Indiana House Democrats Announce 2024 agenda, Jackson supports push for economic freedom

On Monday, Jan. 8, the Indiana House Democratic Caucus unveiled its 2024 Economic Freedom Agenda. Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond) is putting her support behind the agenda, where it looks to support economic relief for Hoosiers which include increased wages, a cost-of-living adjustment for Public Retirement Fund and Teacher Retirement Fund and a property tax credit for homeowners.

“It is my belief that Hoosiers everywhere are struggling under the current economic conditions. We as House Democrats are wanting to make big changes to help the average Hoosier,” Jackson said. “My hopes are that we can uplift every Hoosier and give them the economic freedom that they deserve. Hoosiers need action from the General Assembly to protect their best interests.”

Highlights from the Economic Freedom Agenda include:

1. Building power for the working people; 
   1. Raise minimum wage to $15/hour
   2. Reform last year’s HEA 1002 into a bill that sets up young people with good-paying jobs
   3. Protect Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) 
   4. Make union dues tax-deductible
   5. Crack down on worker misclassification (Misclassification allows employers to pay full-time employees as casual labor or to pay them in cash. The workers still get a 1099 on which they must pay taxes, but the employer doesn't pay their part of the taxes. It also cuts into the unemployment benefits available for workers, and lowers the employer's unemployment insurance costs).

2. Cutting homeowners and renters a better deal; 
   

   1. $250 property tax credit for all homeowners 
   2. Over 65 deduction for seniors 
   3. Increase renter’s deduction
   4. Stop utilities from making customers bear the cost of doing business and keep utility bills for Hoosiers down
   5. Fair housing protections (fair appraisals and mortgages and cracking down on predatory investors hurting neighborhoods)

3. Setting up Hoosier families for success through childcare and early learning; and
   

   1. Child and dependent care income tax credit 
   2. Establish a statewide pre-K program 
   3. Increase before and after school care funding  

4. Making good on promises to retirees and keeping Hoosiers insured. 
   

   1. Guarantee a 13th check and cost-of-living adjustment for PRF and TRF retirees 
   2. Protect Medicaid and increase reimbursement rates for healthcare professionals

“These legislative initiatives have been crafted to help Hoosiers all around the State of Indiana,” Jackson said. “My hope for this legislative session is that we can provide cost of living adjustments by passing a 13th check for the Public Retirement Fund and Teacher Retirement Fund to help our Hoosiers Heros. I am also fighting to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and give Hoosier homeowners a tax credit of $250 funded by our $3 billion state surplus. These key policies aim to help cut Hoosiers a break from the ever-increasing cost of living so they can focus on supporting themselves and their families.”

Please reach out to Rep. Jackson with any comments, questions, or concerns you may have with our Economic Freedom Agenda. You can reach the office of Rep. Jackson at 317-234-9041 or [email protected].