3/15/06-Gov. Mitch Daniels signed a bill into law Wednesday, March 15, authorizing the lease of the Indiana Toll Road to a foreign group for 75 years at a cost of $3.85 billion.
The bill’s signing came 16 hours after the General Assembly approved the effort.
The leasing plan cleared the House without a single vote to spare. Fifty-one of 52 Republicans voted to send the bill to the governor. The chamber's 48 Democrats voted against the effort.
Senators approved it 31-19 shortly thereafter, with two Democrats joining 29 Republicans in support of the governor's “Major Moves” initiative. Four Senate Republicans voted against it and four Senate Democrats did not cast votes.
Most Democrats objected to authorizing Daniels to lease of the 157-mile toll route to a Spanish-Australian consortium – Cintra and Macquarie Infrastructure Group. The lease is the biggest chunk of the Republican governor's 10-year, $10.6 billion statewide construction plan.
A big point of contention for opponents is the logic and fiscal sense of giving up control of a state asset such as the Indiana Toll Road – and its revenue stream – for 75 years in exchange for a decade-long road program. All toll revenue, including toll increases that are built into the deal, would go to the foreign consortium leasing the road.
The governor and most Republicans, however, touted the plan as a way to help pay for transportation projects and create tens of thousands of jobs.
Besides the toll lease, the revised bill would allow the governor to build an extension of Interstate 69 as a toll road from Evansville to Martinsville. However, the governor would need to get legislative approval to make the final 25 miles of the planned route from Martinsville to Indianapolis a toll road.
It also would require the proposed extension to be shifted west of Perry Township in southern Indianapolis.
Noncommercial cars and trucks would be exempt from planned toll increases this spring under the bill.
Electronic tolling eventually would be installed allowing motorists with special devices in those vehicles to bypass toll booths and then be sent bills. They also would receive 40 percent fare discounts.
The proposed deal would include additional money to counties along the toll road as well as allot $500 million to be set aside in a trust fund for roads. Interest from the money could be tapped every five years, beginning in 2011.
The toll road operators would also be exempt from paying property taxes for the route, but their income would be subject to state corporate taxes.

3/15/06-The General Assembly approved a bill late Tuesday, March 14, that would authorize Gov. Mitch Daniels to lease the Indiana Toll Road to a foreign group for 75 years at a cost of $3.85 billion. It now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
The bill cleared the House without a single vote to spare. Fifty-one of 52 Republicans voted to send the bill to the governor. The chamber’s 48 Democrats voted against the effort. Senators approved it 31-19 shortly thereafter, with two Democrats joining 29 Republicans in support of the governor’s “Major Moves” initiative.
Most Democrats objected to authorizing Daniels to lease of the 157-mile toll route to a Spanish-Australian consortium – Cintra and Macquarie Infrastructure Group. The lease is the biggest chunk of the Republican governor’s 10-year, $10.6 billion statewide construction plan.
A big point of contention for opponents is the logic and fiscal sense of giving up a state asset such as the Indiana Toll Road – and its revenue stream – for 75 years in exchange for a decade-long road program. All toll revenue, including toll increases that are built into the deal, would go to the foreign consortium leasing the road.
The governor and most Republicans, however, touted the plan as a way to help pay for transportation projects and create tens of thousands of jobs.
Besides the toll lease, the revised bill would allow the governor to build an extension of Interstate 69 as a toll road from Evansville to Martinsville. However, the governor would need to get legislative approval to make the final 25 miles of the planned route from Martinsville to Indianapolis a toll road.
It also would require the proposed extension to be shifted west of Perry Township in southern Indianapolis.
Noncommercial cars and trucks would be exempt from planned toll increases this spring.
Electronic tolling eventually would be installed allowing motorists with special devices in those vehicles to bypass toll booths and then be sent bills. They also would receive 40 percent fare discounts.
The proposed deal would include additional money to counties along the toll road as well as allot $500 million to be set aside in a trust fund for roads. Interest from the money could be tapped every five years, beginning in 2011.
The toll road operators also would be exempt from paying property taxes for the route, but their income would be subject to state corporate taxes.

