Porter: ‘Preserving our history is not a partisan issue‘

On Thursday, Jan. 16, Gov. Mike Braun presented his “Freedom and Opportunity” budget proposal to the State Budget Committee (SBC). Even though the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is not included in the state budget, the Braun Administration has moved to terminate the state’s contract with the institution. The contract allows the IHS to pay a minimal fee for their lease to the state, and in return, the state pays for its operational maintenance costs–close to $1 million per year.

As the Ranking Minority Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) will continue to call attention to cuts in state funding clearly related to a divisive, partisan agenda. Porter released the following statement about the plan to terminate the IHS contract: 

“Unfortunately, Braun's divisive cuts don’t stop at defunding critical programs for minorities in the budget. Now, his administration is cutting contracts. They’ve moved to eliminate our contract with the Indiana Historical Society, the primary repository for our state’s rich historical record.

“The IHS has always highlighted and celebrated the diverse ethnic and racial history of our state, especially during Black History Month. Right now, they have an exhibit called ‘Resist’ about the rise of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in 1930s Indiana. They also provide crucial education about the Holocaust and the life of Eva Kor.

“Now the IHS will have to come up with an additional $1 million each year. They’ll potentially have to cut exhibits, raise the cost of admission or cut certain events. Ending the contract puts the IHS in a fiscal bind.

“We also need clarification on the termination. The original contract was created in 2007 and was intended to last until 2098. It’s unusual for the state to terminate a contract unless there’s been fraudulent activity. This is a deviance in the way our state does business, and it’s a bad faith move that tells vendors we’ll cancel contracts with no explanation. Curiously, this is the contract that’s being terminated when we’re still paying a contractor for our Medicaid forecasts who’s responsible for the $1 billion mistake. 

“This is yet another move by Braun that will harm Hoosiers by putting the preservation of our history at risk. History is not a partisan issue. In my experience, those who berate history refuse to acknowledge the evils that exist within it.”