DeLaney weighs in on unexpected revenue increase, points to long-term investments

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement upon the news that the state of Indiana will have some $2 billion in unanticipated funding available over the next biennium:

“Statehouse Republicans' worst fear has been realized today: We have even more funding than previously anticipated that they have to figure out how to obscure. What's worse for them is that this is coming as many homeowners are still reeling from this year's property tax bills while Senate Republicans gutted a House proposal for substantial property tax relief. After today's positive forecast, I expect we'll see a renewed effort by House Republicans to enact a vast expansion of private school vouchers, accounting tricks to tuck away this surplus and limited interest in providing homeowners with meaningful property tax relief. Put plainly, there's no long-term strategy on the part of Republican lawmakers.

“Indiana won the railroad wars in the nineteenth century and the automobile manufacturing wars in the 20th century. We're kidding ourselves if we think Gov. Holcomb's READI program is going to win any modern economic war in the 21st century when economic giants like Texas and New York are able to pour billions of dollars into courting companies to relocate to their states. Let's get back to doing what Indiana does best – supporting our great colleges, universities and schools. We can lower tuition, help families and limit student debt. I will continue fighting for these ideas in the state biennial budget.”