GiaQuinta comments on Braun IU trustee removals and appointments: ‘Promises made, promises broken’

Yesterday, June 2, Gov. Mike Braun removed three elected members of the Indiana University Board of Trustees by way of authority granted to him by the General Assembly in a last-minute, unvetted move to end alumni trustee elections at Indiana University. In their places, he appointed James Bopp, Jr., a prominent conservative attorney known for his work to overturn Roe v. Wade; Sage Steele, a conservative sports broadcaster; and Brian Eagle, an Indianapolis attorney. Braun previously indicated that he would not immediately take action to use this new unilateral authority of the governor over IU.  

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne), an IU graduate himself, released the following statement:

"I am incredibly disappointed in this decision by Gov. Braun to remove democratically elected IU trustees for a number of reasons.

"Not fulfilling a promise you previously made is par for the course with this administration – first property tax relief, now IU trustee appointments. Promises made, promises broken.

"IU leads the world in its rigor and research breakthroughs because its experts have been allowed to operate within the realm of academic freedom. It's not hard to imagine that our two new trustees who are well known for their successful work overturning a woman's right to choose and work in the conservative media circuit, respectively, will have an agenda to limit the research questions that researchers and professors are allowed to pose. This, combined with recent Statehouse Republican actions to threaten tenure and degree programs, will limit the number of world-class researchers willing to relocate to Indiana. Why take a risk on a university system with less academic freedom protections?

"Gov. Braun stated that this decision will 'help guide IU back in the right direction.' Republican governors of Indiana have been appointing the majority of the IU Board of Trustees for 20 years now. If the university has been headed in the wrong direction, the Indiana Republican Party objectively bears some responsibility for that.

"Finally, this decision doesn't just affect the university – it also hurts working Hoosiers. In particular, IU's strong life sciences programs have helped Indiana's life science, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries flourish. When we start making workforce pipeline decisions about politics instead of business, I worry that the companies that employ thousands of Hoosiers with good-paying jobs will suffer and ultimately disinvest in our state."

Pryor reminds community of upcoming National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend

Friday, June 6, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, marking the beginning of Wear Orange weekend. State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) is reminding the community to wear orange this weekend to honor those who have been impacted by gun violence and advocate for action against gun violence. This movement is put on by the group Everytown for Gun Safety and brings people together from across the nation to advocate for gun reform.

“Far too many people in our community have had their lives torn apart by gun violence,” Pryor said. “Just earlier this month, 14 people were injured and a 17-year-old was killed in a single weekend in Indianapolis. Black and brown communities are disproportionately affected by gun violence, and it is the leading cause of death for children in our nation. 

“Our city should be a place where people can thrive, not constantly worry about surviving. That is why I am calling on our community to come together for Wear Orange weekend to honor those who have fallen victim to gun violence. Indiana has some of the loosest gun safety policies in the nation, and we all pay the price. It is time to demand a change.

"Join me by wearing orange on Friday, June 6, to kick off the weekend. I encourage all those who are able to be part of that change by participating in Wear Orange weekend." 

For more information and to find/register for an event, click the link here. 

Andrade honors EMS Veteran George Schulp for fourty years of service

Today, May 22, State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) joined EMS professionals, local leaders and colleagues in Highland to honor George J. Schulp, a retiring emergency medical professional whose career spanned more than 40 years of service, education and advocacy in Indiana’s EMS system.

The ceremony, held at the Superior Ambulance Highland Station, coincided with National EMS Week (May 18–24), a national observance recognizing the life-saving contributions of EMS providers across the country.

Schulp was recognized for his decades of frontline work as an EMT and paramedic, as well as his leadership as an instructor and EMS training center operator. Throughout his career, he trained and mentored countless first responders, helping to build a stronger, more prepared EMS workforce across Indiana.

He also served in key leadership roles with the Indiana EMS Association, including as vice president, and played an instrumental role in launching the Indiana EMS license plate — an initiative that provides funding for EMS education and the Indiana EMS Memorial. His involvement in the EMS Education Workgroup helped shape statewide policy and curriculum improvements.

Andrade released the following statement following the ceremony:

“George’s legacy is written into the very foundation of Indiana’s EMS system. He responded to emergencies with courage, trained generations of first responders with care and fought to advance the profession at every level. It was my honor to recognize his service and celebrate the lasting impact he’s made on public safety in our state.”

A joint proclamation from Andrade and State Sen. Dan Dernulc formally recognized Schulp’s exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to emergency medical services.

Schulp’s retirement marks the close of a remarkable chapter in Indiana’s EMS history, and the beginning of a legacy that will continue through the professionals he taught, mentored and inspired.

