Porter disappointed in SALTR report, says changes are handouts to big businesses

Today (Nov. 20),  the State and Local Tax Review Task Force (SALTR) voted on their final report and recommendations. The report includes eliminating the 30% personal property tax floor and the implementation of cuts to the local income tax, which will result in $1 billion in lost revenue by 2030. 

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“This report is a nothingburger that provides no solution to rising property tax rates. In fact, Republicans will give big businesses even more handouts by changing the de minimis business personal property tax and the 30% floor on depreciable personal property. The state will lose $289 million in revenue, which will shift the burden to the very homeowners we’re trying to help. 

“By cutting the amount we receive from businesses, we’re putting more burden on property taxes to make up the difference. Local schools, EMS services and other entities will need the funding from somewhere, and it will be out of working-class families already emptied pockets. 

“This task force was established to create more effective controls for property taxes and help working Hoosiers afford their bills so they could stay in their homes. I believe these recommendations will do the opposite. I simply cannot square the circle on the disparate property tax provisions in this report. 

“A couple of the task force’s thoughts on the Local Income Tax (LIT) are well-informed. It’s prudent public policy to use GIS data for LIT distributions and to allow cities to adopt their own LIT. As for the idea of reducing the overall LIT cap to match the state income tax, I'll reserve my judgment for a later date.

”I’m disappointed in this report which provides very little relief to hard-working Hoosiers. We can do better for our homeowners, and we should do better.”

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?”

Andrade invites veterans and their families to Annual Veteran Turkey Giveaway

On Friday, Nov. 22, State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster), in partnership with U.R.W. Recycling and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana (NWI), will be giving away free turkeys and a bag of groceries to veterans and their families on from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. CST at the American Legion Post 180 (2703 Jewett Ave., Highland, IN 46322). Turkeys will be available while supplies last!

Andrade released the following statement leading up to the event:

“The Annual Veterans Turkey Giveaway event is a way for us to show our unwavering support and appreciation for the individuals who dedicate themselves to serving and protecting our communities. To our active-duty members and veterans - thank you for your courage, dedication and the sacrifices you’ve made to protect our freedoms. We are deeply grateful for your service, and we hope this gesture brings comfort and joy to you and your loved ones during the holiday season.”

Smith announces performers for annual Harvest Feast

State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) is hosting the annual Harvest Feast on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7:00 p.m. CST. The event will take place at New Hope M.B. Church located at 2307 Rhode Island St. Gary, IN 46407. The Harvest Feast is held in honor of Smith’s mother, the late Rev. Julia E. Smith, and his aunt, Magnolia Allen, and includes a short religious service followed by a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The event is free and open to the public.

Rep. Smith released the following statement regarding the entertainment lineup of the event: 

“This year’s Harvest Feast lineup is one for the books. We will feature New Hope Praise Team; Chienoo’s, a praise dancers’ group; the West Side Theatre Guild Repertoire Dance Co; Stephan Henderson, a gospel vocalist; and Nathan Mason, a gospel vocalist; Debra Davis, a gospel vocalist and Rev. Bryan Davis, a gospel vocalist. I am truly excited to share these wonderful performers with the attendees of this event.

“I want to extend an invitation to all residents of the area to attend the Harvest Feast this Friday, Nov. 22. This free event is a celebration of God’s blessings and a continuation of my mother's legacy of service and worship. Whether you have nowhere to go for the holiday, are in need of a good meal, or simply looking for good company and a great time, you are welcome here.”  

IBLC, Porter honor Marshall “Major” Taylor with Distinguished Hoosier Award

Today, members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) honored Marshall “Major” Taylor with the Distinguished Hoosier Award. Born in 1878, Taylor became the first African American world champion in cycling.

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) sponsored the award. Porter serves House District 96, which includes the neighborhood Taylor lived in during his time in Indiana.

“I think Indiana has a lot of unsung Black heroes who deserve to be recognized for the barriers they broke,” Porter said in a statement to Indiana Public Broadcasting earlier this month. “Taylor was only the second Black athlete to win a world championship in any sport, and he was a trailblazer in a non-traditional sport. His sprint times are still considered some of the fastest in the world. Growing up as a Black man in Indianapolis, Taylor was a testament to how far grit and willpower could take you. I am honored to posthumously present this award to Marshall 'Major' Taylor for his legendary impact on Indiana.”

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) spoke at the award ceremony, praising Taylor's talent and perseverance.

“Taylor's story is not just one of triumph on the racetrack, but of courage in the face of adversity,” Harris said during the event. “He competed during a time when the color of his skin meant he was often excluded from competitions, subjected to harsh discrimination and even faced with threats of violence. Yet, despite the odds, Taylor's will to succeed remained unshaken. He set more than 20 records and became an international superstar. But even more than his victories, it was his refusal to be silenced or sidelined that made him a true champion.”

