GiaQuinta statement on state gas taxes

 On Friday, Aug. 7 at 12:00 a.m., Indiana's state gas taxes will go back into effect, adding a combined 59 cents per gallon. This is because Gov. Mike Braun will hit the energy emergency order limit of 120 days on Thursday, Aug. 6. 

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) issued the following statement:

"Friday morning, Hoosiers will feel it right away. Prices will jump by almost 60 cents a gallon. In many places, gas will cost more than $4 a gallon. Fill up a minivan, and you'll pay about $9 more than the day before. That's $9 that used to go toward groceries, school supplies or just getting by.

"High gas prices hit more than your tank. Trucks burn the same fuel to bring food to stores. When gas goes up, groceries go up too.

"There is one real fix for high gas prices. Indiana Republicans have not tried it.

"Gov. Braun, Sen. Banks, Sen. Young, and the rest of our Republican members of Congress are all close to President Trump. They should use that. They should demand that he end the war with Iran now. Wars push oil prices up, and that's the main reason gas costs so much right now. The Iran war is costly to Hoosier wallets, and it has no clear goal.

"Join me in asking Indiana Republicans to get this done. Let's bring the cost of living back down."

DeLaney slams Braun’s latest utility commission shuffle

Yesterday, Gov. Mike Braun had Andy Zay fired. Zay was initially appointed chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) in January after resigning from his seat in the Indiana State Senate. The governor demoted Zay to commissioner in June after he presided over the Commission’s decision to approve a rate increase sought by AES Indiana.

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement:

“Gov. Braun wanted a reason to appear tough on utility rate increases, and Andy Zay was available to carry out this strategy.

“Braun took a page out of Washington’s playbook for executive overreach. He didn’t even do it in the open. Instead, the announcement initially came from a state personnel department bureaucrat, followed by hours of radio silence from the Governor’s office.

“This was Gov. Braun's own appointee, named to a term of office and thrown out the minute he cast a vote that could make the governor nervous. That is the type of behavior found in a banana republic. Hoosiers want stability and faith in their government, but the governor just told them that he will change Indiana’s rules and traditions on a whim.

"Imagine the outrage if a Democrat governor were behaving this way. Apparently, free markets and limited government only matter to this crowd when Democrats are in office.”

Pryor comments on Zay’s dismissal from IURC

Yesterday, August 3, Gov. Mike Braun confirmed that Andy Zay, a member of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), was dismissed from his post. An IURC spokesperson said he was dismissed for noncompliance with state policies related to his previous role as the commission's chair. 

Braun appointed Zay to the IURC as its chairman in January and demoted him to commissioner in June after he presided over the Commission’s decision to allow AES Indiana to raise rates on its residential customers.

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

“This is another case of too little, too late from Gov. Braun. Firing Commissioner Zay, who Braun appointed in January, doesn’t change the fact that he gave AES Indiana the green light to increase rates on struggling Hoosiers and pocket bigger profits. Hoosiers needed a regulator willing to tell utilities no; what they got was a politician still voting in the interests of his old caucus. 

“At the end of the day, the IURC can only do so much to protect consumers when the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly constantly chooses to prioritize corporate interests over working Hoosiers in our utility laws. What Hoosiers want are vigorous solutions to the utility affordability crisis that allow the IURC to act in ratepayers' best interest. It falls on the General Assembly to deliver those solutions, and I plan to continue advocating for them in the Statehouse and beyond.”

Burton statement on Zay dismissal

Yesterday, Gov. Mike Braun fired Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Andy Zay. This came after Braun demoted Zay from IURC chair in June.

State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) released the following statement in response:

"Hoosiers deserve affordability and stability—not knee-jerk decisions that create more uncertainty without delivering meaningful relief on their utility bills. The constant reversals, churn, and shifting direction from the IURC have undermined confidence in the process and raised serious concerns.

"Indiana needs a clear, disciplined path forward on energy policy—one built on the IURC's expertise, guided by the legislature's framework, grounded in practical solutions, stability in the energy sector, and relentlessly focused on affordability. An independent, quasi-judicial commission cannot effectively serve the public when it becomes politicized. Hoosiers expect decisions driven by facts, sound policy, and the public interest—not emotional reactions.

"The time for distractions has passed. Hoosiers have waited long enough for affordable, reliable energy. It's time to restore stability, refocus on the IURC's mission and long-term strategy, and deliver the results Indiana families and businesses deserve without further delays."

Shackleford demands immediate pause on Medicaid waiver denials following sharp spike in care cuts for Hoosiers with special needs

In response to recent investigative reporting by WTHR revealing that nearly 2,500 Hoosiers with intellectual and physical disabilities face devastating cuts or denials to their Medicaid waiver services under a new state assessment process, State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) called on the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to take three steps, including immediately halting waiver denials:

1. Pause All Waiver Denials & Service Reductions: Put an immediate moratorium on adverse determinations, waiver revocations, and care reductions.

2. Audit the New Assessment Tools: Conduct an independent review of the new assessment forms and scoring criteria to determine how and why so many eligible Hoosiers are being mischaracterized as no longer needing support.