Pryor receives IUI O’Neill School Distinguished Alumni Award

On Monday, May 12, State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) was presented with the 2025 Indiana University Indianapolis O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Distinguished Alumni Award. This is the highest honor bestowed by the school and honors those who have not only distinguished themselves in their fields but also set an example of what it means to live a life of service. Pryor earned a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from the O’Neill School in 2005. 

“I am truly humbled to receive this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award from the IU Indianapolis O’Neill School. My time at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs laid the foundation for my career of speaking up for the voiceless and serving my community. While I had the value of service instilled in me growing up, my education and this institution gave me the skills and opportunities I needed to succeed in making a difference. 

“While it was incredibly meaningful to be honored at Monday’s ceremony, I am also glad I had the opportunity to speak to the graduating class of 2025. My call to action to all the graduates in that room was to SERVE: Support others who are in need; Engage with those who share your vision to help those less fortunate; Reward those who make sacrifices so that others can reach their potential; Value the contributions of those working alongside you; Encourage those who may feel lost or are tempted to give up.

“Today, I am as proud as ever to be an alumni of the O’Neill School. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful achievements of the class of 2025!”

Pryor was nominated for the award by her college friend Robbin Grimes Sally.

Porter calls for study of BMV data sales to protect Hoosiers’ privacy

Yesterday, May 5, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) signed onto a letter calling for the legislature to study data sales by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Each year, the BMV generates millions in revenue by selling Hoosiers’ personal information–individuals' date of birth, name, address, license plate number and more. Porter has authored legislation for the past two years that allows Hoosiers to opt out of data sales and protects seniors and teens. 

“Not only is the BMV legally selling people’s information, but Hoosiers don’t get a say in the matter. I’ve authored legislation for the past two years that allows individuals to opt out of data sales. But the bill has never received a hearing. We’re chipping away at the issue, and we’ve had some successes. Derived from my initial legislation, the BMV must make annual reports on the fees it charges and the revenue generated from data sales. We still need to tackle the issue as a whole. 

“Nobody should have their personal information sold without their consent. Most Hoosiers don’t even know their data is being sold to third parties. They sell it to towing companies, insurance agencies, debt collectors, auto dealers and more. We have no clue what these third parties do with the information after purchasing it. 

“Hoosiers value personal privacy. Now is the time to study this topic, so we can act next year.” 

Pryor denounces Lt. Gov. Beckwith’s embrace for the 3/5 Compromise, Attack on Indianapolis Faith Leaders

Last week, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith shared a video to his social media pages including incorrect information on the 3/5 Compromise following a member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) mentioning the political move on the Senate floor. Beckwith praised the 3/5 Compromise as a tool used by the North in the Civil War to eradicate slavery. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement in response:

“The 3/5 Compromise was used to legitimize slavery and justify the mistreatment of Black Americans, as is proven by the Fugitive Slave Clause, the 1857 Dred Scott U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled Blacks were not citizens, selling slaves, raping slave women and so much more. It was not a ‘great move’ by the North to eradicate slavery. It was 78 years from the US Constitution signing to the Thirteenth Amendment ratification, which made slavery illegal. The best, humane and Christian option was to ban slavery…not embrace it as a 'great move.'

"Impacts from slavery are still felt today in our courts, neighborhoods, doctor’s offices, jobs and ballot boxes. For someone to celebrate it, especially someone in a position of power, is deeply troubling.

“To make matters worse, the Lt. Governor's response has been to attack 'inner city' clergy for speaking against his embrace of the constitutional provisions that treated Blacks as property.  This attack on inner city clergy, who are Democrats and Republican, is not grounded in scripture, and is disheartening.  These faith leaders are true public servants that advocate on behalf of the least of thee. From feeding the hungry, helping pay bills, providing childcare and helping resolve school challenges, clergy play a significant role in our communities and are responsible for helping to bring up the next generation of God-fearing leaders in Indiana.  

“I pray that Lt. Gov. Beckwith will move to focus on making life better for Hoosiers, not dividing us. While this topic brings with it the weight of hundreds of years of oppression and suffering for Black Americans, I ask for us all to do the difficult thing and pray for those that embrace racism, ignorance, greed and power. It must be difficult to live with that much hate in your heart.”

