Indiana voters OK balanced budget amendment

Voters have approved an amendment to the Indiana Constitution obligating the General Assembly to adopt balanced budgets unless two-thirds of the members of both chambers vote to suspend the requirement.

The amendment twice cleared the General Assembly after Vice President Mike Pence first proposed it in the 2015 State of the State address when he was Indiana's governor.

Republican Rep. Todd Huston of Fishers sponsored the resolution in the Indiana House. He said the amendment forces lawmakers to fund pension responsibilities and bonding responsibilities.

The constitution already largely banned the state from incurring debt, except in times of war. Under the amendment, the General Assembly would be required to pass a balanced budget unless supermajorities vote to suspend the rule.