Miller votes ‘no’ on House budget to protect public schools, health initiatives

Today, April 25, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending the biennial budget to the governor's desk. State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne) voted against the budget due to insufficient funding for K-12 public education, the expansion of the voucher program and the 60% cut in funding for local public health initiatives.

"Strong public schools are the backbone of our communities, and this budget fails to ensure teachers and students have what they need to be successful," Miller said. "Along with the impacts of HB 1001, thanks to the Republican-backed Senate Enrolled Act 1, Allen County will lose millions in property tax revenue over the next three years.

"While Republicans force public schools to do more with less, private school vouchers will increase by 23.4% in 2027. I'm not against families having options when it comes to where they send their children to school, but the state should not be funding private school vouchers for wealthy families while many Hoosiers are going without affordable medical care or housing.

"In the wake of Gov. Braun's political stunt with Robert Kennedy Jr. to 'Make Indiana Healthy Again,' I find it odd that we're cutting funding for local public health initiatives under this budget. To make it worse, our community is currently facing a measles outbreak while the Republican budget guts public health initiatives. These cuts put everyone in danger when future outbreaks occur.

"I wanted to be able to vote for this budget but, unfortunately, it doesn't meet the moment for what Hoosiers need. Folks need property tax relief that doesn't threaten local services, our public schools need support to meet the needs of our children, and public health services need adequate funding to ensure the next generation of Hoosiers has a better shot at long-term health. If these things were in the Republican budget, I would have been an adamant 'yes' vote. Ultimately, I had to vote in the best interest of my constituents, and House District 82 deserves better than what Republicans were offering."