From the New Castle Courier-Times:
Taxpayers and motorists were winners because of what happened. Those receiving welfare assistance were, too, because of what didn't.
But more than a roll of the dice stopped a gambling bill in its tracks, leading some to believe the handwriting, albeit not cursive, may be on the wall for further declines in gaming revenue.
That sums up for State Sen. Jean Leising the good, the bad and the disappointing of the 2013 Indiana General Assembly, which ended Saturday in the early morning hours.
Taxpayers received a lot of the good news, through elimination of the inheritance tax and a 5 percent tax cut spread out over four years.
Hoosier motorists could celebrate the prospects of better local roads, thanks to changes in funding made during the session.
But as good as that news was, Leising, R-Oldenburg, said she understood how some might be disappointed with the demise of cursive writing, the funding local schools will receive and the fact that a bill requiring drug testing of welfare recipients failed.
Those in favor of live table games at Indiana casinos didn't get their way, either.
Such were the ups and downs of another legislative session. Here are some of the highlights Leising listed Monday in an interview with The Courier-Times.
Tax cut
It wasn't the size Gov. Mike Pence wanted but Leising said she was pleased with the cuts included in the state's $30 billion state budget.
"I think most people know how better to spend their money than the government does," Leising said. "I'm glad we were able to lower the rate a little."
Perhaps even more significant than the 5 percent income tax cut spread out through 2017 was the complete elimination of the inheritance tax.
During the 2012 session, legislation was passed that phased out that tax over a nine-year period. But new legislation this session not only eliminates the inheritance tax immediately, but makes it retroactive to Jan. 1, 2013.
"Anybody that has lost a loved one since Jan. 1 should be aware of that," Leising said. "It will make a difference. People who were retiring were moving to other states because of our antiquated inheritance tax. Now there will be no reason for that."
Road funding
Some creative shifting of how the Indiana State Police is funded has freed up more money for local road work. Leising said Henry County is due to receive about $659,000 more than it did the previous year. That amount would be coming in both 2014 and 2015.
"We are finally going to put some money back into local roads," Leising said. "We are replacing the motor vehicle highway fund appropriation for the Indiana State Police and using state general fund dollars for that instead. I think this is a big plus I know for people in Henry County as well as the other six counties in my district."
Leising also said a Major Moves 2020 trust fund was established with $200 million allocated for future projects, such as adding lanes and other improvements for Indiana highways.
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Gambling
While she realizes not everyone likes the large part gambling plays in Indiana now, Leising expressed disappointment that a bid to add live table games to Hoosier racinos and casinos was defeated.
She was a co-author of the legislation, primarily because it would have been a job creator.
"No matter how people feel individually about gaming, it has become a big part of our revenue," Leising said. "Gaming has been either our third- or fourth-largest source of revenue after sales and individual income taxes."
Currently, table games are available at Anderson and Shelbyville facilities, but they are electronically operated. No live dealer is involved. In the end, some balked because it was considered an expansion of gambling.
Leising disagreed.
"Many of us here maintained it really wasn't an expansion of gambling, just a replacement of machines with people. The racinos had both told us they had planned on hiring about 300 people for those positions and each one of those jobs carried a $40,000 salary. My area needs good jobs like that. I was pretty disappointed we didn't get that accomplished."
The bill would have also allowed riverboat casinos to build land-based venues on any land they already own. That passed the Senate with Leising's support, but the House balked, stripping down the measure to mostly tax breaks to help casinos compete.
Leising thinks more help may be needed. Growing competition from Ohio, particularly the new Cincinnati casino, which is already land-based and does have live dealers at table games, is a major concern, according to Leising.
"Someone in Harrison, Ohio, would find it easier to drive to Shelbyville instead of downtown Cincinnati, but with the live table games offered there, they probably won't come this way," Leising said.
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http://www.thecouriertimes.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=280943&SectionID=23&SubSectionID=45&S=1
