House Republicans advance state budget proposal

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana House Republicans have advanced a state budget proposal that boosts school funding by 2.3 percent each of the next two years.

The House voted 69-29 Tuesday mostly along party lines to endorse the two-year spending plan, sending it to the Senate for debate.

House plan results in less funding going to school districts that are losing students, while some affluent suburban districts would see increases of 10 percent or more. Republican leaders say that's based on money following each child rather than funding school buildings.

However, Democrats say the spending plan shortchanges many urban and rural school districts. They offered a proposal Monday to give all school districts at least a small increase, saying they have many fixed costs for buildings and teachers. Republicans rejected that plan.