House Resolution 2419 passed the House of Representatives today and looms as a threat to the IBM plant that was recently established in Daleville.

An attachment to the bill could derail 500 IBM jobs promised for the facility in Daleville. The jobs, which were to be filled beginning next year, would pay as much as $55,000 a year.

The attachment forbids privatization of state welfare programs. The IBM call center in Daleville sprung from a 10-year, $1.6 billion agreement the state of Indiana reached to have IBM process some state welfare business, including distribution of food stamps.

The senate will work on its own version of the farm bill, and after it passes, a conference committee will try to reach compromise on the two bills. Mike Pence, who represents the Madison County area in the House, is hopeful that the privatization provision will be struck from the Senate version of the bill.

"We’re working very closely with senators to ensure that it’s not in Senate bill," Pence said today from Washington. "It could go either way. I’m very concerned. ... The Democratic majority is putting public unions ahead of helping families and creating jobs."

If the compromise bill reached in conference committee is similar to the House bill, President Bush has threatened to veto it based on a provision that would deny farm aid money to farmers with more than $1 million in income. The current cap is $2.5 million.

For updates on this story, check www.theheraldbulletin.com this evening.