Pelath backs Pence plan over House GOP budget

Indiana

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INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence is deriding House Republicans’ state budget plan that would replace his proposed tax cut with more spending on roads and education.

And the Republican governor is winning a strange bedfellow in the process: Democratic House Minority Leader Scott Pelath.

House Ways and Means Chairman Tim Brown outlined a budget Friday that calls for $250 million more for roads each year and more than doubles the increase Pence sought for schools.

Pence says he’s “disappointed” with the move and will “protect taxpayers” from the House GOP plan in ongoing budget negotiations.

Pelath said Friday the House should vote on Pence’s $500 million proposed cut to Indiana’s personal income tax. He vigorously denied that his stance was a political move to back House Republicans into a corner.