Porter calls for the reinstatement of funding for the Imagination Library

Today, Feb. 6, the House Ways and Means Committee is hearing public testimony on Gov. Braun’s “Freedom and Opportunity” budget proposal, House Bill 1001. The budget proposal does not renew funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Parton’s early literacy program mails free books to children from infancy to five regardless of income, location and other factors. The program started in Indiana with a matching grant of $6 million in 2023. 

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

“Dolly Parton is arguably one of America’s biggest superstars. She has a cherished place in our country’s cultural history not only as a musician but also as a philanthropist. Many families' lives have been changed through one of her charitable works, especially with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. 

“Our state was blessed to join this program in 2023 through a $6 million matching grant. This literacy program mails a book a month directly to our Hoosier kids. By growing up in a home full of books, our young children practice their reading skills and foster a love of learning. 

“Now, without explanation, Gov. Braun chose not to renew the Library’s funding. This great program truly could be one-and-done. This administration’s cynical move is to defund a program centered on literacy and imagination. Our children will be left with their imagination but no library. Rest assured, House Dems will work ‘9 to 5’ to reinstate Dolly Parton’s library in the state budget.” 

Porter: ‘Preserving our history is not a partisan issue‘

On Thursday, Jan. 16, Gov. Mike Braun presented his “Freedom and Opportunity” budget proposal to the State Budget Committee (SBC). Even though the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is not included in the state budget, the Braun Administration has moved to terminate the state’s contract with the institution. The contract allows the IHS to pay a minimal fee for their lease to the state, and in return, the state pays for its operational maintenance costs–close to $1 million per year.

As the Ranking Minority Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) will continue to call attention to cuts in state funding clearly related to a divisive, partisan agenda. Porter released the following statement about the plan to terminate the IHS contract: 

“Unfortunately, Braun's divisive cuts don’t stop at defunding critical programs for minorities in the budget. Now, his administration is cutting contracts. They’ve moved to eliminate our contract with the Indiana Historical Society, the primary repository for our state’s rich historical record.

“The IHS has always highlighted and celebrated the diverse ethnic and racial history of our state, especially during Black History Month. Right now, they have an exhibit called ‘Resist’ about the rise of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in 1930s Indiana. They also provide crucial education about the Holocaust and the life of Eva Kor.

“Now the IHS will have to come up with an additional $1 million each year. They’ll potentially have to cut exhibits, raise the cost of admission or cut certain events. Ending the contract puts the IHS in a fiscal bind.

“We also need clarification on the termination. The original contract was created in 2007 and was intended to last until 2098. It’s unusual for the state to terminate a contract unless there’s been fraudulent activity. This is a deviance in the way our state does business, and it’s a bad faith move that tells vendors we’ll cancel contracts with no explanation. Curiously, this is the contract that’s being terminated when we’re still paying a contractor for our Medicaid forecasts who’s responsible for the $1 billion mistake. 

“This is yet another move by Braun that will harm Hoosiers by putting the preservation of our history at risk. History is not a partisan issue. In my experience, those who berate history refuse to acknowledge the evils that exist within it.”

Porter comments on Braun’s decision to eliminate Commission on Race and Gender Fairness from his budget

On Thursday, Jan. 16, Gov. Mike Braun presented his “Freedom and Opportunity” budget proposal to the State Budget Committee (SBC). This budget eliminates funding for the Commission of Race and Gender Fairness. The 2023 budget allocated close to $880,000 per year of the biennium for this commission, and $500,000 of this yearly allocation is used for court interpreters. 

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

“I continue to delve deeper into Braun’s budget proposal, and each time I find something new that’s disturbing. He has once again demonstrated that one of his priorities is slashing programs that benefit minority populations. I fear those ordering these decisions fail to understand the unintended consequences this has on Hoosiers.

“Eliminating this commission will make it immensely difficult for non-English speakers to make their case in our judicial system. Indiana courts are required by law to provide interpreters, but they’ll struggle to do this without adequate funding. We have non-English speakers living in Indiana, and they have a right to a fair trial like their English-speaking peers. Everybody deserves a timely, equitable trial in our court of law regardless of their background. 

“This decision is an intrusion into the judicial branch, which is made more troubling by Braun’s increased funding for prosecutors. The number of prosecutors and potential prosecutions will increase, but protections in our criminal justice system are being eroded. There’s been a clear path of this administration that’s extremely troublesome to Hoosiers. From cutting funding from commissions that fight discrimination to not renewing Martin University’s funding. 

