Indiana Public Question #1 Passes With Overwhelming Support

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Last week, Indiana voters ratified a change in the state’s constitution. The change requires the state’s General Assembly to only pass balanced budgets.

This midterm election, residents voted yes on Indiana Public Question #1 to alter the State Constitution.

The statehouse revises the state’s budget every two years after the general election takes place. This legislative session is commonly referred to as a “long session” due to the extended time it takes to approve the budget.

Last week’s constitutional change, which mandates balanced budgets, passed, with over 70 percent of voters approving the measure. Indiana joins upwards of 40 other states with similar requirements.  

The amendment also allows for this rule to be suspended if a super-majority of two-thirds from the state’s house of representatives and state senate choose to do so. The amendment was championed by Vice President and former Indiana Governor, Mike Pence, who introduced the idea back in 2015.

The change to Indiana’s constitution is significant because the state’s governing document is one of the hardest to change. Unlike most states, Indiana’s constitution does not contain any clause that provides for a citizen referendum on statutes or constitutional amendments; The only method to amend the Indiana State Constitution is through the General Assembly.

Once the first assembly passes an amendment, it must be passed by the next successive Assembly after a general election. The amendment then goes to public vote, which is exactly what happened with this balanced budget initiative.

Support for the amendment comes primarily from Republican camps, but with Democratic support as well over time. The Credit Agency, Moody’s, praised the budget mandate referring to is as “credit positive”.

The main skepticism comes from Indiana Unions. They are worried that it will hurt pensions for teachers, police, and firefighters in the State. However, according to the non-partisan Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) these worries are incorrect. INPRS released a series of statements claiming that the amendment will have no impact on pre-funded public pension funds.