Porter comments on budget’s broken promises to Hoosier families

Today, June 18, the State Budget Committee met to discuss appropriations for the biennium. The meeting follows the announcement from the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) that enrollment for the On My Way Pre-K program (OMWPK) will be capped at 2,500 slots due to budget constraints. Pre-K providers participating in the program will have their reimbursement capped at $147.82 per week. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement regarding missed opportunities in the biennial budget:  

“Obviously, money was tight this budget, but I warned my colleagues about the impact of their misguided priorities. Gov. Braun initially proposed an appropriation of $101.3 million for OMWPK, which didn’t happen. He proposed an appropriation of $2 million for local child care assistance, which didn’t happen. He proposed $392 million for the Child Care Development Fund vouchers (CCDF) to eliminate the waitlist, which didn’t happen either. There were multiple missed opportunities, regardless of the revenue forecast, to prioritize and support our Hoosier families. 

“Instead, they moved forward with their $1.2 billion voucher expansion for Indiana’s wealthiest families. Republicans gave additional tax cuts for data centers and continued the individual income tax cuts, with average savings of $50 or less. Is this worth taking away pre-K or child care support for our working families? Indiana is the second-best state to start a business, but it won’t be for long if parents need to stay home to care for their kids because they can’t afford child care or pre-K. With the potential federal changes to Medicaid and Senate Enrolled Act 2, even more Hoosier parents could lose their health care, CCDF vouchers and other support systems.  

“Our governor is a successful businessman, so I’m certain he’s aware of the support parents need outside of the workplace. Sadly, Braun didn’t keep his promises and was bulldozed by other Republicans.”  

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.” 

House Democrats on the final budget: ‘Handouts for the wealthy instead of a hand up for working families’

Today, April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the budget to the governor’s desk. House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) and Ranking Minority Member of the House Ways and Means Committee State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) voted against the bill. 

“This year’s Republican budget is a bad deal for working people, plain and simple,” GiaQuinta said. “The budget prioritizes the growth of private school vouchers and charter schools over traditional public schools. It reduces the number of Hoosiers able to qualify for On My Way Pre-K. It cuts public health funding, even though research has shown that the program paid for itself in improved health outcomes during its first eight months. It eliminates other beloved programs, like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and PBS funding. The economy is teetering on the edge of a crisis thanks to President Trump’s tariffs. This GOP budget does nothing to shield hard-working Hoosiers from a potential recession.”

“For Hoosiers’ sake, I hope the economy improves because working and middle-class families will bear the brunt of these cuts,” Porter said. “We’re up against a deficit, but this budget prioritizes the wrong things. The wealthy are getting handouts instead of the average Hoosier getting a hand up. The proof is in the pudding. Prioritizing universal vouchers while defunding local public health speaks for itself. My biggest worry is for our public schools and how they’ll stay afloat. They’re getting a minimal increase but will be hit with massive property tax losses. Republicans have not looked out for working Hoosiers and their families this legislative session.” 

House Democrats' concerns with the budget include:

• Traditional public school funding increases by only 3.3% in 2026 and 1.6%  in 2027, which doesn't keep up with inflation. This number is also inflated given the fact that $160 million that must be used for textbook costs is included in the so-called funding increase.

• Education experiments, however, receive a larger-than-inflation funding increase.

• Brick-and-mortar charters will receive a 4.8% increase in 2026 and a 3.7% increase in 2027 and virtual charters will increase by 14.2% in 2026 and 9% in 2027.

• Traditional public schools will have limited state funding growth while losing $744 million in property tax revenue due to the effects of Senate Enrolled Act 1. 

• Private school vouchers will become universal in 2027. Vouchers will increase by 10.1% in 2026 and 23.4% in 2027. 

• Decreasing the eligibility level for On My Way Pre-K from 150% of the federal poverty level to 135% of the federal poverty level. Fewer working families will be eligible to qualify for pre-K. 

• Cutting the budget for the Commission for Higher Education (CHE), reducing students’ scholarships. 

• Reducing the funding for the Health First Indiana program to $80 million, a $145 million cut from the 2023 biennial budget. 

• Increasing the funding for Real Alternatives, a scammy organization that preys on pregnant women. Real Alternatives poses as women's health clinics but in fact spreads misinformation and offers no privacy-protected medical care to women.

• Putting the Indiana University Board of Trustees completely under the control of the governor by eliminating the alumni-elected trustee positions. 

• Defunding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program, which provides free, age-appropriate books to children from infancy to five. 

• Eliminating funding for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) TV and radio. 

• No funding for trails or other quality of life projects. 

