Holcomb Lauds Legislative Success
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGovernor Eric Holcomb says the Indiana House and Senate "overdelivered" in the 2017 General Assembly. Holcomb says he has signed 161 bills into law, vetoed one and 109 remain. Holcomb says "we got what we needed" in many economic development aspects of the state’s two-year budget, but adds he will return to the legislature in the future to discuss fizzled-out legislation that involves state-funded venture capital investment.
During a news conference Tuesday at the Statehouse, Holcomb said the approved legislation shows a focus on strengthening the economy of the future. "We have to meet the actual demands that economy is calling for," he said. Holcomb says bills and initiatives receiving funding including Regional Cities, Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, direct flights from Indiana airports and the new Next Level Fund are in-line with boosting the push toward the knowledge economy.
One of the biggest victories claimed by top lawmakers was the big boost to road and bridge spending. In order to fund what could be an estimated $1.2 billion in additional infrastructure spending per year, the state has cleared the way for potential tolling on more Indiana roadways. He says a list of possible future road projects could be released in June, as could details of roads that could be candidates for tolling. He lauded individual projects including approval of plans to double-track the South Shore rail line in northwest Indiana and mentioned the state is making "continued progress" on a proposed fourth Indiana port.