[Melissa]

Indiana budget - update

If the legislature doesn't pass a budget by midnight tonight, state government shuts down tomorrow.

(Oh but good news, so-and-so senator says they're close to having a budget to VOTE on. Well thank heavens. You're close to a VOTE.)

You should have seen the crowd at the license branch! A. Last day of the month and B. everyone apparently worried they'll be closed tomorrow till ?. Luckily I didn't have to go, I just drove by one.

If they don't figure it out by tonight, hope they do by the weekend. State-run campgrounds would be closed - just in time for the 4th of July. Wouldn't that suck for people who had made camping plans?

 

[Nick]

Our legislators are busy trying to run off one of the industries that identifies this state (horse racing) because they don't want to allow slots at the track. Apparently that will destroy the state by allowing people to gamble at the race track, never mind our huge deficit.

 

[jzgrlduff]

Exactly what happened in NJ last year or the year before. It was shutdown for 3 or 4 days....

 

[kiddsmom]

Be thankful you don't live in California.

 

[Thunders Mom]

Minnesota was like that in May. Last minute vote and they went home with jobs.

 

[theoconbrio]

Our legislators are busy trying to run off one of the industries that identifies this state (horse racing) because they don't want to allow slots at the track. Apparently that will destroy the state by allowing people to gamble at the race track, never mind our huge deficit.

Why? Is it a moral thing? Not to oversimplify, but when I think of Kentucky, horse racing and liquor (both of which I approve of wholeheartedly) are two of the first things that come to mind... (Oh, and Wendell Berry.)

 

[Melissa]

Is betting on the horses morally superior gambling to slot machines? Cause unless I'm missing something there already is gambling at the race track.

 

[Nick]

Why? Is it a moral thing? Not to oversimplify, but when I think of Kentucky, horse racing and liquor (both of which I approve of wholeheartedly) are two of the first things that come to mind... (Oh, and Wendell Berry.)

And tobacco, and the biggest cash crop is marijuana (I guess the latter is irrelevant since it is illegal). If you're looking for a logical explanation, there is none. The issue of casinos was big in the last election and a lot of people oppose them (Kentucky doesn't allow casinos, has long opposed them because they want to protect the horse racing industry, which I could understand in the past). Those people are afraid this is a piecemeal approach to bringing in casinos. We have a lottery. Horse racing is a billion dollar industry here. I get the argument that it's essential a tax on the poor because it does disproportionately impact the poor and uneducated. But to me, that argument was long put to bed with horse racing and the lottery.

The problem is not that it's impossible to balance the budget without slots. The problem is that all the other states with race tracks allow slots, and the slots supplement the purses. Kentucky has some of the smallest purses, so naturally fewer and fewer race are run here. Many stables are moving to Pennsylvania, California and New York taking jobs with them. Unlike the past, slots don't compete with the races, they actually supplement them. I don't see the point in sinking an important industry here on the basis that slots may adversely affect compulsive gamblers when we have a lottery and horse racing. If you're going to gamble away your life earnings, you can either drive across the river to Indiana, Illinois, across the border to Tennessee, or do it a $2 bet at a time at the track. I don't understand the argument that adding slots at a place of gambling is going to make things worse.

 

[bacatherine]

Being one of those people with Camping plans in the state of Indiana this weekend, they better pass that budget!!! I'm going to really ticked if we can't go camping. It's one of the weekends we look forward to every year as it's a big group that goes and we have such a good time.

 

[pbc]

Being one of those people with Camping plans in the state of Indiana this weekend, they better pass that budget!!! I'm going to really ticked if we can't go camping. It's one of the weekends we look forward to every year as it's a big group that goes and we have such a good time.

There is a state park near here that will close if this happens. My neighbor lady works at a private campground in our community and she told me this morning that they have been flooded with calls from people paniced about this looking for an alternative site in case they cannot get in the park. You may want to try and find something asap just in case.

 

[bacatherine]

There is a state park near here that will close if this happens. My neighbor lady works at a private campground in our community and she told me this morning that they have been flooded with calls from people paniced about this looking for an alternative site in case they cannot get in the park. You may want to try and find something asap just in case.

Thanks I doubt we'll find anything most of the other places we frequent are booked up years in advance for the holiday weekends like this. There are 5 campers so it's hard to find spots for everyone to hook up. At least everyone is fairly local they will probably just go to someone's house and visit Saturday, maybe go to my uncles lake to swim if they don't go but it's still going to stink. I really look forward to this every year it's a good group.

 

[Melissa]

Legislature passed budget. Governor signed (with about four hours to spare.) Weekend camping trips are safe.

 

[Lexis Mom]

If the legislature doesn't pass a budget by midnight tonight, state government shuts down tomorrow.

Know that feeling, PA is still fighting about the budget. As of last night it had not been passed. PA State Government workers had already been notified they would not be getting paid unless the budget is passed.

Have not heard whether or not it will affect government services, but I suspect it will to some extent.

 

[bacatherine]

YAY!!!!