(INDIANAPOLIS) – An abortion bill isn’t the only one legislators are still trying to finish writing before a special session later this month. Governor Holcomb’s tax rebate may get a revision too.
Holcomb called the special session to pass a $225 rebate to help Hoosiers with rising costs. That’s on top of the automatic $125 rebate announced earlier this year. Indiana’s surplus is still ballooning, which Holcomb notes would trigger another automatic rebate in two years. He says there’s no reason to wait to send Hoosiers help, and says the rebate checks are the fastest and most efficient way to do it.
But Democrats and some Republicans complain the rebate doesn’t help 900,000 Hoosiers who don’t have to file tax returns. Holcomb says he’s looking into it.
And Senator Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis) wants to nearly double the rebate to $400, and add $2 billion in spending on schools, preschool, prenatal care and mental health. At least a portion of that spending may attract Republican support. House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) has said the eventual abortion restriction bill should be paired with expanded care for pregnant women and new mothers, and Holcomb says more resources for prenatal care was going to be part of his next budget proposal even before the Supreme Court reignited the battle over abortion.
Holcomb has said some legislators have proposed paying down more state debt during the special session.
The House and Senate plan to convene July 25.
