Porter: ‘What’s going on with Dolly’s Library”

Today, Jan. 21, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter offered two amendments to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the House Ways and Means Committee. The first amendment would have created a state tax credit for individuals who donate to the literacy program, and the second amendment would have appropriated $6 million from the general fund. Both amendments were rejected by the majority.

The Braun administration has yet to release a fundraising total for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library since it changed to private donations. 

“What’s going on with Dolly’s Imagination Library?” Porter said. “We heard about a single donation last July, but that’s it. We have no clue how much has been raised, no clue if it’s enough. It’s crickets. It’s a quiet phase-out of the program. 

“The Braun administration dropped the ball on the SUN Bucks program, and it appears they’re dropping the ball on this. Indiana isn’t feeding kids this summer, and now we can’t give toddlers free books. The argument that we don’t have the money isn’t valid since we’ll have a $5 billion surplus.  

“Indiana being a pro-family state means properly funding programs that benefit Hoosier families.”