Porter comments on budget unveiling: ‘No taxation without representation’

Today, April 23, Indiana House and Senate leadership and Gov. Mike Braun unveiled the final version of the state budget. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), a conferee for House Bill 1001, was not consulted for the conference committee report, which has not been made available to the public yet. The final budget includes recommendations made by Porter: increasing the cigarette tax to $2 a pack and utilizing the Pension Stabilization Fund. 

“Every year in this building, I hear that the Statehouse is nothing like Washington D.C.,” Porter said. “But these are empty words. This is the least transparent budget process in my legislative tenure. I was not consulted, and I was not told the contents of this budget until thirty minutes before it dropped. It’s disrespectful to my community and the millions of Hoosiers Democrats represent. 

“We represent Indiana’s districts with the highest tax revenue. You’re spending the hard-earned tax dollars of our communities without consulting their elected officials. What happened to no taxation without representation? 

“I wasn’t consulted, but ideas from my budget proposal are included. I proposed increasing the cigarette tax to increase revenue, and I’ve said we should use money from the Pension Stabilization Fund. The IEDC is getting a cut, and I abstained from voting on multiple budget committee agendas when they asked for millions with no transparency. Schools will get an average 2% increase, and they’ve paused the voucher program growth for a year. The most troublesome part is only giving $40 million to local public health initiatives, even though we’re going to ‘Make Indiana Healthy Again.’

“This has been a divisive, non-transparent process. Our communities deserve a seat at the table.” 

Porter celebrates 13th check, criticizes 5% cut

Today, April 23, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) signed the conference committee report for House Bill 1221 to provide teachers and public retirees with a 13th check for another year. However, the benefit amount for each tier will be cut by 5%. This cut is unrelated to the budget deficit since the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) has fully funded reserve accounts that cover the costs of 13th checks. 

Porter released the following statement: 

“For another year, our retirees will get a 13th check. But they’re getting less than what they deserve. Each tier will get a 5% cut, which is completely unnecessary. We have a $2 billion budget deficit, but our general fund doesn’t pay for 13th checks. 

“We have the money, and it’s sitting in the INPRS supplemental reserve account. We’re already doing these one-year makeup 13th checks, and now the amounts are being cut. Our retired teachers and valued public employees need this benefit. They’re going to experience the blowback of Trump's economic policies. Senate Enrolled Act 1 will save our seniors little, and their local income taxes will probably increase. 

“If I were a young person, I wouldn’t see the value of working for the state. We don’t take good care of our retirees, and we fall short on our promises. Our seniors, retired teachers and state employees will continue drowning in costs while Republicans dole out tax cuts and money in the budget to big businesses.” 

Porter proposes ideas to remedy budget deficit, Supermajority conducts negotiations behind closed doors

Today, April 21, members of the General Assembly held a conference committee on House Bill 1001. Legislators are facing a $2 billion deficit for the biennial budget. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) proposed Amendment 97, providing additional revenue sources. 

“Conference committees are where bipartisanship and transparency die,” Porter said. “The supermajority is plowing ahead without input from Democrats. During the 2009 crisis, both parties discussed solutions. This time, Democrats weren’t invited to the table. Instead, they sat us at the kids' table.

“We have a massive deficit on our hands. This is not the time for universal vouchers or giving more money to virtual charters. This is not the time to protect large corporations–this is the time to help Hoosiers. House Democrats are focused on preserving K-12 education, public safety and public health. I want to take care of people during this time of uncertainty. 

“Today, I proposed increasing the cigarette tax to $2 to raise $800 million, which was included in my initial budget proposal. We should also delay the individual income tax cuts, freeing up an additional $300 to $400 million. We received an influx of dollars during COVID-19, so we put an extra $3.7 billion into the Pension Stabilization Fund. If we use portions of that money, Indiana could free up $1 billion each year. Some more creative solutions are a small sugary beverage tax, increasing the alcohol tax or eliminating the free play gaming concept.

“We should exhaust all potential streams of revenue before making cuts. Let me also remind the majority: there’s one glaring reason for this forecast change from December to April. This is the time to help Hoosiers, not enact sweeping cuts that leave Hoosiers out in the cold.”

Porter comments on revenue forecast: ‘When the U.S. gets a cold, Indiana gets pneumonia’

Today, April 16, the State Budget Committee met to discuss the revenue forecast, economic forecast and Medicaid forecast before the close of the 2025 legislative session. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“I’m thankful Indiana has a nonpartisan forecast because we can focus solely on the numbers. But today our numbers are unclear. We’re operating in a time of extreme uncertainty. The revenue forecast is down $2.37 billion for the next few years. We’ll be down $403 million in 2025, $963.9 million in 2026 and over $1 billion in 2027. This is an unprecedented negative change between the December and April forecasts. People knew the 2009 recession was coming back thanks to Trump’s tariffs, but this is a reality shock. 

