Gov. Braun doubles down on property taxes, immigration in first State of the State

By GARRETT BERGQUIST
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

Editor’s note: Click here to read the governor’s address.

Gov. Mike Braun on Wednesday urged state lawmakers to act quickly on property tax relief and health care costs.

In his first remarks to the entire Indiana General Assembly since he was sworn in 16 days ago, Braun stuck to many of the themes that dominated his campaign for governor and the first two weeks of his administration. Early in his remarks, Braun laid out what he has described as his first priority: cutting and capping property taxes.

The new governor already has met multiple times with lawmakers on the issue, and Senate Republicans have filed his property tax plan as Senate Bill 1, indicating first priority. Braun also renewed his call for an end to income taxes on retirement income and asked lawmakers to set up tax-sheltered farm savings accounts farmers could use during bad crop years.

“I understand this tax relief will have an impact on local governments, but taxpayers are struggling, and we have to put their needs first,” Braun said. “Just like the example I set with my budget proposal, all governments need to do more with less. We will continue to have vital discussions with local governments about how to protect vital services like police, fire, and schools.”

Braun’s speech came a little more than 24 hours after he ordered state law enforcement agencies to assist with federal immigration enforcement whenever asked. Braun briefly referenced that order Wednesday night when he vowed the state will assist the Trump administration in any deportations.

“Americans sent a clear message in November they do not want open borders,” Braun said. “Indiana will do whatever we can to help secure our southern border, and end this crisis that has brought deadly fentanyl and crime to our streets.”

The governor also spotlighted multiple efforts in the Indiana General Assembly meant to rein in health care costs, including price transparency, new rules for nonprofit hospitals, and legislation to require health insurance plan administrators to act in the best interests of the plan sponsor. Braun urged lawmakers to send those bills to his desk.

Legislative Democrats said afterward while they heard some opportunities for bipartisanship in Braun’s speech, they found his proposals on health care costs sorely lacking. House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, called Braun’s property tax plan “a farce” and said it would force local governments to raise their own taxes. Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said a lack of any mention of relief for renters was a glaring omission. As for his health care cost plan, Yoder said if Braun is serious about making health care more affordable, he shouldn’t cut Medicaid.

“If this administration truly wants real health care reform,” she said, “here’s where we start: cap the cost of prescription drugs. End medical debt lawsuits against patients. Expand rural health care funding and fully fund maternal health and postpartum care.”

For their part, legislative Republicans said they appreciate Braun’s leadership on health care costs and they look forward to working with him on those issues. Senate President pro tem Rod Bray, R-Martinsville, said Republicans have more than a dozen bills in both chambers that would drive health care costs down. As for property taxes, he said there might be some additional tax burden in the form of increased local income taxes or wheel taxes, but local governments also can find nonessential services to cut.

“A community is more healthy when more people own their homes, and so the idea of people losing their homes because they are retired on a single income that doesn’t go up when inflation goes up, that’s reprehensible to us,” he said.

SB 1 has not yet come up for a hearing. Bray said senators are still gathering input and he expects hearings to begin in about two weeks.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/politics/gov-braun-doubles-down-on-property-taxes-immigration-in-first-state-of-the-state.