3. Ensure Full Appeal Transparency: Automatically provide families with complete, unredacted copies of their assessment evaluations, case manager notes, and scoring rubrics immediately upon request so they have a fair opportunity to appeal.

Shackleford released the following statement:

"The stories highlighted in WTHR's report are heartbreaking, unacceptable and represent a profound failure to protect our state's most vulnerable citizens. Hoosier families who rely on Medicaid waivers to keep their loved ones safe, supported, and living in their communities are being blindsided by arbitrary administrative cuts.

"Historical Medicaid waiver denial rates in Indiana sat near 1%. Following the rollout of FSSA's new assessment tools earlier this year, denial rates have skyrocketed to between 5% and 16%, leaving more than 700 children and adults already denied and over 1,700 under review. It is impossible to look at these numbers and conclude anything other than that the state is using rigid, flawed assessment tools as a sledgehammer to make up for FSSA's budget shortfalls at the expense of Hoosier families.

"A three-day lookback window, binary yes-or-no questions, and opaque scoring algorithms cannot replace the reality of what a person with complex needs experiences every single day. Furthermore, forcing families to beg for basic documentation of their own child's assessment just to navigate an intimidating appeals process violates fundamental principles of fairness and transparency.

"Care for Hoosiers with special needs is not a political bargaining chip, nor is it line-item overhead to be trimmed. We must immediately pause these denials, fix these broken assessment tools, and ensure every Hoosier with special needs gets the care and dignity they deserve."

Porter calls on Braun administration to return $98 million to Indiana’s public schools

Today, House Ways and Means Ranking Democrat State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) is calling on the State Board of Finance to return $98 million, which was reverted to the General Fund from K-12 tuition support for Indiana’s public schools. Porter’s request is two-fold: that the Board add a supplemental tuition distribution to its August meeting agenda and distribute the funding as an additional foundation grant of approximately $100 per student.  

“Children are our future, a future Indiana’s not properly funding,” Porter said. “The administration took these dollars while a record number of schools hold referendums. Teachers are being laid off or leaving the profession as Indiana hits $4 billion in savings. 

“Our public schools are fighting to stay afloat. They shouldn’t have to wait for the next budget to get relief. The Board has the authority to give that money back to our kids. It’s just a matter of will. I look forward to the Board’s August meeting.”

Smith decries AG lawsuit, supports Merrillville

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On Thursday, July 30, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita announced his office will pursue a lawsuit against the Town of Merrillville for its stated opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) purchasing property in the town to create a new immigration detention center.

This comes after Rokita’s claims that the Merrillville Town Council’s recent resolution opposing the establishment of an ICE facility in a local warehouse violates Indiana law under Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 76.

SEA 76 prohibits local government entities from impeding ICE enforcement activities under penalty of legal action by the AG.

State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) released the following statement:

“This is yet another chapter in AG Rokita, Gov. Braun and the state legislature’s campaign to perpetuate racism in this state. The duty of the attorney general is to protect the interests of all entities in Indiana. If Rokita were really interested in doing so, he would have asked the Merrillville Town Council why they were opposed to the facility before slapping them with a cease and desist followed by a lawsuit.

“I voted against the legislation that gave the attorney general the power to sue local governments that don’t give ICE the keys to their towns and cities. But the fact of the matter is the Town of Merrillville hasn’t broken the law.

“The only thing Merrillville has done is listen to the will of the people. Polls show that the overwhelming majority of people don’t support ICE’s conduct. It is a lawmaker's duty to act on the desires of the people who elected them, not those of other politicians.

“I’m proud of our community for standing up against the attorney general’s overzealous interpretation of SEA 76, and I’ll continue to support them in that pursuit.”

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Bauer elected to national Women’s Legislative Network Executive Board

Indiana State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) has been elected to serve as the Midwestern Region representative on the Women's Legislative Network Executive Board of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The election took place at the network's board meeting during the NCSL Legislative Summit in Chicago on July 28.

As the Midwestern representative, Bauer will help guide the network's programming and priorities over the coming year while serving as a voice for women legislators across the Midwest within the national organization.

"It's an honor to represent Indiana and the Midwest on this board," Bauer said. "Women bring essential perspectives and leadership to the work we do in every statehouse, and I'm looking forward to strengthening the connections and programming that support women legislators across the country. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve."

The Women's Legislative Network of NCSL includes every woman state legislator in the country by virtue of her election to office. The organization promotes the participation, empowerment and leadership of women serving in state legislatures nationwide, and its executive board supports the implementation of that mission throughout the year.

Board members serve a one-year term and are eligible to serve up to two terms.

DeLaney expresses concern over medical crisis mismanagement in Department of Correction

Yesterday, July 20, IndyStar published an investigation revealing several critical flaws related to healthcare practices within Miami Correctional Facility. State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) is calling on the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) to accelerate the termination of its contract with Centurion Health, the state's for-profit prison medical provider, in response to the findings.

The Star investigation found that after Gov. Mike Braun agreed to house up to 1,000 ICE detainees at the Miami facility, Centurion did not hire adequate staff to handle the influx. Internal company emails obtained by IndyStar showed nursing staff reporting medical backlogs in the hundreds while Centurion reported far lower numbers to the state. Such a discrepancy could allow the company to avoid tens of thousands of dollars in contractual fines. 