IBLC announces 2025 town hall series

The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) will host seven town halls throughout the state this summer to discuss the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly and answer questions from constituents. The schedule for the town hall series is as follows:

• Saturday, June 7: Kountry Kitchen, 1831 N. College Ave., Indianapolis IN 46202, noon-2 p.m. ET

• Saturday, June 28: Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Central Branch's Browning Room, 200 SE MLK Jr. Blvd., Evansville, Indiana, 47713, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CT

• Saturday, July 12: Michigan City Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 E. Michigan Blvd., Michigan City, IN 46360, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CT

• Saturday, Aug. 9: Allen County Public Library Main Branch Theater, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, noon-2 p.m. ET

• Saturday, Aug. 23: Terre Haute City Hall Courtroom, 17 Harding Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47807, noon-2 p.m. ET

• Saturday, Sept. 13: UAW Local 5, 1426 S. Main St., South Bend, IN 46613, noon-2 p.m. ET

• Saturday, Sept. 20: East Chicago City Hall Council Chambers, 4525 Indianapolis Blvd., East Chicago, IN 46312, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CT

"These town halls give us the opportunity to hear directly from our constituents throughout the state about their concerns for Indiana, questions about the legislative process and what we can do to connect them with needed resources," State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the IBLC, said. "Community engagement is an integral part of the work we do in the Statehouse. In the IBLC, we strive to be accessible and transparent, and to help our constituents understand not only what we're working on, but how they can play a role in shaping policy. When we listen, learn and work together, we build stronger, safer and more just communities across Indiana."

All town halls are free and open to the public.

IBLC condemns Lt. Gov.’s whitewashed ‘history lesson’ on the 3/5 Compromise

Last week, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith shared a video to his social media pages including incorrect information on the 3/5 Compromise following a member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) mentioning the political move on the Senate floor. Beckwith claimed the 3/5 Compromise was a tool used by the North in the Civil War to eradicate slavery.

 State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the IBLC, issued the following statement in response:

"The 3/5 Compromise was created during the 1787 Constitutional Convention, determining that five enslaved Black people in the South would count as three free whites. Effectively, the 3/5 Compromise gave the South more political power, because enslaved African Americans were counted towards Southern representation without having any rights themselves and gave Southern states more electoral college votes. With the South paying a greater share of federal taxes, the 3/5 Compromise emboldened Southern slaveowners to argue that this abhorrent practice grew the American economy and therefore justified slavery. To argue that the 3/5 Compromise was the North's attempt at playing 'the long game' to undermine the South is not just a gross misunderstanding of history, it's a purposeful whitewashing of it for political gain and media attention.

"To this day, the ghost of the 3/5 Compromise still haunts Black Americans. From restrictions on voting rights to implicit bias in health care to an unjust justice system, too many people in power still view Black Americans as 'less-than.' We in the IBLC work every day to ensure that Black Hoosiers are given equal opportunities and equal protections under the law. More than that, we work to ensure that all Hoosiers have a high quality of life and an equal chance at achieving the American Dream.

"There is no shortage of work that needs to be done to make Indiana – and our nation – a stronger, more just place to live. As chair of the IBLC, I'm calling on my fellow elected officials to prioritize the needs of all Hoosiers over cheap media ploys and rage bait. Our constituents deserve better."

Hamilton calls on Braun to leave democratically elected IU officials in office

In the early hours of Friday, April 25, the Indiana General Assembly sent a final version of the state budget to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Statehouse Republicans added a provision at the last minute to give the governor control over all trustee appointments for Indiana University. On the House Floor, State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) called on Governor Braun to leave the three democratically elected alumni trustees in office. 

“I am calling on Gov. Braun to respect the democratic process that has successfully served Indiana University for approximately 150 years,” Hamilton said. “Different perspectives are what keep our universities strong. 

“This move was done behind closed doors in the 11th hour to deliberately avoid the full democratic process, including input from the public. 

“Gov. Braun, I implore you not to follow the supermajority’s tendency to create a solution in search of a problem. Leave the democratically elected IU Trustees in the positions that they were entrusted with by thousands of IU alumni.” 

Andrade highlights support for local and state law enforcement as SB464 heads to the governor’s desk

This week, State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) signed the Conference Committee Report (CCR) on Senate Bill (SB) 464, supporting the bill’s provisions that empower local and state law enforcement and protect taxpayer dollars. Andrade, a co-sponsor, emphasized the bill’s improvements to consumer protection and accountability in public-sector transactions.

A key provision in the updated legislation applies the Deceptive Consumer Practices Act to transactions between law enforcement agencies and their vendors. It clarifies that while the Indiana Attorney General is responsible for legal action involving state law enforcement, local agencies retain the right to pursue legal claims through their own legal counsel, unless they specifically request the Attorney General’s involvement.

“This bill gives our local law enforcement agencies more control and clarity when handling vendor disputes,” Andrade said. “It means that if equipment fails or contracts fall through, as we’ve seen with recent issues like the Dodge Durango incidents impacting state police, local departments won’t be left holding the bag or draining their own taxpayer-funded budgets to fix it.”

