Chamber Scores 2017 Legislative Session
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Chamber says the 2017 General Assembly earned an "A-" for results from the legislative session. It lauded the long-term road funding plan that could put $1.2 billion per year toward road and bridge work. Chamber President Kevin Brinegar says one legislative shortcoming is lack of "significant progress" toward anti-smoking legislation.
He said the chamber and its allies against smoking will be back in 2018 to fight tobacco use, which the chamber says costs Hoosier employers $6 billion a year and tax payers $5 million a year.
Brinegar said positive outcomes included:
- the Next Level Trust Fund, which could open up additional investment dollars for more higher risk, higher growth-potential companies
- extension of the Venture Capital Investment Tax Credit
- expansion of the pre-kindergarten pilot program
- approval of the ILEARN examination to replace the embattled ISTEP
- switching the Indiana superintendent of public instruction position from elected to a governor-appointed secretary of education position
You can connect to the full review by Brinegar by clicking here.