Miller votes ‘yes’ on 1002, calls for more relief for Hoosiers

Today, Jan. 28, the Indiana House of Representatives passed House Bill 1002 after rejecting several amendments from the Indiana House Democratic Caucus to strengthen the bill. The bill aims to lower utility bills throughout the state. State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne) voted yes on the bill, but issued the following statement urging the Republican supermajority to do more for Hoosiers:

"If 1002 is the best House Republicans can do for Hoosiers this year, I'll vote for it just to provide ratepayers with some relief. But Hoosiers deserve more from their state government. My office gets calls every day from constituents concerned about whether they'll be able to pay for utilities without cutting back on other essentials. We're in the middle of a dangerous cold front, and no one should be worried that they won't be able to keep the heat on. The amendments my colleagues offered would have strengthened this bill. The supermajority's rejection of amendments to eliminate the sales tax on residential utility bills, banning disconnections during the coldest months of the year and to limit rate increases, among others, is a reflection on their unwillingness to provide actual, long-term relief."