Porter comments on Braun’s decision to eliminate Commission on Race and Gender Fairness from his budget

On Thursday, Jan. 16, Gov. Mike Braun presented his “Freedom and Opportunity” budget proposal to the State Budget Committee (SBC). This budget eliminates funding for the Commission of Race and Gender Fairness. The 2023 budget allocated close to $880,000 per year of the biennium for this commission, and $500,000 of this yearly allocation is used for court interpreters. 

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

“I continue to delve deeper into Braun’s budget proposal, and each time I find something new that’s disturbing. He has once again demonstrated that one of his priorities is slashing programs that benefit minority populations. I fear those ordering these decisions fail to understand the unintended consequences this has on Hoosiers.

“Eliminating this commission will make it immensely difficult for non-English speakers to make their case in our judicial system. Indiana courts are required by law to provide interpreters, but they’ll struggle to do this without adequate funding. We have non-English speakers living in Indiana, and they have a right to a fair trial like their English-speaking peers. Everybody deserves a timely, equitable trial in our court of law regardless of their background. 

“This decision is an intrusion into the judicial branch, which is made more troubling by Braun’s increased funding for prosecutors. The number of prosecutors and potential prosecutions will increase, but protections in our criminal justice system are being eroded. There’s been a clear path of this administration that’s extremely troublesome to Hoosiers. From cutting funding from commissions that fight discrimination to not renewing Martin University’s funding. 

“These decisions hinder lawmakers, like me, from creating real economic relief for Hoosiers. These moves don’t lower the price of rent, gas or eggs. I’ll continue fighting tooth and nail to protect historical progress while still working on tangible relief for Hoosiers.”