“These decisions hinder lawmakers, like me, from creating real economic relief for Hoosiers. These moves don’t lower the price of rent, gas or eggs. I’ll continue fighting tooth and nail to protect historical progress while still working on tangible relief for Hoosiers.” 

Porter comments on Braun eliminating funding for Indiana’s only predominantly Black university

On Thursday, Jan. 16, Gov. Mike Braun presented his “Freedom and Opportunity” budget proposal to the State Budget Committee (SBC). The budget includes zero funding for Martin University, Indiana’s only predominantly Black institution of higher education, and the College Success Program. In the 2023 budget, Martin University and the CSP each received an allocation of $5 million.

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

“The active intervention to end or attack anything in the budget that gives state dollars to people of color is sickening. I won’t mince my words: It’s racist. Black Hoosiers and other minorities pay taxes, so we deserve to benefit from the state budget as much as our white counterparts.

“Martin University is Indiana’s only predominately Black institution. The only reason why it’s not an official HBCU is because it’s relatively young. Now they will receive zero state dollars, which is a complete cut from 2023. He also cut the College Success Program, which encourages minority and first-generation, low-income students to attend college. That means a total of $10 million in support for minority students has been eliminated. 

“This is wrong on so many levels. The last administration realized that this funding would give students of color an equal chance at success. It was less than a century ago when Black students couldn’t live in dorms, had to eat on separate sides of the dining room and couldn’t swim in the university pool. It also benefitted Indiana’s workforce since Martin University directed the money towards STEM education.

“Sadly, this decision will continue to kill the hopes, dreams and aspirations of many students. No matter how hard they work, they’ll have the rug pulled out from under them. Even Trump paid lip service to HBCUs in his first term, which makes zeroing out these funds even more disturbing. Just like his other budget decisions, Braun continues to push his hostile, hateful agenda no matter who it harms.” 

Porter comments on Braun defunding multiple essential commissions

On Thursday, Jan. 16, Gov. Mike Braun presented his “Freedom and Opportunity” budget proposal to the State Budget Committee (SBC). The budget includes eliminating funding for the Indiana Native American Indian Affairs Commission (INAIAC) and the Indiana Commission for Women (ICW). State funding for the Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) would be cut by $600,000 over the biennium. 

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

“I’m truly disappointed and flabbergasted that Gov. Braun eliminated funding for these commissions without explanation. The INAIAC and the ICW will receive no funding, and the ICRC will have its funding cut by $600,000. These cuts will only save $1 million–basically pocket change in the billion-dollar budget game. This isn’t based on financial austerity, especially since Braun’s budget proposal would raise our estimated state surplus by $300 million. It’s not about saving money; it's about proliferating the various culture wars tearing America apart. 

“Defunding these commissions rubs more salt into the wound of eliminating DEI. All three of these commissions serve people of various backgrounds with specific interests. The ICRC is our alarm system for discrimination in housing, employment and so much more. We know discrimination still exists in Indiana even if my Republican colleagues continue to bury their heads in the sand. Thankfully, federal civil rights laws remain in effect no matter what Braun does in our state. 

”Hoosier women still lack equal pay, paid maternity leave and equal access to health care. The ICW is essential to progressing these issues and improving the lives of our daughters, wives and mothers. Our state name reflects the history and bloodshed of the Miami Nation and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. The INAIAC ensures we celebrate their cultural contributions, and that we remember their brutal, forced removal. By defunding this commission, Indiana will deny these nations’ validation but continue to profit from their existence. Our state makes tens of millions of dollars from the Pokagon Band’s execution of the 2021 Gaming Compact. With the Braun budget, not a single penny will be devoted to the benefit of Hoosier Native Americans.  

“These moves are ill-timed, imprudent and downright embarrassing. Indiana is diverse, and the General Assembly represents men and women of all colors and ethnicities. As the Governor's budget is filed, the author of House Bill 1001 must show common decency in restoring these programs and funding to the previous level.” 

Porter comments on Gov. Braun’s budget proposal

Today, Jan. 16, Gov. Mike Braun's team presented his “Freedom and Opportunity” budget proposal to the State Budget Committee (SBC). 

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

“I’ll give him credit where it’s due. There are a couple of things he proposed that House Democrats support. He wants to put an end to the IEDC’s blank check by not re-upping two of their funds and eliminating the other two. I’ve abstained from voting to confirm the SBC agenda multiple times due to millions of dollars in non-transparent IEDC requests. I’m supportive of fully funding the 76,000 children on the waitlist for the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF).

