INDIANAPOLIS -- Emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility, Gov. Frank O'Bannon's State of the State Address received mixed reviews from both Democrat and Republican parties. \nCurrent projections of a slowing economy colored the governor's address and bring a grim reality to the Indiana General Assembly.\n"It is a real wake-up call to know that the state's economy will not be able to support all of the programs we initiated during the last sessions," said House Majority Leader Mark Kruzan, D-Bloomington. \nWith shrinking projected state revenues, higher education is one area that will not receive the expected funding increases described during O'Bannon's re-election campaign last fall.\n"There was some talk about higher education in the speech tonight, but the governor did not talk about the budget for it," Kruzan said. "Unfortunately at the top of the list of victims of the economic slowdown is higher education."\nO'Bannon's support from his party is still strong because of his broad community-building agenda. \n"I was very pleased with the speech and the governor's inclusion of the reduction of the Blood Alcohol Content level to .08," said State Rep. Peggy Welch, who co-wrote the bill.\nThe Republican response, given by Minority House Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, touched on many issues O'Bannon did not include in his plan for Indiana's future. The speech opened with concerns for the economic future for the state and included specific points on employment and education.\n"We did not hear about the job flight crisis that we have in our state causing thousands of jobs leaving every month," he said. "We did not talk about creating a tax atmosphere that will attract employers to make investments in our state." \nBosma also addressed specific concerns for the future of employment in technical fields in Indiana.\n"We did not hear a plan for attracting high-tech jobs to our regional technical centers and did not hear about attracting tomorrow's jobs here today," he said.\nDespite the differing opinions regarding O'Bannon's vision for the future, bipartisan cooperation is at the top of most legislators' agendas.\n"I have good friends in the Republican party, and we always try to work together," Welch said.
Parties give mixed reviews for State of the State speech
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