“Federal actions could completely change our trajectory. We’re one of the most intense manufacturing states in the nation, so we could get hit hard. When the U.S. gets a cold, Indiana gets pneumonia. 

“Our budget has to be done in a week. In the past, I’ve proposed doing an annual budget during periods of uncertainty. I said we needed to move this forecast up a month. Now it’s crunch time, and we’re writing this budget with a blindfold.” 

Porter comments on income tax hike in disguise as Braun signs bill

On April 15, Gov. Mike Braun signed Senate Enrolled Act 1. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement:  

“SEA 1 is a lose-lose. About two-thirds of homeowners will pay less in 2026 than in 2025, with a 10% credit, potentially up to $300. By phasing out the homestead standard deduction, upping the supplemental deduction and switching to a percentage-based credit, Hoosiers with lower assessed values will save little. Homeowners in rural and lower-income areas will be the ones who save less and probably pay more. 

“Local governments will be cut by $1.4 billion. Public schools will lose $744 million, and 190 school districts will lose an additional $52 million as their local income tax certified shares are cut. In the budget, most schools will also get an insufficient increase in their school funding formulas of 1.5% or less if House Republicans get their way. Your local income taxes might go up by $1.1 billion. Guess what? If you can’t afford a house, you don’t get any savings, but your taxes go up. A person making $50,000 a year could see an increase of $600. Savings in your left pocket, but you pay more out of your right.

“This will hurt our communities. Thousands of teachers protested yesterday because this bill will disadvantage their schools and the quality of education their students receive. Notice how the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) hasn’t supported SB 1–their resources will be cut. Firefighters said these cuts would impede their ability to provide services. It’s hypocritical to vouch for small government and then kneecap the ability of our small governments to do their job. Locals have two options: raise taxes or swallow cuts that are untenable.

“Make no mistake, this is a tax hike. Less than 20 counties tax the maximum 2.5%, and very few take advantage of the full 1.25% to provide a property tax credit. That 3.75% is a fallacy. It’s not happening. This bill increases the maximum amount local governments can collect from $5.9 billion to $7 billion. They can try to explain it away, but that’s an increase. This will outweigh anything you save on your bill. 

“Braun made a campaign promise he can’t keep. Indiana Republicans want to shift the blame for taxation to local committees. Local services will suffer from massive cuts. The majority party dukes it out over who provided the bigger 'tax cut, 'and all Hoosiers and our communities lose in the process.” 

Porter stands up for the least of these, stands against bill criminalizing homelessness

Today, April 14, the Indiana House majority passed Senate Bill 197 with a vote of 52 to 40. The bill was amended in the House Committee on Judiciary to include language making it a Class C misdemeanor for a person to sleep or camp on public property of the state or a political subdivision. SB 197 criminalizes homelessness and traps individuals in a cycle of poverty by imposing a fine of up to $500 and 60 days in jail for sleeping outside.

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“The House majority reached a new low today by passing a bill criminalizing homelessness. Never in all my years did I expect to see a measure like this pass through our chamber. It’s heartbreaking. These are people who aren’t sleeping in a public place by choice–it’s because they have no other option. Unlike the legislators in this chamber, they don’t have a warm bed to go home to.

“Indianapolis is doing all it can to help unhoused people. Our shelters are taking everybody they can, and we’re constructing a low-barrier homeless shelter. Now, they want to trap people in a cycle of poverty and send them off in handcuffs. Per person, incarceration will cost Indianapolis $52 a day, which is money that could be used for permanent, supportive housing. 

“Where is our compassion? Expecting people experiencing hardship to pay a $500 fine is just flat out wrong. I’m extremely saddened this bill passed, as it will only cause more pain for those who are already hurting. Jail harms, housing heals.” 

House Republicans deny relief to homeowners, strike down ‘Back to Basics’ property tax plan

Today, April 9, House Ways and Means Ranking Democrat State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) proposed his plan for property tax relief. The House majority struck down all of Porter’s amendments to provide significant savings to homeowners and fund relief through the state. 

“They’re pushing their plan through without input,” Porter said. ”House Republicans will do what they want, even though Democrats represent many of the communities with high property tax revenue. Now they get to put $1.4 billion in tax cuts on their mailers while homeowners will save an average of $245. Those savings will be zeroed out with local income tax increases. Everybody, except manufacturers, loses with this proposal. 