“But a majority of his budget, I cannot and will not support. By ‘doing more with less,’ spending will be cut for programs Hoosiers desperately need. There was no school funding formula, and his proposed $9 billion would not cover a 2% increase for K-12 education. He wants to cut our grants for public health, flat-line food banks and CHOICE and cut each agency by 5% with no exemptions. We’re not renewing the READI grants which helped fund vital infrastructure and public works in our rural communities. It sounds like we’re doing less with less. 

“Under this budget, Indiana will continue to be among the worst states for quality of life. We will continue to prioritize tax cuts for the wealthy over the needs of the middle and working class. It doesn’t matter if we live in a low-tax state if you can’t afford a house or find a job to be taxed on. 

“I’m not in the interest of cutting spending simply because of sentiment on Capitol Hill when Indiana is doing leaps and bounds better with positive revenue growth and a robust surplus. Our social programs, like Medicaid, are growing in enrollment because Hoosiers need them. We can craft a budget that provides for our communities while still being fiscally responsible.” 

Porter comments on Comptroller’s mistake affecting $20 million in funding for Gary, East Chicago, Michigan City and Hammond

Today, Jan. 15, the Indiana State Comptroller, previously called the State Auditor, testified in front of the House Ways and Means Committee. During the testimony, it was revealed that the office failed to properly distribute deficiency payments to certain communities. The City of Gary will be required to pay $20 million to East Chicago, Michigan City and potentially Hammond due to this mistake. 

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

“I’ve served for several decades, and this is not the first time our comptroller has made an egregious error. I’m getting déjà vu since two accounting errors were made by the executive branch, the Department of Revenue and the auditor in 2011 and 2012. The state corporate income tax and local income taxes were collected, put into certain accounts and then lost. We couldn’t find over $500 million that we needed for the budget. We had to hire a private accounting firm to find that funding.  

“Now, the same type of mistake has happened. Two casinos were moved from Gary to I-94 impacting existing casinos in Hammond, East Chicago and Michigan City. To mitigate potential revenue losses, the legislature chose to provide the affected communities with deficiency payments from 2022 to 2025. 

“The state comptroller never triggered these payments. Now we’re scrambling to get these communities close to $20 million. If the law does not change, the funding will be taken from Gary slashing their 2025 budget of $66 million by close to a third. 

“Again, I don’t know why there was a lapse in practice despite spending thousands for a firm to prevent additional errors. I’m sure this mess will be cleaned up, and communities will receive their entitled funds. 

“But a couple of things must be guaranteed. Gary, who is not at fault, should be able to repay the funds over several years, preferably through a 20-year rainy-day loan with no interest. Michigan City and East Chicago should receive an immediate one-time payment from the state including interest. Why shortchange our cities when the state didn’t do its job? Since House Democrats represent all of the affected communities, it’s only right that we have a seat at the table in crafting a solution.”

Porter comments on Republican initiatives to make vouchers universal

Last month, Gov.-elect Mike Braun released his 2025 policy agenda, including extending universal school choice to all families. Leadership for House Republicans has indicated their support for Braun’s agenda. Universal expansion would eliminate the income threshold for Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program, allowing the use of taxpayer dollars for private school tuition. 

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

”In the 2023 budget, Republicans made the voucher program nearly universal. Around 97% of Hoosier families currently qualify since the limit is a family of four making $220,000 a year. We knew they wanted to eliminate the income thresholds. They want the wealthiest Hoosiers to send their kids to school with taxpayers' hard-earned dollars. 

"Millionaires don’t need to utilize a program we created for lower-income families. This program started to provide working Hoosiers with educational opportunities even if they couldn't afford it. If you make over $500,000, you can afford to pay for your child's private school tuition. They don't need this funding. They want this funding and that difference should be clear. This is essentially a $6,000 tax cut per student for multi-millionaires and technically billionaires.  

“A tenured Education Committee member has stated that the cost of expansion would be minimal, around $11 to $12 million. The real cost would be closer to $200 million: $88.6 million in 2026 and $94.7 million in 2027. These numbers equal the 1% increase we normally give to our public schools. In the budget game, this is not a minimal amount of money. 

“The opportunity cost with this funding is massive. We could triple the size of On My Way Pre-K, or we could support families in need of child care assistance. Better yet we could put that money toward solving our problem with Medicaid funding. Public money belongs in public spaces. Point blank, period.” 

