Andrade votes ‘no’ on state budget, concerned with missed opportunities for Hoosier education and public health

Today, April 25,  the Indiana General Assembly approved the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the state’s next two-year budget to the governor’s desk. State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, voted against the bill citing, deep concerns about insufficient investments in key areas crucial to Indiana’s future.

“Hoosiers deserve a budget that reflects our values and priorities - and this one falls short,” Andrade said. “We’re underfunding public health, failing to support our youngest learners and defunding our higher education institutions. That’s not a path to prosperity – it’s a path to falling behind.”

Andrade pointed to the continued lack of investment in pre-K programs, which he says limits early childhood learning opportunities across the state. He also expressed concern over what he sees as a steady divestment in Indiana’s colleges and universities, calling it a contributing factor to the “brain drain” we are seeing in Hoosier students.

“If we truly want to build a strong economy and retain top talent, we must start by supporting our schools and institutions from the ground up.

“It’s hard to take public health promises seriously when we’re cutting the very programs meant to support them,” Andrade said. “The ‘Make Indiana Healthy Again’ initiative, championed by Gov. Braun,  was touted as a commitment to Hoosiers’ health, yet this budget slashes critical resources. Instead of receiving $100 million annually, public health services will get just $40 million per year over the next biennium. We cannot claim to be making Indiana healthy again while gutting the support systems people rely on.”

“This budget tells Hoosiers that their health and education aren’t priorities, and I refuse to support that,” Andrade said.