Porter fights for student loan forgiveness, universal pre-K

Yesterday, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) offered amendments to two separate pieces of legislation to enhance affordable education in the state of Indiana.

An amendment to House Bill 1001 would make student loan forgiveness programs exempt from Indiana’s income tax. Currently, any student loan forgiveness can be taxed as income.

“This defeats the purpose student loan forgiveness in the first place,” Porter said. “Without some relief, many Hoosiers will be paying off their student loan debt decades after they graduated from college. If they qualify for a relief program, it makes no sense that they would be taxed on it. Those dollars are not income, it is simply debt erased. This amendment would have not only helped Hoosiers, it would have possibly attracted more people and businesses to our state. Unsurprisingly, House Republicans blocked any chance of progress on this front. “

Porter’s amendment to House Bill 1042 would have created a tax amnesty program to create a sustainable source of funding for a universal pre-K program. This amendment was ruled non-germane by House Republicans.

“A number of states have universal pre-K programs, and this amendment would have helped prepare Hoosier children for success throughout their academic careers and life,” Porter said. “Statistically, we know that children who attend pre-K are more likely to succeed in the classroom and go on to achieve a higher education. This opens countless doors not just for themselves, but for their entire families. Universal pre-k has been a priority for Indiana House Democrats for years, and it’s shameful Indiana Republicans can’t find the will to get this done for Hoosier children and families.”