Porter comments on House Bill 1136, which would transform certain public schools into charters

Last week, Indiana House Republicans filed House Bill 1136 to reorganize Indiana’s school corporations. The bill provides that if 50% or more students live outside a school district, then that district must be transformed into a charter school.  

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

”We haven’t started session yet, but when I saw this bill filed I was mystified and dismayed. The real intent behind HB 1136 is evident: to divert funds from traditional public schools. It’s to ensure charter schools get a share of IPS’ referendum funds. The majority party severely underfunds our public schools, but that’s not enough. They’re threatening the very existence of urban public schools. 

“This is a ‘bolt out of the blue’ since this is the first time any sort of transformation like this has been discussed. The dissolution of public schools has never been seriously proposed. Most of the affected schools are in Gary and Indianapolis, majority-minority communities, where we’ve seen multiple issues with charter schools. 

“Charters can dissolve at any time, leaving their students out in the cold. Without fail, many charter schools dissolve each year at random points of the academic year. Keep in mind that last year Hoosier taxpayers lost $154 million in fraud to a couple of online charter schools. The charter school model is unstable, so the desire to infuse them with even more state dollars is financially foolish. 

“The supermajority touts school choice, but what about the parents who want their children to attend public school? This bill is a naive solution to the difficulties our urban schools experience. Remember the money follows the child, and the majority is telling parents how that money will be spent.” 

Op-ed: Hoosiers need Medicaid and that won’t change with a new administration

As Trump takes his second oath of office, we get closer to the possibility of Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Mehmet Oz as our nation’s top public health officials. They’ll become the point people in charge of state Medicaid funding and policies. Like Indiana, the federal government will have some difficult budget decisions to make thanks to stagnating revenue.   

Republican tax cuts, mostly for the wealthy, continue to stress our budgets. Something will have to give as we approach an unsustainable level of national debt. Trump has declared cuts for Social Security and Medicare off-limits, but no similar promise has been made for Medicaid. It’s clear that federal funding for Medicaid is on the chopping block. Remember that the federal government foots around 70% of Indiana’s $19 billion bill. Over 2 million Hoosiers are on this growing health care program, and any significant changes could affect their access to care. Here are a couple of devastating cuts that could happen to the Medicaid program: 

 The first is block granting. The idea of block grant federal funding for Medicaid has existed since President Ronald Reagan's administration. With these grants, the government gives a fixed amount of funds based on inflation and population growth. This plan motivates states to contain costs, but it’s difficult to anticipate how much money Medicaid will need. Indiana would fare poorly under this plan since flat population growth and limited medical inflation would lead to a smaller grant. Our state would need to increase its share of funding to maintain the status quo. We can forget any additional enhancements like more waiver slots or the coverage of GLPs for weight loss. Block granting hasn’t gone anywhere for forty years, but with Trump returning to office this could be a reality. 

Second is the sunsetting of programs that fund our HIP program and supplements for eldercare assistance. If federal support is drastically reduced, the HIP program will end unless state dollars fund it entirely. 

The third is the recategorization of mandatory services. Medicaid currently has two general types of services covered: mandatory and optional. Mandatory services include hospital visits, doctor appointments and outpatient services. Optional services include dental, physical therapy and prescription drugs. To cut costs, mandatory services could be recategorized and covered at a reduced rate. This would be devastating to Hoosiers and providers since it lowers their reimbursements. Indiana already has shortages of care, and one can only imagine what would happen if the required provisions for Medicaid changed. 

 Fourth is the creation of work requirements, and a bill has already been filed for this session. Indiana attempted to implement work requirements last year, but it was blocked by the Biden Administration. 

Fifth is watering down the federal pledge to fund 90% of the Affordable Care expansion. This could also spell the end of Indiana’s HIP program that supports thousands of Hoosiers. 

It’s pitched as an effort to save costs, but thousands would lose their coverage. Over 500,000 Hoosiers would potentially lose health care coverage. Uncompensated coverage would shift the cost to hospitals and providers. Fewer people will go to the doctor and those with existing conditions will worsen trying to avoid enormous medical bills.  

National decisions will have an impact on Hoosier health and our Medicaid program. We’ve been blessed with infusions of federal dollars since COVID-19. Indiana is already struggling without the extra funding, and the prospect of funding reductions will only aggravate our predicament. The majority party leaders have been open with their desire to cut funding, saying our current allocation “keeps them up at night.” At the December Medicaid forecast, the same leadership said our funding challenge “scared them.” Even if federal cuts don’t happen, Indiana’s state funding will need to increase by $500 million.

