DeLaney comments on property tax proposal: ‘This is a lose-lose’

Today, March 5, the House Committee on Ways and Means is hearing testimony on Senate Bill 1, the Senate majority’s plan for property taxes.  

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement as the committee began its fourth hour of testimony: 

“Senate Bill 1 would create a reduction in property taxes of an average of $48.10 per homeowner in 2026, eventually reaching $133.58 per homeowner in 2028. This is an inadequate response to the dramatic increase in property taxes on homeowners. It does not address the reduced percentage of property taxes coming from apartment owners and businesses. It seems that the Governor shares this concern as well. 

“At the same time, this bill will reduce funding for schools, police departments and fire departments across the state. Should this proposal go through, it will force local governments to either raise local income taxes or limit vital services. 

“Instead of a 'sweet spot,' this proposal as it stands is a lose-lose. This bill will not reduce property taxes enough to really help homeowners, but it will reduce the ability of localities to take care of the communities they serve. We need better solutions like cutting back the number of taxing units which stands at 2,384 as of today.”

DeLaney keeps his word, opposes funding increase for Secretary of State

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment to the state budget that would revert the funding for the Secretary of State’s office to what was allotted in 2023. 

This comes after a tense exchange between DeLaney and Secretary Diego Morales in the House Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 15 about his employment of a relative, awarding of ‘spot’ bonuses and awarding no-bid contracts to potential campaign donors. The video of the exchange has over 2.1 million views across social media platforms. The amendment failed on party lines by a vote of 26-68. 

“In January, I demanded answers from Secretary of State Diego Morales about the financial shenanigans in his office,” DeLaney said. “ I was met with deafening silence. He refused to admit that he hired his brother-in-law for a newly created position and paid him over $100,000. He refused to admit that he offered no-bid contracts to companies that became major campaign contributors. He refused to explain his spot bonus program. 

“On that day in January, I promised to vote against sending any additional funding to the office of the Secretary of State. 

“Hoosier taxpayers deserve to know that their dollars are being used responsibly. This man cannot be trusted with state money. I cannot in good conscience vote for any measure that gives another cent to Secretary Morales.

“With the push from my colleagues across the aisle to ‘drain the swamp’ and reduce bureaucratic waste and corruption, I am surprised at the willingness to give our Secretary of State additional funding in this already-tight budget.”  

DeLaney offers amendment to support first-time homebuyers

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment to the state budget that would require the state treasurer to establish a first-time homebuyer loan program. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 29-67. 

DeLaney released the following statement following the defeat of his amendment on the House floor: 

“I am troubled by the fact that we have made it halfway through session without addressing the barrier our young people face to homeownership. The average age of a first-time homebuyer in this nation is reported to be 38. That is unacceptable. 

“Nobody loses from investing in young people. By offering reduced-interest loans for first-time homebuyers, we would make our state more attractive for young families. In turn, this will boost our workforce, economy and property tax base. 

“The bottom line is that the market is failing young families trying to settle down and build generational equity. If we cannot act to provide a backstop when the markets don’t work, then why are we here?” 

DeLaney offers amendment to protect Hoosiers from federal funding cuts

Today, Feb. 19, State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment to the state budget that would allow the state surplus to be used to restore funding for state programs if they are impacted by federal funding cuts. The amendment failed along party lines by a vote of 29-65. 

DeLaney released the following statement following the defeat of his amendment on the House floor: 

“This is the most serious thing I have offered all session. We are in danger of falling off a funding cliff if the federal government cuts cost us billions of dollars. If the President is successful in cutting the programs he wants to, our legislature will face tough decisions to save our citizens from losing access to critical services. 

“One of my proudest moments in the Statehouse was when former Gov. Mike Pence expanded health care access for thousands of Hoosiers when he created the Healthy Indiana Plan. Now, we stand to lose tens of millions of dollars if the federal government cuts Medicaid, and thousands of Hoosiers face losing access to health care. 

“Health research. Veterans resources. Road funding. Infrastructure improvement. Agriculture support. Education programs. Hoosiers relying on these essential services will be in serious trouble if our new federal leadership is successful in cutting off funding. 

“Even my colleagues across the aisle acknowledge that our budget is at risk of Washington leaving us out to dry. We must protect Hoosiers from this potential financial catastrophe.”

DeLaney calls out the Supermajority for not hearing concerns of Hoosier voters

Today, Feb. 11, House Democrats offered several amendments aimed at expanding voting rights for Hoosiers. Instead of allowing a full discussion and vote about strengthening our democracy by making absentee ballots more accessible and allowing citizen-led ballot initiatives, the supermajority struck the amendments down on procedural grounds, stifling discussion. 

