local Government