Andrade emphasized that the bill strengthens accountability for vendors and helps ensure that law enforcement across Indiana, especially at the local level, have the reliable tools and legal support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.

“Ultimately, this is about making sure our officers have the equipment they can count on and the legal backing to hold bad actors accountable, without wasting taxpayer dollars,” Andrade said. “It’s a commonsense step toward better service for Hoosiers and better support for the people who protect us every day.”

Pryor comments on defeat of language to criminalize homelessness

Last week, the House passed a bill that included a provision to effectively criminalize homelessness by imposing a fine of up to $500 and 60 days in jail for sleeping outside. While that language was taken out of that bill by the Senate, it was added to House Bill 1014 behind closed doors. In the 11th hour of the legislative session, the language was removed. In the early hours of Friday morning, the 2025 legislative session officially concluded without passing any law to criminalize homelessness.

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement:

“It is deeply relieving that the provision to criminalize homelessness did not pass this year. 

“I cannot understand how any person thinks it is fair and just to make it a crime to be homeless. People do not choose to endure the suffering of sleeping on the street, not knowing where their next meal will come from. Those who find themselves in such a difficult situation that they are without stable housing do not have $500 to spare. 

“There are many ways to help the unhoused population in our state. We must invest in more low-barrier homeless shelters and transitional housing, mental health and addiction services, and crisis intervention response teams. 

“I am thankful that my colleagues saw reason and decided not to move forward with this cruel policy. I truly hope this idea is not revisited in the future.” 

GiaQuinta: House Democrats fought for Hoosiers this session, Republicans fought for corporate interests

Today, April 25, the Indiana General Assembly concluded the 2025 legislative session. House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) issued the following statement regarding the legislation passed this session:

"I'm proud to say that House Democrats fought for Hoosiers this session, while Republicans fought for corporate interests. At the beginning of the year, House Democrats promised to fight for working Hoosiers by advocating to lower the cost of living, health care costs and utility costs for Hoosiers. Throughout session, we lived up to those promises by offering legislation to rein in corporate middlemen that drive up health care prices via prior authorization, pause utility rate hikes to put more money in Hoosiers' pockets and fully fund public schools to relieve pressure on local property taxes. We yet again set out to make pre-K universal and affordable for Hoosier families, and to secure resources for police, fire and EMS by retaining local control and local funding sources.

"Unfortunately, our colleagues across the aisle spent this session prioritizing culture wars over the needs of everyday Hoosiers. Senate Bill 287, which requires school board candidates to state their political affiliation on the ballot, didn't receive a single vote from House Democrats. This legislation only serves to insert partisan politics into Indiana classrooms, which does nothing to help our students or educators thrive. While House Democrats advocated all session for policies to help folks from all walks of life, House Republicans sought to divide Hoosiers.

"We heard a lot of promises from Indiana Republicans this year to lower property taxes, and they failed to deliver. Senate Enrolled Act 1 offers minimal property tax relief while forcing local governments to ramp up local income taxes to ensure proper funding for emergency services and public schools. As State Rep. Gregory W. Porter, ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, said, this is a tax hike. While Republicans tried to disguise SEA 1 as tax relief, they're hoping Hoosiers don't look behind the curtain to find their local schools being forced to do more with less and their EMS services taking longer to get to their loved ones in the event of an emergency. All the while, they're possibly only saving a few hundred dollars a year in property taxes while experiencing a much-larger income tax hike. Is that worth it? House Democrats didn't think so, and that's why we continue to speak out against this fiscal irresponsibility from Indiana Republicans. The majority party wants you to be thankful for being given scraps, and Hoosiers deserve so much more.

"Indiana Republicans spent an awful lot of time this session helping utility companies pass costs on to you, the consumer. State Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) offered two amendments to House Bill 1007 which would have prevented consumers from bearing the cost of failed nuclear power plant projects and prevented utilities from charging customers for small modular reactors not yet in use. House Republicans rejected both amendments. At every turn this session, Indiana Republicans signaled their commitment to protecting corporations over the interests of their constituents.

"It seems to me that Indiana Republicans are constantly testing how many more backroom deals and hyper-partisan scheming Hoosiers are willing to put up with. We in the House Democrat Caucus know folks are tired of being left behind, and we're going to continue to work to lift Hoosiers up.

"All in all, I'm proud of the work House Democrats accomplished this year. We've increased transparency in state government, made our communities safer and lowered health care costs. I just wish that Indiana Republicans had the same dedication to Hoosiers that we do. If that were the case, Hoosiers might be in a better place to thrive, not just survive."