Two detainees, Lorth Sim and Tuan Van Bui, died in the months following the facility's expansion. Nurses and fellow detainees say both deaths could have been prevented with adequate care.

Centurion has held Indiana's correctional health care contract since 2021, when it was awarded the deal despite submitting the most expensive vendor bid. That contract, extended annually and now worth more than $1 billion over five years, has continued even as the company has faced similar allegations of substandard care and falsified records in other states.

DeLaney released the following statement:

"IDOC's relationship with Centurion has been troubled for years. Instead of ending it, the state extended this company's contract while looking for a replacement. As long as IDOC keeps partnering with Centurion, problems will persist. Indiana has adequate funds to find a new provider for our correctional facilities. It won't be easy, but we need to get there as fast as possible to stop the unfair treatment of incarcerated Hoosiers and ICE detainees.

"I also want to know why the federal government is so slow to reimburse the state for this ICE detention program. We also need to know why IDOC hasn't been given the resources it needs to manage our usual prison population, plus the influx it agreed to take on. Hoosiers deserve an answer.

"The unexplained resignation of Warden Brian English only adds to my concern. I have met him several times and was favorably impressed. Neither he nor IDOC has said why he left. That kind of silence doesn't inspire confidence. 

"Until these issues are resolved, I don't see how we can expect meaningful improvement in correctional healthcare. It speaks volumes that this administration is prioritizing hot-button political issues like dismantling protections for minority- and women-owned businesses while a billion-dollar contractor tied to two deaths in state custody gets another year on the job."

Shackleford statement on end of M/WBE programs

Last week, Gov. Mike Braun announced that he will end the Minority and Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) programs within Indiana's Diversity Business Enterprises (DBE) program. This followed Attorney General Todd Rokita releasing a formal advisory opinion that these contracting programs are unconstitutional.

State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis), a former M/WBE subcontractor, released the following statement in response:

"For seven years, I worked for a certified M/WBE. Many times, the only reason we got a subcontract was because of the goals in this program. But those goals only got us in the room. We still had to earn every dollar on cost, quality and performance, just like any other business competing for the work.

"That's the distinction this decision ignores: This program was never about guaranteed results. It was about guaranteed opportunity. Calling it 'un-American,' as AG Rokita did, gets it backward. The un-American part is pretending a playing field is level when entire categories of qualified businesses have historically been shut out of the room before they ever got the chance to compete. Ending these goals doesn't erase that history, it just removes one of the few tools that addressed it. If Gov. Braun truly wants a merit-based system, he owes minority- and women-owned businesses something more than a slogan in return: a real, structured path to compete, not just a theoretical one."

Johnson announces winner of 2026 Mary Moriarty Adams Memorial Scholarship

Today, State Rep. Blake Johnson (D-Indianapolis) announced Cindy Caballero as the winner of the 2026 Mary Moriarty Adams Memorial Scholarship. Caballero, who recently graduated from Christel House Watanabe High School, will be a first-generation student at Indiana University Indianapolis to study diagnostic sonography.

 The Mary Moriarty Adams Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a high school student in Indiana House District 100 who demonstrates a commitment to community and public service. The one-time, $5,000 scholarship is awarded each year by Johnson and his wife, Natalie. It was created and named in honor of former Indianapolis City-County Councilor and dedicated public servant, Mary Moriarty Adams, who passed away in 2018.

 “Natalie and I are thrilled to award the 2026 Mary Moriarty Adams Memorial Scholarship to Cindy Caballero. She represents the best of Indianapolis with her heart for community service. Her passion for others shows in her decision to pursue diagnostic sonography, specifically to assist members of the Latino community who face language barriers in health care. We’re proud to support her as she pursues her dreams.

 “The selection committee was elated by the number of applicants this year. It’s an indication of the character of our city that we have so many young, impressive graduates involved in community service. This scholarship is a small way Nat and I can do the same.”

Pryor comments on energy affordability report

 Yesterday, July 15, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) released its 2026 Energy Affordability Report. The report included several action items that the IURC and Indiana General Assembly can take in the future to better address utility affordability. 

Among the action items were recommendations to consider removing the sales tax from utility bills, expand the Indiana Energy Saver Program and properly communicate ratepayer relief options. 

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), a member of the House Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications, released the following statement: 

“Several of the action items included in the IURC report have merit. I’m happy to see the Commission putting forward recommendations to bring down utility costs. However, I find it ironic that many of these same ideas were already on the table during the 2026 legislative session. 

I proposed Amendment 8 to House Bill 1002, which would have prohibited private equity firms from acquiring utility companies without IURC approval. House Democrats also offered an amendment to eliminate the 7% sales tax on utility bills. Both amendments were rejected by the Republican supermajority. 

“If the IURC is serious about bringing more affordable utilities to Hoosiers, then they need to start by reversing their recent decision to allow AES to raise its rates. The time for action items has passed. These action items only matter if they are implemented and Hoosiers’ bills keep coming to their mailboxes. Hoosiers want solutions, and I’m committed to delivering them.”