“Our communities will lose over $939 million, and our schools will lose over $534 million. Maybe more since we don’t have the updated numbers for amendment 36, which has been a huge issue with this bill’s process. We had fire chiefs come and tell us they’ll have to close fire houses or let firefighters go. The House GOP gave $1 billion to the LEAP district, and we paid $1.7 billion in cash for a single prison. But we can only give homeowners about $245? They want people to move here for economic development, but they voted down a first-time homebuyer’s credit. I’m disappointed but not surprised.” 

A list of the amendments House Republicans voted down is below: 

• Amendment 14: Reinstates the first-time homebuyers tax deduction provision Senate Republicans included in Senate Bill 1. 

• Amendment 15: Removes language from the bill dissolving the Union School Corporation, which was included without the knowledge of the Union School Superintendent. 

• Amendment 16: Delays property tax revenue sharing with charter schools until 2035. 

• Amendment 19: Establishes a state-funded homestead property tax freeze for veterans with a moderate to severe service-related disability. 

• Amendment 20: Creates the home ownership expenses homestead credit, giving $300 to each homeowner to offset the rising cost of utilities and home insurance. The money would be sourced from the General Fund. 

• Amendment 22:  Caps increases in the property tax bills of qualifying seniors at 1%. 

• Amendment 24: Provides additional relief to renters by increasing the renter's deduction from $3,000 to $5,000. 

• Amendment 26: Deletes the provision prohibiting the South Shore Line from issuing new debt.

House Majority blocks Porter’s amendment to fulfill state’s promies to higher ed students

Today, April 7, the House majority blocked a vote on an amendment on Senate Bill 5 offered by Ranking Ways and Means Democrat, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis). The amendment would have allocated an additional $100 million to the Indiana Commission of Higher Education (CHE), allowing them to continue providing the promised amount of award money to college students. Last November, the CHE announced its plan to reduce the grant money students receive for the 2025–26 academic year and onward. This decision came after changes to the federal financial aid formula resulted in more Hoosier students qualifying for state financial aid. 

Porter released the following statement on his amendment:

“Since this change was announced in November, House Democrats have repeatedly requested that the Frank O’Bannon and the Freedom of Choice awards be adequately funded. I advocated for it in the State Budget Committee hearing on the CHE budget, and again earlier this session in our House budget, to no avail. Republicans in both chambers have made it abundantly clear that they have no interest in fulfilling their promises to our college students. 

“This shortfall in student assistance is expected to impact more than 30,000 students across the state, placing many low-income students in further financial turmoil. Around 6,000 Ivy Tech students, many of whom are pursuing technical or associate degrees that the majority have pushed, will be affected. Students in both public and private schools are expected to lose, at minimum, up to $500 each year in assistance.

“The House majority blocked my amendment, which would have provided an additional $100 million in residuals from INvestEd to the CHE to support our students. This one-time, contractual transfer would guarantee that students already in school continue to receive the funding they were promised. In the past, INvestEd has been required to use its residuals to fund government projects. There is no better time than now to shift these unneeded dollars to help our students in need of assistance. 

“We’ve seen college enrollment drop to 53% in the last five years. Cutting student awards will only further the low college attendance rate in Indiana. We must act now to ensure students can pursue higher education and receive the money they were promised.”

Porter comments on House Republicans’ property tax plan

Today, April 4, Indiana House Republicans announced their property tax plan. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement about the proposal: 

“I appreciate the work the House majority has done on property taxes, but this plan is far from a solution. Big businesses are still the winners, not homeowners, since they’ll eventually get a cut of $1 billion. It fails to address that homestead assessments are increasing more than commercial assessments and that our homeowners are paying a bigger portion of property tax revenue each year. 

“With roughly $1.1 billion saved over three years and about 1.9 million homesteads, each homeowner will save an average of close to $575 from 2026 to 2028. Our plan would save every homeowner $500 in just 2026. With an average property tax bill ranging from $1500 to $3000, a yearly credit of only $200 will fail to make a difference. The first-time homebuyer’s credit was eliminated, and there’s no significant relief for seniors, veterans or renters. 

“Our schools will lose money, especially with Senate Bill 518 rolled into the plan diverting property tax dollars to charter schools so the state can pay even less. This plan encourages local governments to raise their local income tax rate, so you’ll get more money in your right pocket but have to pay more out of your left. 

“Yesterday, the stock market lost close to $3.1 trillion– the steepest decline since Covid-19. We’re potentially headed into a recession, so every dollar in Hoosiers' pockets makes a difference.”