Novak issues statement on state trooper shot outside of Michigan City

Today, July 10, an Indiana State Police trooper was shot near the Speedway gas station along U.S. 421 south of I-94. This marks the second time in two months that a law enforcement officer has been shot and injured in LaPorte County. In May, LaPorte County Sheriff's Deputy Jon Samuelson was critically injured after he assisted a stranded motorist by taking him to the hospital and later realized the individual was a suspect from an incident in Illinois.

The state trooper injured in today's shooting is in "stable" condition. The suspect allegedly drove a stolen pickup truck into the trooper's vehicle and then proceeded to shoot at the trooper. The suspect was later found deceased.

State Rep. Randy Novak (D-Michigan City), whose district both shootings occurred in, released the following statement in response to today's shooting:

"Our law enforcement officers wake up every day knowing the risks that come with the badge, and they show up anyway. Behind every badge is a person with a family waiting for them to come home. Deputy Samuelson's story reminds us that even an act of kindness, helping a stranded motorist, can put an officer in harm's way. When one of them is shot in the line of duty, the entire community feels it, and their families feel it most of all.

"I am grateful for the first responders and medical personnel caring for the state trooper injured today, and for every officer who continues to serve LaPorte County despite these dangers. To them I say: We see you, we are grateful for you and we will not accept violence against you as normal. Two shootings in two months is two too many. This has to stop.

"I ask all of our neighbors to keep the state trooper in our prayers as well as all emergency responders."  

Burton issues statement on additional Natural Resource Commissioners resigning

Yesterday, the public learned that two more Natural Resource Commission members have resigned from the commission. This follows the resignation of two commissioners in June. Three of the four now-former commissioners have cited a disregard for public input from Department of Natural Resources leadership in their resignations.

State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville), ranking Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, today issued the following statement on the additional resignations:

"The latest developments out of the Natural Resources Commission further reinforce the public’s ongoing concern for the future of natural resources in our state. Since the previous resignations, DNR has not shown any urgency that it is working to include the knowledgeable citizens on the commission in its rule-making process, as it did in past governors' administrations.

"It is clear that the best interests of Hoosiers and our precious resources are not a priority. Choosing to push through administrative rules as fast as possible was intentional. Ushering in chaos and confusion does not best serve Hoosiers. It serves perfectly for a hidden agenda similar to what has already happened with IDEM. This is alarming. Transparency is important, yet the current administration is pushing a closed-door agenda that calls into question their commitment to the well-being of Hoosiers, our lands, our waters and our wildlife. 

"I urge Gov. Mike Braun and DNR Director Alan Morrison to change course and take the concerns of our citizen leaders seriously."

Pryor joins OUCC in request for reconsideration of AES rate increase

Yesterday, July 7, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), a utility ratepayer advocacy group, petitioned for the recent AES rate increase to be reconsidered.

The rate increase, worth $71 million, is set to happen in two phases and will result in customers’ electric bills increasing by roughly $9.52 per month. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement:

“I fully support the OUCC’s request that AES’s rate increase be reconsidered, and join them in calling for the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to overturn their approval. 

“For too long now, ratepayers have been forced to take on higher utility bills despite stalled service quality and a broader affordability crisis. The last thing Hoosiers need is to foot the bill for another completely optional utility rate increase that will only serve to line shareholders’ pockets. 

“I encourage the IURC to act quickly, before AES can start implementing these hikes on families who are already stretched thin.”

Campbell criticizes childcare rules changes, calls for increased funding

Yesterday, July 6, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) held a public hearing about proposed revisions to Indiana’s childcare rules. 

The proposed rule changes (LSA 26-158 and LSA 26-259) aim to reduce childcare costs, but do so by lowering education standards. Advocates fear they could result in lower wages, benefits and quality of care. 

State Rep. Chris Campbell (D-West Lafayette) testified against the proposed rule changes and released the following statement: 

“These rule changes are not viable solutions to Indiana’s childcare crisis. 

“These rules ask providers to accept lower standards without addressing the underlying financial challenges that have led to over 300 childcare facilities in Indiana closing in the last year. Lowering qualifications might slightly reduce operating costs, but it does not create the financial stability necessary to restore the childcare capacity Indiana has lost. 