3/7/06-A quartet of influential lawmakers began negotiations Tuesday, March 7, to reach agreement on a bill that would authorize Gov. Mitch Daniels to lease the Indiana Toll Road to a foreign group for nearly $4 billion.
The measure, which would authorize a 75-year lease of the 157-mile toll route to a Spanish-Australian consortium, is the biggest chunk of the Republican governor’s 10-year, $10.6 billion statewide construction plan.
A conference committee made up of two House and Senate members gathered at the Indiana statehouse Tuesday morning to work out their differences in the bill. Three of the participants – Rep. Randy Borror, R-Fort Wayne; Sen. Robert Meeks, R-LaGrange; and Sen. Glenn Howard, D-Indianapolis – previously voted in favor of the bill, while Rep. Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, opposed it.
The version that passed the Senate March 2 would require legislative approval of any future public-private partnerships to toll existing or planned highways. Daniels has said he wants to make a planned extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville a private toll road.
Another change made to the bill while in the Senate would set aside $400 million in a trust fund that could not be tapped until it grows to $1 billion. At that time, interest from the fund could be used to help pay for highway projects beyond the state’s 10-year transportation plan.
Another change would allow annual tax credits for tolls incurred by many Indiana residents.
It would allot for a maximum annual credit of $300 for residents who file an individual income tax return during the next decade. But those credits are not available for small-business truckers.
Dropped from the bill was a House-approved provision that sought to place a 10-year freeze on tolls for passenger vehicles that belong to residents in Indiana Toll Road counties.
Meeks, the bill’s Senate sponsor, said he was concerned unequal pricing would violate the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Macquarie Infrastructure Group of Sydney, Australia, and the Cintra firm, based in Madrid, Spain, bid to lease the toll road for $3.85 billion. The bid needs approval from lawmakers to be completed.
In the next decade, supporters said the lease would cover a gap of $2.8 billion needed for road and bridge work throughout the state. The seven Indiana Toll Road counties would receive 34 percent of net proceeds.
If the committee is able to hammer out a compromise version of the bill, it would need one last favorable vote in both chambers prior to the end of the session March 14. It would then head to the governor’s desk for his signature.
If lawmakers cannot reach agreement before the session ends, a special overtime session could follow.
For bill status, call (317) 232-9856.

3/2/06-The Senate voted 29-20 Thursday, March 2, to approve a bill that would authorize Gov. Mitch Daniels to lease the Indiana Toll Road to a foreign group for nearly $4 billion.
The vote came one day after senators considered 37 amendments to the bill that would authorize a 75-year lease of the 157-mile toll route to a Spanish-Australian consortium. The deal is the biggest chunk of the Republican governor’s 10-year, $10.6 billion statewide construction plan.
Only a handful of changes were approved Wednesday, March 1, including a requirement that $15 million from the $3.85 billion toll road lease payment be spent on upgrades to the Gary/Chicago airport.
Among the failed efforts to alter the bill was an offer to generate $1.5 billion for highway projects by using toll road revenue to back bonds.
The amended bill – HB1008 – now heads to a conference committee made up of select members of the House and Senate to reach agreement on all of the bill’s provisions. If they are able to hammer out a compromise version of the bill, it would need one last favorable vote in both chambers before it could head to the governor’s desk for his signature.
If lawmakers cannot reach agreement before the session ends March 14, a special overtime session could follow.
Since the bill passed the House a month ago, lawmakers have been busy crossing out and scribbling in provisions to the bill.
Among the modifications to the bill while it was in the Senate Appropriations Committee is a provision that would require legislative approval of any future public-private partnerships to toll existing or planned highways. Daniels has said he wants to make a planned extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville a private toll road.
Another change would set aside $400 million in a trust fund that could not be tapped until it grows to $1 billion. At that time, interest from the fund could be used to help pay for highway projects beyond the state’s 10-year transportation plan.
Another change would allow annual tax credits for tolls incurred by many Indiana residents.
It would allot for a maximum annual credit of $300 for residents who file an individual income tax return during the next decade. But those credits are not available for small-business truckers.
Dropped from the bill was a House-approved provision that sought to place a 10-year freeze on tolls for passenger vehicles that belong to residents in Indiana Toll Road counties.
For bill status, call (317) 232-9856.

