Budget, COVID to lead 2020 session

COVID. The biennium budget. Redistricting.

The Indiana General Assembly, which reconvenes Monday to begin this year’s legislative session, has a lot on the agenda in 2021.

Local state Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle), recently tapped to lead the Republican caucus in the Senate, says his party is focused on maintaining the budget to current levels despite a nationwide recession in 2020 caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“(The recession) wasn’t good but it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been had there been no federal assistance,” Holdman said, noting that federal stimulus will generate debt that will tax the country for years.

Once signed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, the budget will appropriate state funds for two years beginning July 1. Though it’s too early to know specifics, Holdman said this year’s budget is expected to be “about equal” to the roughly $35 billion total set in 2019.

“I think the recovery could be very quick … I’m hoping it is,” Holdman said.

Maintaining the budget is possible, in part, because the state had a $2.1 billion surplus to tap into for emergency funds. The state, to date, has used about half of that surplus, Holdman said, and he hopes it doesn’t have to use any more of it to stimulate the economy.

Because of the recession, Holdman said it may not be possible to satisfy some of the requests in Holcomb’s 2021 agenda, such as allocating $600 million in raises for teachers.

“I just don’t know if there’s going to be that much extra … I’m hoping there is,” Holdman said, noting the budget may be contingent on the rollout of coronavirus vaccines and an impending revenue forecast in April, weeks before the end of the session.

Separate from the budget, Holdman complimented Holcomb’s proposal to allocate $400 million from the federal coronavirus aid, relief and economic security (CARES) Act directly into the unemployment trust fund to provide more money for Hoosier jobless claims.

Joining other Republicans like local state Rep. J.D. Prescott (R-Union City) who have criticized Holcomb’s powers during an emergency declaration, Holdman said he would support legislation limiting the powers of the executive branch during an emergency without approval from the state legislature.

“We have concern that we’ve had no voice,” Holdman said about the pandemic, which was just beginning in Indiana when the Assembly concluded its 2020 session.

Under current law, only Indiana’s governor can reconvene the Indiana General Assembly, as Holcomb did in 2018 Holdman said he believes a special session should have been called last year so federal dollars from the CARES Act could have been allocated with the legislature’s approval, among other pertinent decisions.

Holdman said legislation could include provisions allowing the Speaker of the House and president of the Senate to decide to form a special session or forcing a special session on the second or third consecutive emergency declaration by the governor.

“It’s not to say we would do anything differently than what the governor has done,” Holdman said, adding that the legislature needs more power during crises.

One of the ramifications of the 2020 U.S. Census is that districts are reorganized based on population. That is expected to happen again this spring as census reports are finalized.

Holdman, who has served since 2008, became Jay County’s representative in the Senate after district lines were redrawn in 2011. He recognized district reorganization will once again receive “a lot of attention,” as it did in 2011.