“If our goal is to increase access to high-quality childcare, I encourage the state to focus on policies that give providers predictable, sustainable funding while maintaining strong standards for early childhood education. This issue requires vigorous, direct solutions rather than superficial rule changes.”

Moseley stands in solidarity with workers at Chicago rally

Rep. Moseley in the crowd of the June 26 rally in support of the USW Local 7-1.

On Friday, June 26, State Rep. Chuck Moseley (D-Portage) traveled to Chicago to stand in solidarity with USW Local 7-1 members and allies as they support the 800 union members locked out of work by British Petroleum (BP).

Moseley issued the following statement after the rally:

"Organized labor is the backbone of our economy and workforce. As the current ranking member of the Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee in the Indiana House of Representatives and former union steelworker, it is an honor to stand with the men and women who help keep our companies and economy moving.

"Everyone deserves the dignity of being able to work hard and support their families. Unions ensure this right, and we all have an obligation to stand up for workers when they are shut out of work due to corporate greed. I will continue to fight alongside the hundreds of steelworkers in Whiting until their livelihoods are restored and BP prioritizes people over profits."

Moseley assigned to 2026 interim committees

Today, the Indiana General Assembly announced appointments for 2026 interim committees. These committees allow lawmakers to discuss issues that could become the focal point of legislation put forth in future legislative sessions.

This interim, State Rep. Chuck Moseley (D-Portage) has been assigned to the Pension Management Oversight, Employment and Labor, and Public Safety and Military Affairs committees. Over the coming months, these committees will study pension accounts, review Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) annual reports, look at workers' compensation feasibility, premium increases and declining claims rates.

Moseley issued the following statement regarding his appointments:

"You may have seen headlines recently about Big Tech tampering with the stock market for their own gains. I consider it incredibly important to diligently serve on these committees to ensure that the pensions of our first responders, public servants and teachers are safeguarded from market tampering by big corporations.

"As a major supporter of organized labor, I know the importance of fighting for working class families. I want to do everything I can in these committees to advocate for fair wages and lower premiums for quality healthcare. We owe it to Hoosiers to create a state that works for them, and these committees are a good starting point to building a stronger workforce and economy for decades to come."

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Novak calls for answers after DNR commission resignations, States Hoosiers deserve a government that still answers to them

Today, State Rep. Randy Novak (D-Michigan City), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement on the recent announcement that two members of the Indiana Natural Resources Commission, including its 20-year chair, resigned, citing the Braun administration's blocking of citizen input and lack of transparency at the Department of Natural Resources:

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“For weeks, I have watched this unfold, and I have reached one conclusion. We cannot keep pretending this is normal. When the people who have spent their careers at this agency and know how this system is supposed to work choose to walk away rather than put their name on what it has become, the rest of us have a duty to stop and act.

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“In my district, that is home to some of Indiana's most beloved outdoor spaces, folks expect honesty and transparency. They expect the people running our agencies to be honest with them, the rules to be made out in the open, and someone to be looking out for the woods they hunt, the lakes they fish, the ground they farm, and the bills they pay. That basic bargain is what just broke.

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“Here is what worries me most. If trusted, longtime public servants no longer believe they can do their jobs honestly, no Hoosier has reason to believe the next decision was made fairly. We do not fix that by hoping it blows over. We fix it with accountability.

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“It’s time to restore and rebuild a process that answers to the people of Indiana.”

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Burton comments on Natural Resources Commission resignations, Highlights lack of transparency in Executive Branch

Today, State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement on the recent announcement that two members of the Indiana Natural Resources Commission, including its 20-year chair, resigned, citing the Braun administration's sidelining of citizen input and erosion of transparency at the Department of Natural Resources:

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"When the most experienced public servants in our state walk out the door because their voices, and the public's voice, no longer count, every Hoosier should pay attention. These weren't partisans. They were people who spent decades protecting our land, our water and our way of life. They left because the door to public input is being slammed shut.

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"This is the same top-down, shut-the-people-out approach we've watched take over Washington, D.C., and now it's taking root right here in Indiana. Hoosiers want affordable energy, protected farmland and an economy that puts our households first. None of that happens when decisions get made behind closed doors.

