Porter: 13th check a long-overdue win for retirees

Thanks to a unanimous vote on the House floor yesterday, eligible Hoosier retirees will receive a 13th check. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) has worked for several years to ensure a 13th check for state retirees and co-authored House Bill 1004.

Porter issued the following statement regarding the passage of the bill, which now heads to the Senate:

“This is a long-overdue win for retirees. During last year’s budget session, the majority party failed to include a 13th check or cost of living adjustment (COLA) for our senior citizens on a fixed income, despite calls from our caucus to include it. Nevertheless, I am proud to have been a co-author on this important and impactful piece of legislation.

“Hoosier retirees worked their entire adult lives and gave back to our state and their individual communities through income taxes, and now they are owed this 13th check. For many, these 13th checks can help with groceries, utility bills or other expenses that may be difficult for someone on a fixed income to keep up with. Simply put, a 13th check is a form of security for many retirees, and it serves as a promise from the state legislature that we haven’t forgotten about them.

“There is far more work to be done to ensure our retirees and senior citizens have what they need to maintain a quality of life, but I’m glad to see this bill head to the Senate with unanimous support from the House of Representatives. I’m calling on my colleagues in the Senate to get this done for our retirees. They’ve more than earned it.”