State Senators Jason Barickman and Bill Brady

by Todd Wineburner with Claudia Johnson

Republicans in the general assembly generally opposed a 2.2 billion dollar supplemental appropriations bill that moved through the legislature this week. Being a significant minority party, however, the GOP couldn’t muster the votes to stop the bill and now it’s on its way to the governor’s desk. Senator Jason Barickman says the state can control spending, it simply doesn’t—and this bill is an example. Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington says he did support some areas of the appropriation, but overall the bill was simply too much money given the state’s finances and so he voted ‘no’ as well. The bill is now headed for the governor’s desk and he’s expected to sign it.