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"Hoosiers deserve a government that works for them, not one that silences the very people it's supposed to serve. Every day we tolerate this, is a day we fall further behind on delivering real results for Indiana families.

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"If watching decades of public servants resign in protest doesn't alarm my colleagues about how broken the executive branch has become, then I have to ask: what will?"

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Pryor: IURC chair replaced, we’re left with the rate increase

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On June 17, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) approved a rate increase for AES Indiana, sparking outrage from government officials and AES customers. 

In response, Gov. Mike Braun appointed Anthony Swinger as chairman of the IURC, replacing Andy Zay. Zay, who presided over the AES rate hike approval, will remain on the commission.

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement:

“Unfortunately, replacing the chairman of the IURC won’t reverse the rate hike approval. Gov. Braun is simply distracting voters from his own appointment of former Chairman Zay, who supported the increase.

“Instead of political performances, lawmakers should be looking to the future and finding solutions to the growing utility affordability crisis. I urge my colleagues in the General Assembly to go into the 2027 legislative session with policies that will immediately lower Hoosiers’ utility costs and rein in AES and other utility providers. 

“This problem will only get worse if BlackRock, an international investment management corporation, is allowed to go through with its buyout of AES. Governor Braun must urge Indiana’s congressional delegation to stop the sale of AES to BlackRock and protect Hoosiers from further utility price gouging.” 

IBLC: 160 years of Juneteenth, 250 years of Black history

Today, Black Americans throughout the country are celebrating Juneteenth, commemorating the anniversary of the last enslaved African Americans in Texas learning of their freedom years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), issued the following statement:

"While it hasn't always been as widespread a celebration as it is today, African Americans have recognized Juneteenth as a day of freedom, faith and resilience for 160 years. Juneteenth is a stark reminder that we aren't free until we're all free. While it's a day to celebrate, it's also a day to reflect and honor those who never saw freedom and to find ways to recognize the tragedies and celebrate the joys of Black Americans' history in the United States.

"This is especially important this year. As the country prepares to honor the 250th anniversary of America, I know many people are struggling to feel celebratory with the state of our nation. It's easy to feel defeated when we're watching our nation regress so much in terms of civil liberties and our protections of marginalized people. This Juneteenth, it's worth recognizing that African Americans throughout the last 250 years have fought to improve the United States for themselves, their families and future generations, and now, we must continue the work. It's never an easy task, but it is a necessary one to ensure we leave behind a stronger nation than we inherited."

Pryor condemns IURC approval of AES rate increase

Yesterday, June 17, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) voted 3-1 to approve a $71 million rate increase for AES Indiana customers. 

This comes after the Indiana General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session, which focused heavily on utility affordability and protecting consumers from unchecked utility rate increases. Additionally, the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) recommended last year that AES undergo a $21 million rate reduction.

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“I am deeply disappointed in the IURC’s decision to allow AES to, yet again, raise rates for its customers. Just three months ago, the General Assembly made it our priority to grant Hoosiers some relief from the burden of constantly-increasing utility rates. Now, AES customers are being told they have to contribute even more of their paychecks to keeping their lights on while their service quality stays stagnant. 

“Last year, the OUCC recommended that AES rates be reduced, saying the company is already more than profitable enough. Now, rather than follow that recommendation, the IURC has signed off on a rate hike that serves no purpose other than to enrich AES shareholders and strip customers of even more of their hard-earned money. The reality is that this decision will negatively impact people’s lives. 

“Hoosiers cannot continue to pay the price of utility providers putting profits over people.” 

Smith responds to tornado damage, urges swift state relief for affected families

Yesterday, June 11, multiple tornadoes caused severe damage across Northwest Indiana, including over 200 buildings damaged in Merrillville alone. 

State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary), who represents much of the affected area, released the following statement: 

“My prayers go out to everyone affected by last night's storms. Anyone needing assistance can call or text Indiana 211. Additionally,  those in need can reach out to the American Red Cross (800-733-2767), which has set up a 700-bed shelter at the Lincoln Center in Highland.

“I’m grateful for the first responders and volunteers working around the clock to help our community recover, and I urge Gov. Braun to quickly deploy disaster relief measures so those affected receive the aid they need.”