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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is expected to talk during his annual State of the State speech about a possible additional boost in school funding — just not one that would happen this year.
Holcomb is set to speak Tuesday night before a joint session of the Indiana House and Senate nearly two months after several thousand teachers attended a Statehouse rally calling for better pay.
Holcomb and others haven't given details of the proposal, but Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma says it will “free up resources” in future years.
Holcomb is largely expected to focus on his 2020 agenda, which he announced in December. Perhaps the most controversial part of it is an effort to ban driving while using a cell phone unless hands free – something the General Assembly hasn’t embraced. Many will be looking at how Holcomb addresses that issue in front of lawmakers.
But it’s likely teachers who will be most curious about Holcomb’s yearly address. Issues of teacher licensing, evaluations and – notably – salaries have been the subject of intense debate leading into the 2020 session. And educators will be listening for Holcomb’s message on those topics.
Holcomb’s fourth State of the State is also the final one of his first term, so a re-election campaign will loom over his remarks Tuesday evening.
