Could a cigarette tax hike be coming? Indiana’s legislative leaders — minus one embattled dropout — talked budget, energy, taxes and more in downtown Indianapolis on Monday morning. They spoke at an annual preview from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, which also released new tax recommendations. “I think it’s going to be a challenge, obviously, a budget year with a fewer dollars than we’ve had in the last three budget years or so,” Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray said.
“The main issues that we’re looking at this year, none of them seem to have a really clear resolution. So we’re looking forward to ..
. working with all of you to try to find some good solutions,” he told the crowd. House Speaker Todd Huston extolled the Legislature’s past successes while House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta acknowledged “a little more uncertainty this year,” and expressed interest in the state’s forthcoming revenue forecast.
Missing was Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor, who abruptly pulled out of his scheduled Q&A session. His absence coincided with Monday morning news: the Indianapolis Star reported three woman have accused Taylor of sexual harassment. He was reinstalled as caucus leader hours later.
Rebecca Patrick, the chamber’s senior vice president of communications and marketing, told reporters that her organization learned shortly before the event that Taylor wouldn’t be able to make it. Leaders talk possible changes Bray cited the state’s w.