IBLC, Porter honor Marshall “Major” Taylor with Distinguished Hoosier Award

Today, members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) honored Marshall “Major” Taylor with the Distinguished Hoosier Award. Born in 1878, Taylor became the first African American world champion in cycling.

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) sponsored the award. Porter serves House District 96, which includes the neighborhood Taylor lived in during his time in Indiana.

“I think Indiana has a lot of unsung Black heroes who deserve to be recognized for the barriers they broke,” Porter said in a statement to Indiana Public Broadcasting earlier this month. “Taylor was only the second Black athlete to win a world championship in any sport, and he was a trailblazer in a non-traditional sport. His sprint times are still considered some of the fastest in the world. Growing up as a Black man in Indianapolis, Taylor was a testament to how far grit and willpower could take you. I am honored to posthumously present this award to Marshall 'Major' Taylor for his legendary impact on Indiana.”

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) spoke at the award ceremony, praising Taylor's talent and perseverance.

“Taylor's story is not just one of triumph on the racetrack, but of courage in the face of adversity,” Harris said during the event. “He competed during a time when the color of his skin meant he was often excluded from competitions, subjected to harsh discrimination and even faced with threats of violence. Yet, despite the odds, Taylor's will to succeed remained unshaken. He set more than 20 records and became an international superstar. But even more than his victories, it was his refusal to be silenced or sidelined that made him a true champion.”

Burton sworn in as Indiana House District 77 Representative

Today, Nov. 19, State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) was sworn into the Indiana House of Representatives. A former Evansville City Councilman, Burton is a seasoned community advocate for neighborhood revitalization, equity, food access, youth development and housing. 

Burton released the following statement regarding today’s swearing-in ceremony:

"As a newly sworn-in state representative, I want families in Evansville and throughout Indiana to know that they have a champion at the table. Too many Hoosier families are struggling to get by, and our focus in the legislature ought to be about making life better for everyone, not further dividing our communities with hot-button issues that have little impact on their lives. From increasing access to safe, quality and affordable housing to creating pathways to better career opportunities and higher wages, we have our work cut out for us in the state legislature, and I'm ready to get to work.

"I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues in the Indiana House Democratic Caucus as well as lawmakers across the aisle to make Indiana a more prosperous, inviting state for all. It is an honor to serve House District 77 and an honor to be joined by my family today as I begin my new role."

GiaQuinta statement on IndyStar sexual harassment investigation

Following an Indianapolis Star sexual harassment investigation published Monday morning, House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta released the following statement: 

"As Indiana House Democratic Leader, I strongly condemn sexual harassment, no matter who it comes from. I cannot ignore this principle simply because a Statehouse Democrat has been accused of sexual harassment.  

"Indiana House Democrats successfully offered a 2018 amendment that resulted in a law to require annual sexual harassment prevention training for lawmakers and institute a House rule on the complaint process to properly investigate and hold lawmakers accountable when and if sexual harassment has occurred. It’s important to me that complaints are taken seriously. I’m glad the House has a reporting mechanism so victims and witnesses can come forward and feel safe to do so. 

"Finally, I want to remind all House employees that if something happened that you feel is worth reporting, our Ethics rules and the House’s personnel handbook provide for a confidential investigation process and guarantee protection from retaliation."

Smith invites community to the annual Harvest Feast

State Rep. Vernon G. Smith is hosting the annual Harvest Feast on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7:00 p.m. CST. The event will take place at New Hope Church located at 2307 Rhode Island St. Gary, IN 46407. The Harvest Feast includes a short religious service followed by a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. 

“Every year, I hold the annual Harvest Feast to honor my mother, the late Reverend Julia Smith. Service to the community was one of the many values she instilled in me growing up. My mother started this tradition in Gary to bring people together to give thanks for the blessings of this life. I am proud to keep her legacy of service alive and praise her memory for all she did for the people of this city. 

“All are welcome to join me for this joyous celebration of the gifts granted to us by the Good Lord. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community, give thanks, and give back. There will be a free traditional Thanksgiving dinner, worship, entertainment and good company.” 

Part of economic development is addressing educational inequity

For decades, the ticket to success has been post-grad education. Michael Hicks, a leading economist from Ball State University, sums it up well with the phrase “education is the path to a middle-class life.” This doesn’t mean that those who head straight into the workforce can’t be successful. I’m a strong believer in choosing the path that’s best for you. However, I can’t deny that jobs requiring degrees usually offer higher pay, consistent wage growth and more security. There are other ways to achieve middle-class life, but the attainment of a college degree is the most likely path to that outcome. 

Unfortunately, Hoosier students are moving away from degrees. Indiana’s college-going rate has plummeted from 65% to only 53% since 2015. COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem, and the cost of schools is another deterrent. We’ve discussed this issue, but we’ve missed a key component: our Black students. College enrollment is dropping across the board, but the decline is more severe among students of color. The college-going rate for Black students has dropped shockingly low to 44%. There’s been some progress through the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) with auto-enrollment for the 21st Century Scholars Program. But more should be done, especially across the aisle, to change the tide.  