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement: 

“The Republican supermajority in the House has made it more than clear that they are reluctant to hear what concerns the public. They reject non-binding referenda. They seem to not want to hear how Hoosiers feel on controversial issues such as cannabis legalization or abortion rights. Could this be because they are afraid that their unpopular policies would be rejected by the majority of the voting public? 

“We are falling into a practice of using House procedures to dodge difficult votes. As an example, my colleagues in the House filed amendments on House Bill 1679 to make absentee ballots more accessible for Hoosiers, only to be told they didn’t belong in a bill quite literally entitled ‘Various election matters.’ Indiana has historically had one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the nation. The House should be disturbed by that fact. Instead of taking action to make voting more accessible, House Republicans chose to shut down any vote on the House floor. 

“My takeaway from today’s events on the floor is that House Republicans want to avoid any vote that is difficult for their members.” 

DeLaney reminds of the need for gun reform

Today, Feb. 10, State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) met with a group of local students at the Statehouse for Moms Demand Action advocacy day to discuss common-sense gun reforms. 

DeLaney issued the following statement after the meeting: 

“In 2024, the number of youth homicides from gun violence in Indianapolis decreased drastically, from 44 children in 2023 to 17 children in 2024. While this statistic is undeniably positive, it is one of the reasons that issue has faded from our focus. The untimely deaths of 17 young Hoosiers is a great tragedy, no matter how that number fits into the current statistic.

“As I was reminded by the passionate group of students from North Central High School that spoke with me today, Indiana has a long way to go to protect Hoosiers from gun violence. In 2024, Indiana ranked 7th highest in the nation for incidents of gunfire on school grounds. The legislature passed a bill in 2022 to allow permitless carry. We have yet to close the loophole that allows the purchase of firearms at gun shows without a background check. In 2023, we had the third highest rate of accidental child shootings behind only Florida and Texas, states with much larger populations. 

“The need to enact common-sense gun safety policies remains as strong as ever, even if it isn’t making headlines this session. I wanted to thank Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action for the work they do to shed light on the pressing issue of gun reform.” 

DeLaney reacts to the Braun budget: ‘It focuses on the wrong things’

Today (Jan. 16), Governor Mike Braun presented his “Freedom and Opportunity” budget proposal to the State Budget Committee (SBC). 

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“While there are parts of this budget that I am pleased with, it focuses on the wrong things. This budget chooses to favor people who will benefit very little from tax cuts while leaving our younger generation out in the cold.  

“The true worthwhile investment is in helping young families buy a home and find someone to look after their kids while they make an income and participate in the economy. These proposed tax cuts help those who have already saved at the expense of those trying to save. 

“One thing that particularly disturbed me is the proposed cut in funding for our new public health programs. Investing in public health and preventative care is not only beneficial for individual quality of life but relieves pressure on the budget going forward. 

“Between 2018 and now, the state contribution to Medicaid has gone from $2 billion to $5 billion. If we want to rein in the amount we spend on Medicaid, the solution is not to kick people off of it but help them to grow off of it. Our Medicaid system is so strained because we have a very low median income. 

“The bottom line is that we don't bother to look at the full chessboard because we are distracted by the most current problem. We must focus more on getting poorer families higher incomes, and less on better-off families having tax savings. This budget does not do that." 

DeLaney frustrated over refusal to explain Medicaid shortfall

Today (Dec. 17), the State Budget Committee met for the annual Medicaid, Economic and Revenue Forecasts meeting. This is the same annual meeting at which the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announced that they underestimated the cost of Medicaid by nearly $1 billion in December of 2023. This shortfall was a significant factor in the implementation of the Medicaid waitlist that left tens of thousands of aged and disabled Hoosiers waiting for coverage. During today’s hearing, the state’s expert admitted that his firm received $1 million to conduct the inaccurate forecast.

“The state’s expert who delivered the forecast one year ago showing a billion-dollar mistake conceded that the forecast was ‘wrong’ by about $1 billion but denied that it was an ‘error,'" State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) said. "He also confirmed that the reforms that were announced to improve the forecast were known and available before the mistake occurred. After one year of effort, I got an answer but no explanation. 

“Hoosiers have now gone a full year without any explanation for how the FSSA made a $1 billion miscalculation. I got an amendment passed unanimously passed this spring that required a full report of what happened be presented before the Indiana General Assembly. 

