House Republicans again reject proposals from Porter that would benefit Hoosier students

INDIANAPOLIS – Earlier this week, State Representative Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) attempted to amend Senate Bill 408 with provisions to make schooling more affordable for parents and students.

The three amendments offered on the House floor would have required money recovered from fraudulent virtual charter schools to be re-invested in public schools, created a refundable tax credit for textbooks and other required curricular materials purchased by public school parents and a tax credit for student loan interest. All of the proposals were voted down along party lines.

“Families are struggling with crippling debt and expenses associated with secondary and post-secondary education,” Porter said. “Republican's education priority bills like House Bill 1002 and Senate Bill 2 are just reversals of a decade's worth of bad education policy - we have yet to reinvest in our traditional public schools and students.”

Amendment 4: Required that all future money recovered from the virtual charter school scandal, which defrauded the state of nearly $85 million in taxpayer dollars, be re-invested in Indiana's secured school fund.

“This measure was meant to bring the money back to where it belongs: public schools,” Porter said. “Even after the red flags we have seen this session from charter schools, especially virtual charter schools, Republicans refuse to acknowledge that their school choice movement has deprived traditional public schools of funding by putting it in the hands of criminals. Only House Democrats voted to put funds recouped back into public schools.”

Amendment 5: Created a student loan interest income tax credit that could reimburse single filer students of up to $500, and reimburse joint filing students of up to $1,000.

“Student loan debt is the largest consumer debt in the United States,” Porter said. “House Republicans have proven that addressing the student loan crisis in the Indiana General Assembly is not a legislative priority when they voted down a proposal that would have provided some relief to Hoosiers seeking a post-secondary education.” 

Amendment 8: Created a dollar-for-dollar reimbursable tax credit for textbooks and other required academic materials purchased by public school parents.

“Indiana is one of seven states that still has fees and taxes associated with textbooks and other curricular materials,” Porter said. “House Republicans earlier this session voted for a provision that would give tax breaks for RV buyers, but they can't seem to put that same investment into the human capital of our state.”