New General Assembly Takes Office With Big Workload In Front Of Them

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(STATEHOUSE) - The newly-elected General Assembly convenes today.

The new session won't begin in earnest until January, but the annual Organization Day session will mark the formal installation of Democrat Patrick Bauer for another term as House Speaker, and Republican David Long for another go-round as Senate President Pro Tem.

17 new representatives and six new senators will be sworn in to start their terms, including two senators returning to the chamber after leaving to pursue other offices: Oldenburg Republican Jean Leising and East Chicago Democrat Lonnie Randolph. Indianapolis has five new legislators, all Democrats: Senator Greg Taylor and Representatives Ed Delaney, Cherrish Pryor, John F. Barnes, and Mary Ann Sullivan.

The four-month session will write Indiana's next two-year budget. Governor Daniels has already warned the state will have to clamp down on spending, and probably dip into rainy-day funds to make the budget balance.

Legislators are expected to spend a lot of time debating the year-old recommendations of the Kernan-Shepard Report, which called for abolishing township government and most county offices.

And Daniels wants action on expanded college scholarships and steering more school money to the classroom.

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