“I reached out to FSSA about the status of this report and was informed that it has been addressed in the Medicaid Oversight Committee meeting on Aug. 27. However, that presentation gives virtually no explanation for what caused this colossal failure. 

“Apparently, the public will have to live without an explanation besides the obvious one. Someone didn’t know what they were doing.” 

DeLaney votes against SALTR report, average homeowner’s homestead payment increased by 92%

Today (Nov. 20), the State and Local Tax Review Task Force (SALTR) met to discuss its final report. Since 2011 when Republicans became the majority party, homestead property taxes have doubled from $1.9 billion to $3.9 billion. The average property tax per homestead has increased from $1,085 to $2,090, a 92% increase. The report passed with State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) voting against the recommendations.

DeLaney released the following statement on the report:  

“After two years of study, SALTR has managed to produce a proposed report that downplayed the impact of property taxes on homeowners. Homeowner’s property taxes have jumped by 92%. All the majority party could come up with to solve this problem was ‘more effective controls on property tax bills.’  Most of the tax cut proposals affect property that earns revenue. Owners of factories and apartments generate income to pay their property taxes. Senior citizens and new homeowners don't have that benefit.

“We’ve gouged the homeowners. This report prefers business interests over our homeowners who continue to lose. Ordinary Hoosiers are paying for complex maneuvers that allow businesses to pay less. This shifts the tax burden from businesses to ordinary homeowners. 

“A housing crisis is plaguing Hoosiers. Our young people can’t buy their first house, and our elderly can no longer afford to stay in them. Homestead property taxes are partly to blame. 

“We need to ask ourselves: Are the tax caps just another failed government promise?”

DeLaney holds press conference on status of education funding

Yesterday (Oct. 2), State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) held a press conference to discuss key findings from a report prepared at his request by the Legislative Services Agency (LSA). LSA is the nonpartisan agency responsible for assisting the Indiana General Assembly in matters of research and fiscal analysis. This report contains historical data for education expenditures dating back to 2011, the year that Republicans became the majority party in both houses of the state legislature. 

“In recent years, any discussion of education funding in Indiana turns into an argument of who is getting what between public, private and charter schools. The fact of the matter is that funding for education as a whole in Indiana has decreased since Republicans took over the legislature. According to the data in this report, total funding for schools of all types has dropped from 44.3% of the state budget in 2011, to 39.8% in 2024. 

“As stated in the Indiana constitution to which the legislature is beholden, we have two responsibilities: pass a budget and maintain a uniform system of public schools. Currently, public schools in Indiana educate nearly 90% of students. 

“It comes as no surprise that funding for traditional public schools has taken the biggest hit from the reduction in education funding, from 43.1% of the state budget in 2011, to 36.4%. As a result of cutting state funding for education, we have put pressure on property taxes charged to Hoosier homeowners. School districts have no choice but to turn to local property tax revenue to get adequate funding to continue providing students with an education.

“At the same time as these funding cuts, we have seen our state college-going rate drop alarmingly. Approximately 8,000 fewer Hoosier high schoolers each year go on to pursue post-secondary education today than would have been expected in 2011.

“The 2025 budget session is quickly approaching. While the legislature likes to get way off topic when it comes to education, it is essential that we address how much our state has devalued our education system. Instead of making teachers walk on eggshells while trying to discuss the topic of book banning, let's give them the funding they need to teach their students how to proficiently read and write. Instead of concerning ourselves with forcing university professors to pass ideological tests, let's instead focus on how to fill their classrooms with Hoosier high school graduates.” 

Click here to view the report. 

DeLaney congratulates Gov.Holcomb on his successful visit to Ukraine

Yesterday, Gov. Eric Holcomb visited Kyiv, Ukraine to create a future economic, academic and cultural partnership between the two governments. The governor met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Zhytomyr region and the state of Indiana. 

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement regarding the governor’s visit: 

“I’d like to congratulate our governor for visiting Kyiv. I’m proud of this show of support for the Ukrainian people. It’s clear that Indiana stands by the Ukrainian nation in the wake of Russia’s heinous invasion of their homeland. 

“Holcomb has enthusiastically cooperated with the legislature as we attempted to aid the Ukrainian nationals in Indiana under humanitarian parole status. 

“His visit creates the opportunity to help Ukraine rebuild post-war. Post-war reconstruction is a multidimensional process that requires the aid and resources of close political friends. 

“Holcomb's opinion piece in today’s IndyStar reflects the sentiments of thousands of Hoosiers. There’s an innate desire to help the underdog up against a global superpower. 

“I’m sure our governor will agree with me when I say: Slava Ukraini!”