Every dollar is attached to a person, and we cannot cut more. The supermajority has cut services for medically compromised children, vulnerable adults and families in need of child care. Indiana has saved a minimal amount with horrendous consequences and unnecessary pain. I sincerely hope that efforts to curtail costs will not be cut focused. We have other options, including creatively expanding our revenue, to adequately fund Medicaid. 

We could increase the cigarette tax by $2 per pack. This would add over $100 million a year to our revenue. Another element is promising to stop reverting Medicaid appropriations to the general fund. This has been done for the past several years. We could also fully consider maximizing any unrealized federal funding opportunities that we’re not using. The window is closing to implement these changes before it’s too late. I have seen the legislature act quickly in the past to provide tax relief, so I know it can be done if we have the will to act. 

This session, let’s protect Medicaid and preserve Indiana’s essential health infrastructure. Let's protect Medicaid since it's a vital program for one in three Hoosiers. Let’s lead by example and show other states we’re up to the Medicaid funding challenge. Let’s eliminate our health care deserts. Indiana can become a health care oasis for all Hoosiers regardless of income or health conditions.

Porter: ‘Indiana’s revenue reports are no longer defying gravity’

Today, Dec. 17, the State Budget Committee met to discuss the final revenue forecast before the 2025 legislative session. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement regarding the forecast: 

“Unlike the hit Broadway musical and blockbuster movie ‘Wicked,’ Indiana’s revenue expectations are no longer defying gravity. We’ve utilized our COVID-19 stimulus money, and we’re nearing the end of robust growth in the economy. Our revenues are resetting to relatively normal, sustained growth. 2025 looks promising since aid from the Federal Reserve will give our economy a soft landing. We’ll start to see inflation dissipate and hiring will remain strong. However, by 2026 we’ll see muted growth that will get worse in 2027. 

“Keep in mind this forecast may change dramatically in April. If the Trump administration imposes its tariffs, the Federal Reserve will slow its interest rate reductions as inflation rises. Due to the potential for change, I recommend we discuss the April forecast in March. We’ll need an extra month to assess these changes before the end of the budget session. We need to be watchful for these revenue fluctuations and prepare to modify the 2025 budget. 

“$23 billion for predicted revenue is great, but this will be tempered by human infrastructure needs. Our predicted revenue may not be enough to cover Medicaid’s needs or provide more than a 1% increase in K-12 funding. To make matters worse, Indiana is actively losing usable revenue from cuts in the state income tax. We’re losing hundreds of millions of dollars per year for cuts that may save Hoosiers $50. 

“It’s promising that our revenue is climbing, but there are storm clouds on the horizon. We need to constantly monitor our revenue, remain flexible and stay vigilant. I hope we follow through with my recommendation to discuss the April forecast a month early, so Indiana can craft the best budget possible for Hoosiers.” 

Porter comments on December Medicaid forecast

Today, Dec. 17, the Family Social Services Administration (FSSA) gave its final forecast on Indiana’s Medicaid program before the 2025 session. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“Today’s Medicaid forecast wasn't as shocking as last year, but it still had some unfortunate elements. This year’s forecast made it clear that the FSSA’s operations, especially their cost anticipations, need to be substantially reformed. 

“Medicaid costs are projected to increase due to rising costs of care and increased utilization. Indiana isn’t an anomaly when it comes to increased costs. This is something happening across the nation as health care inflation outpaces other expenditures, even short-term inflation for the cost of food. The state funds about a third of the total cost for Medicaid, totaling over $5 billion

“Part of the reason for increased funding is Indiana’s actuary wrongfully estimated how many people would leave the program post-COVID-19. The actuary estimated that 400,000 Hoosiers would leave, which was off by a whopping 200,000. This variance is a major reason why Medicaid needs more state dollars than expected. Other factors pale in comparison to the increased cost projections. 

“Sadly, in response to rising costs, the FSSA is continuing to cut services for our elderly, disabled and children. How much more can we cut from these families? Have we not done enough damage? Other policymakers are misguided if they think we can remedy Medicaid’s rising costs by wringing out every last penny from our neediest Hoosiers. These waitlists and cuts won’t close the funding gap. 

“After many Medicaid Oversight Committee hearings and forecasts, I’m still waiting for the supermajority to step up. We need to make real-world, substantive and constructive suggestions for funding difficulties that don’t involve cutting and limiting services to our most vulnerable.”