— Indiana House Republicans have put forward a two-year state spending plan that counts on revenue from a $1 per-pack cigarette tax increase.
The $31.7 billion plan includes a modest funding increase for K-12 education and directs an additional $10 million to the state’ preschool pilot program for needy kids.
It sets aside $5 million in funding for efforts to be undertaken by Gov. Eric Holcomb’s new drug czar and would give Indiana state troopers a 12 percent pay raise over the next two years.
The proposal put forward Wednesday by House Ways and Means Chairman Tim Brown was approved by his own committee on a 14-8 vote, with Democrats in opposition.
Key Republicans in the state Senate have already signaled that they object to cigarette tax increase.