Porter comments on IEDC audit

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement regarding FTI Consulting’s independent audit of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC):   

“I’m absolutely unsurprised by the information in the IEDC audit. The audit revealed what Democrats have stressed for almost three years. Secrecy and a blank check resulted in the exact outcome we expected, and we warned the majority over and over again. The IEDC is essentially an insider investment scheme that executives used to line their pockets and their buddies' pockets. 

“Multiple times I tried to remove IEDC requests from the State budget Committee (SBC) agendas, and each time it was voted down. We pushed for a decrease in IEDC funding in the state budget, and we proposed multiple pieces of legislation. 

“Republicans cannot claim to be the party of fiscal responsibility. They turned a blind eye to the IEDC, and the recent travel report shows they’ll use taxpayers' money for anything. Hoosiers paid $4,200 for a single helicopter trip and paid $56 for the governor’s two ice cream trips. 

“The audit is a good start, but it raises more questions. We need more details, and we need to know who was involved. Hoosiers had millions of their hard-earned dollars misappropriated when many families are taking on debt to stay afloat. This audit proves a disservice to the people of Indiana that deserves a deeper investigation.”