Porter comments on legislative inaction with impacts coming from the One Big Beautiful Bill

Last week, Statehouse leadership selected topics for legislators' interim study committees. Topics related to state revenue, Indiana’s Medicaid program, student loans or energy and utilities were not selected. If the One Big Beautiful Bill passes, Indiana could see drastic changes in funding and regulations for state programs. 

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

 “There are some valuable study topics this year, but there are a lot of missed opportunities. Indiana’s seeing cuts from the revenue shortfall, and the sword is hanging over our head with the One Big ‘Beautiful’ Bill. But we’re not going to discuss how these cuts or potential changes impact Hoosiers. We don’t know what will be in the final version, but we know things will change. We also need to look into the impact of tariffs on our small businesses, farmers and factories. Indiana will be going into these changes blind. 

“We could lose nearly a trillion in federal Medicaid funding, but the Medicaid Oversight Committee isn’t meeting. We’re not going to discuss the changes to HIP 3.0, the implementation of work requirements or the FSSA’s plan for increased eligibility checks. None of my submissions to examine additional revenue streams were considered, including adjusting the alcohol tax, free play casinos, or a small tax on soda. Even a small tax increase could bring local public health funding back up to its original appropriation. 

“But we’re not going to look into solutions for the revenue shortfall. Even if our state revenues do rebound, the One Big ‘Beautiful’ could sink us again. There are several devastating problems we could have addressed this summer but chose otherwise. 

“Indiana’s at a fork in the road, and instead of continuing the journey, we’re stopping for a picnic.”