Published: June 30, 2009 05:23 pm      

Indiana House passes two-year state budget bill

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana House has voted to pass a new two-year state budget after an impassioned debate that reflected deep divisions among lawmakers.

The Democrat-led House voted 62-37 for the bill, with most of the chamber's 48 Republicans voting for it and most of the 52 Democrats voting against it. The initial tally was 62-36, but Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, petitioned to change his vote to no after he was originally listed as not voting.

The Republican-ruled Senate was expected to pass the $27.8 billion bill and send it to Gov. Mitch Daniels, who is expected to sign it.

Lawmakers faced a midnight Tuesday deadline to pass a new budget or stopgap funding measure to prevent most state government from shutting down.