Three provisions didn't make Senate hearing but could be added on yet.
BY STEPHANIE GATTMAN
sgattman@etruth.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- State Rep. Craig Fry, D-Mishawaka, is trying to revive language from several bills that could help Elkhart County's struggling economy.
Three provisions originally passed the Indiana House overwhelmingly but failed to get a hearing in the Senate. They would create a sales tax exemption for RVs purchased by out-of-state buyers; give $250,000 to economic development corporations in counties that have unemployment rates of more than 14 percent; and create tax incentives for any business of $10 million or more that relocates specifically to Elkhart County before July 1, 2010. A fourth provision would create a sales tax holiday for RV buyers.
Fry has asked key Democratic legislators, whom he called "prominent players in the budget side of the Democratic leadership," to insert the language into the budget bill that must be passed yet this session.
State Rep. Bill Crawford, chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, is one of the people Fry is asking for help.
"Bill Crawford came up to me when all this dialogue was going on and when Elkhart was in the news with the high unemployment with all these things. He said 'I'm willing to help' and 'Just tell me what we need and I will help,'" Fry said.
Fry said Wednesday night he's met with state Reps. Jackie Walorski, R-Elkhart, and Wes Culver, R-Goshen, and state Sen. Carlin Yoder, R-Middlebury. "We're just going to try all the avenues to get those four issues" inserted, he said.
"We have to do everything we can as legislators to try to get that turned around and help our local government officials be progressive in finding maybe new employers or new markets for our employers to get involved with," Fry said.
The Democrat is convinced Elkhart County will come back, and he wants to make sure that the Legislature has put things in place so when it happens "we have things greased that it makes it better."
"I hope we can get something done," Fry said of himself, Walorski, Culver and Yoder.
The Indiana General Assembly must adjourn by Wednesday or be called into special session by Gov. Mitch Daniels.