2/6/06-A bill that would authorize Gov. Mitch Daniels to lease the Indiana Toll Road to a Spanish-Australian group for nearly $4 billion is scheduled for debate Thursday, Feb. 9, in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill previously passed the House on a 52-28 party line vote.
The bill, which is the largest part of the Republican governor’s “Major Moves” road plan, is expected to undergo a few changes in committee.
Among the likely modifications is removal of a provision that would place a 10-year freeze on tolls for passenger vehicles that belong to residents in Indiana Toll Road counties.
The provision was added to the bill – HB1008 – during debate on the House floor.
Some House Republicans, specifically those from districts that include the toll road, had wavered about backing the bill. But observers said the GOP-led changes approved Feb. 2 shored up support that was needed to pass the bill along party lines.
Another amendment added to appease House Republicans would create a regional authority to coordinate economic development projects in Elkhart, Steuben and LaGrange counties and provide $100 million in the next decade to help finance them.
That revenue could come from an up front payment of $3.85 billion that Macquarie Infrastructure Group of Sydney, Australia, and the Cintra firm, based in Madrid, Spain, has bid to lease the toll road for 75 years. The bid needs approval from the Senate to be completed.
In the next decade, the lease would more than cover a gap of $2.8 billion needed for road and bridge work throughout the state, as well as pay for an extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville and make it a private toll road.
A private lease would include a noncompete clause barring the state from building a new east-west highway 10 miles north or south of the toll road. And the state would have to compensate the toll road operator if it built more than 20 miles of east-west highway within the buffer zone.
Meeks said the committee likely would hold three hearings on the bill before voting on it Feb. 23. The House would have to sign off on any changes before sending it to the governor.
For bill status, call (317) 232-9856.

2/1/06-A bill that would authorize Gov. Mitch Daniels to lease the Indiana Toll Road passed the House Wednesday, Feb. 1.
House lawmakers voted 52-47 along party lines to advance the largest part of the Republican governor’s “Major Moves” road plan. It next heads to the Senate for further debate.
The vote came one day after lawmakers spent Tuesday, Jan. 31, making several changes to the leasing bill – HB1008 – and one day before the deadline to advance the bill from the chamber.
Among the changes is a 10-year freeze on the tolls for passenger vehicles that belong to residents in Indiana Toll Road counties.
Another amendment would create a regional authority to coordinate economic development projects in Elkhart, Steuben and LaGrange counties in northeastern Indiana and provide $100 million in the next decade to help finance them.
That revenue could come from an up front payment of $3.85 billion that a foreign consortium has bid to lease the toll road for 75 years. The bid, which is part of Daniels’ highway plan, needs approval from the Senate to be completed. Macquarie Infrastructure Group of Sydney, Australia, and the Cintra firm, based in Madrid, Spain, joined efforts to bid on the deal.
Some House Republicans, specifically those from districts that include the toll road, had wavered about backing the bill. But observers said the GOP-led changes approved on Tuesday shored up support that was needed to pass the bill along party lines.
Republicans hold a much larger margin in the Senate where Sen. Robert Meeks, R-LaGrange, will take the lead on getting the bill approved.
The lone Democrat-led change to gain approval in the House was an amendment that would require an American flag be flown at toll booths along the route. It won unanimous support.
The toll freeze would allow commuters, which comprise one-third of the route’s traffic, to pay the same rate they pay now until 2016. The freeze will require the state to pay about $150 million to the private group.
Local residents will face higher passenger vehicle rates after 10 years, plus the possibility of future hikes of at least 2 percent annually.
In the next decade, the lease would more than cover a gap of $2.8 billion needed for road and bridge work throughout the state, as well as pay for an extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville and make it a private toll road.
A private lease would include a noncompete clause barring the state from building a new east-west highway 10 miles north or south of the toll road. And the state would have to compensate the toll road operator if it built more than 20 miles of east-west highway within the buffer zone.
For bill status, call (317) 232-9856.