Looking at Indiana’s education landscape, it’s easy to understand why Black students forgo college. Let’s look at the most recent college equity report: only 17% of Black students received an Honors diploma, only 40% earned AP or dual credit and only 27% met early success benchmarks. To top it off, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action was unconstitutional. These measures encouraged minority students to apply with the promise of equitable admissions. College may not be for everyone, but Black students are clearly underserved. 

Post-grad employment opportunities are similarly dismal. The GOP majority has focused on work-based learning, but Black students are underrepresented in these programs. Registered apprenticeships are a moderately successful program with 21,768 active apprentices who make an average wage of $19.50 per hour. But Black Hoosiers only make up 8.5% of Indiana’s active apprentices. A recent report for the Fiscal Policy Committee highlighted that a “participation and achievement gap remains for African Americans and other minority populations.” Even when they do these programs, they still face inequity in the workforce. Black Hoosiers experience racial disparities in their wages, with differences as large as $2,000 after graduating from adult education or technical programs. 

It’s a Catch-22. We encourage Black students to join work programs instead of college. Then in these programs, they receive lower pay, struggle to get credentialed and struggle to find lasting employment. How do we address these disparities? How do we keep Indiana from falling further behind other states? We could start by re-examining the tax cuts given to big companies or redirecting the “embarrassment of riches” given to non-transparent development projects. Just think, if we “cut the fat” on corporate tax cuts and non-transparent incentives provided for Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s (IEDC) projects we could fully fund education. College degrees are better for economic development, especially for individual wage growth than the LEAP district. 

Let’s redirect our limited resources to human infrastructure which is undoubtedly more important to Indiana’s economic success. Let's begin by funding our universities to the national average. Let’s encourage college attendance since it’s the easiest path to the middle class. Let’s provide support to those pursuing degrees or job training by fully funding child care, transportation and educational grant programs. If we continue following our current path, Indiana will fall further behind with the most adverse effects felt by Black and other marginalized Hoosiers.

Errington testifies on second draft of high school diploma proposal

Last week, on Nov. 8., the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) met to discuss the second draft of proposed changes to the Indiana high school diploma. At this meeting, SBOE accepted public testimony to close out the public comment period.

State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) issued the following statement following her testimony to SBOE:

“Despite repeated concerns voiced by parents, educators and community members - including through public meetings I’ve hosted in my district - the issues that matter most to Hoosiers have not been addressed in this new proposal. While the inclusion of gym and health education is a step in the right direction, the proposal still significantly weakens our state’s curriculum by removing essential world language requirements and offering vague, unworkable solutions for students’ work-based learning opportunities.

“The persistent questions remain: How will these programs be made available, particularly in rural areas of Indiana? What will transportation look like for students participating in work-based learning? How will we address the ongoing shortage of counselors? Also, why the rush to implement this without ensuring we have the right resources and structures in place? We can't afford to sacrifice the quality of education for our students.

“At a time when students are facing so many challenges, this proposal does little to provide the support they need to succeed. The lack of transparency in who developed these changes and the continued failure to address the logistical issues, like student safety and transportation, are deeply concerning.

“I’ve listened to my constituents and raised these concerns directly with the SBOE, yet there’s been little action to improve this proposal. We need more than just a diploma that checks boxes - we need a system that prepares our students for success, and this proposal misses that mark. I will continue to fight for the changes our students deserve and need to succeed.”

Garcia Wilburn invites youth to attend Council on Youth Mental Health

Hey, young people of Carmel, Fishers, and Nora: It's okay to not be okay. But there are things you can to do feel better and help those around you struggling with the same mental health problems as you.

In light of recent reports showing Indiana youth face an unprecedented mental health crisis, State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn is inviting House District 32 youth to attend a youth mental health discussion with her on Monday, Nov. 18.

"We're Listening: Youth Council on the State of Youth Mental Health" will include:

• A free pizza dinner;

• An open dialogue with Rep. Garcia Wilburn on the mental health and wellbeing of you and your friends;

• Tools for advocating for more mental health support from the Indiana state government; and

• A workshop on how to cope and deal with mental health issues.

"This discussion and workshop is specifically for some of my youngest constituents – middle and high schoolers," Garcia Wilburn said. "As a mom and someone who works with kids all the time, I can see that your generation is struggling. I want to hear from you on what challenges you're facing. I'll also provide you with the tools to cope and help you move from hopelessness to hope by discussing how you can advocate for better mental health resources from our state government so that you and other kids in the future don't have to deal with this same struggle. I hope to see you there!"

"We're Listening: Youth Council on the State of Youth Mental Health" will take place on Monday, Nov. 18 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Fishers Public Library (5 Municipal Drive, Fishers, IN 46038) in the Center Room. While the event is for middle and high school-aged youth, parents are of course encouraged to attend.