Pence: ‘Pleased Beyond Words’ With General Assembly

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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGovernor Mike Pence says, even though he didn’t get everything he asked for in the legislative session, the results were "a win for Indiana." During a news conference in Indianapolis Friday morning, the governor detailed a myriad of initiatives he said came together in a collaborative and bipartisan way "to move the agenda that we had advanced." Pence said the bills heading to his desk that focus on jobs and economic development, education and "combating the scourge of drug abuse."
Pence focused much of his attention on the state and local road funding measures that were significantly pared down as they moved through the House and Senate. In total, Pence says the funding will free up more than $1 billion over the next two years for maintenance. The formula includes what Pence calls a balanced plan for local and state infrastructure work. It was dubbed by some on both side of the aisle as short-term, but Pence says the 1.5 percent shift of gas use taxes toward future road repairs makes it an historic investment that will provide millions of dollars for years to come.
The governor also singled out the full funding of a third region in the state’s Regional Cities Initiative. The language to fund it was included in the transportation bill. It will be paid for by last year’s tax amnesty program. Pence urged legislators to expand the initiative with a third, $42 million investment.
Pence also addressed road and bridge funding measures, which were reduced in scope throughout the legislative process.