1/31/06-Lawmakers in the House spent Tuesday, Jan. 31, making changes to a bill that would authorize Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels to lease the Indiana Toll Road to a Spanish-Australian group.
Among the provisions added to the measure is a 10-year freeze on the price that passenger vehicles from Indiana Toll Road counties pay to drive the highway in northern Indiana.
Another amendment would create a regional authority to coordinate economic development projects in Elkhart, Steuben and LaGrange counties in northeastern Indiana and provide $100 million over the next decade to help finance them.
That revenue could come from an up front payment of $3.85 billion Cintra of Madrid and Macquarie Infrastructure Group of Sydney has bid to lease the toll road for 75 years. The bid, which is part of Daniels’ “Major Moves” highway plan, needs approval from the House and Senate to be completed.
The lone Democrat-led change to gain approval was an amendment that would require an American flag be flown at toll booths along the route. It won unanimous support.
The toll freeze would allow commuters, which comprise one-third of the route’s traffic, to pay the same rate they pay now until 2016. The freeze will require the state to pay about $150 million to the private group.
The leasing initiative is the biggest chunk of the governor’s 10-year, $10.6 billion statewide construction plan.
In the next decade, the lease would more than cover a gap of $2.8 billion needed for road and bridge work throughout the state, as well as pay for an extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville and make it a private toll road.
A private lease would include a noncompete clause barring the state from building a new east-west highway 10 miles north or south of the Toll Road. And the state would have to compensate the Toll Road operator if it built more than 20 miles of east-west highway within the buffer zone.
HB1008 still must pass the House by midnight Thursday, Feb. 2, to advance to the Senate.
For bill status, call (317) 232-9856.

1/25/06-The House Ways and Means Committee voted 14-10 Tuesday, Jan. 24, to advance a bill that would allow the state to lease the Indiana Toll Road for 75 years. It now heads to the full House for debate.
The initiative is the biggest chunk of the governor’s 10-year, $10.6 billion statewide construction plan dubbed “Major Moves.”
HB1008 would allow Gov. Mitch Daniels to lease the 157-mile route to a Spanish-Australian group.
If approved by the legislature, the state could receive $3.85 billion in June.
In the next decade, the lease would cover a gap of $2.8 billion needed for road and bridge work throughout the state, as well as pay for an extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville and make it a private toll road.
In addition to leasing roads, the bill would give the governor sweeping authority to impose an extensive menu of toll rates. That would change existing state law that requires tolls to be uniform by distance.
Before the vote, the panel made changes that limited the bill to only roads and bridges. It previously allowed the governor to seek similar lease arrangements for airports, cargo ports and transit systems.
For bill status, call (317) 232-9856.

1/13/06-A bill in the House Ways and Means Committee would allow the state to lease the Indiana Toll Road to private investors.
The initiative is the biggest chunk of the governor’s 10-year, $10.6 billion statewide construction plan dubbed “Major Moves.”
To help pay for the plan, the state is preparing for offers by several private firms to lease the toll road for 75 years. Bids for the lease are due by Jan. 20.
The lease amount – estimated at more than $2 billion – would help the state to cover a gap of $2.8 billion needed for road and bridge work throughout the state for the next decade as well as possibly pay for an extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville.
In return for taking over operation and maintenance of the toll road, a private group would keep all of the toll money collected.
Any leasing plans in Indiana would require approval from state lawmakers. With that in mind, Rep. Randy Borror, R-Fort Wayne, is carrying the governor’s plan in the General Assembly.
The House panel is scheduled to discuss Borror’s bill – HB1008 – Tuesday, Jan. 17.
In addition to leasing roads, the bill authorizes privatizing airports, cargo ports and transit systems.
For bill status, call (317) 232-9856.