The Indiana State Senate, the upper chamber of the Indiana General Assembly, and the House of Representatives form the state’s legislative branch. Its responsibilities include passing legislation, setting the state budget, adjusting taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes. State senators serve four-year terms.
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Property tax reform to meet a specific policy goal. Some Hoosiers have a mix of retirement assets that include their home. These savers can watch their portfolios grow in wealth in tax sheltered accounts with zero tax bill until they sell. For many however, the property tax is assessing value on the entirety of their wealth basis every year. This must be addressed.
Legislators need to be held to better account for promoting special interest bills to choose economic winners and losers. More transparency can show how the cost is spread over every taxpayer to benefit very few. All tax credits need a sunset regularly to test whether the policy goals are actually working.
I will push again for a pro forma budget bill. Show your work.
It’s not unique, but perhaps uncommon among legislators. I will live each day by the Golden Rule. I don’t hate anyone for their innate characteristic.
We can agree to disagree agreeably. Attacking people with political rhetoric is wrong. Attacking lies and falsehoods are fair game so long as I have the truth.
Opinions are not the same as reality. I have plenty of opinions but must be willing to change them to confirm to reality. That requires humility and a willingness to hear from every viewpoint. I must reason with informed discernment to consider again my opinions.
I don’t like changing my mind when I’m wrong. Nobody dies. Humility to change may lose elections but it’s a winning formula for living with peace in my heart.
Stop wasting time on inconsequential issues that seek to divide us is a start. I mentioned all the special interest “tax” layered in to every purchase.
We have tried to address the standard practice of deny, deny, deny a health insurance claim for example. Entire call centers exist to argue over the cost of healthcare. These are another hidden tax. Health care costs are still too complicated and subjective based on the payor model, private or public.
Lastly real economic data must be examined rather than talking points if sound budget and finance decisions in the Statehouse are made impacting your pocketbook. I try hard to understand the true state of our economy no matter where that data takes me.
All of these areas are important. I always take serious the role that committee work plays in properly vetting all ideas before they are heard and voted upon by all legislators.
I chair Senate Family and Children Committee with grave concerns for the safety and restoration of children in trauma. Our future lies in the hands of these kids. Repeatedly I see the strength of character and leadership from Hoosiers in this space who themselves were victimized and are working sacrificially to restore our youth suffering neglect and abuse.
I also value my leadership role as Ranking Member of Elections Committee. Preservation of fair and free elections is not easy in a highly partisan environment. I do not back down or yield to intimidation.
Water, water, and water. Indiana has a natural advantage, perhaps our only natural advantage over much of the US and globe even. We must put our water resources to highest and best use instead of surrendering to every developer that proposes to take significant resources.
I think the PFAS issue is also critical and very challenging because the the vast number of common items in our lives that are improvements but at a great price. I am concerned that the levels of man made chemicals accumulated in our bodies will lower quality of life and increase medical costs once again.
Already addressed in part. I do not believe these properties are highest and best use of our water and energy generation capacity.
I did file a community energy bill in 2026 to put a modest regulatory framework to encourage private investment in local energy. The public utilities should welcome the effort instead of opposing it!
