Tuesday, December 31, 2013
All of us at the Indiana Senate Majority Caucus are looking forward to making the new year the best one yet. But to do that, it’s important to reflect on the previous year. With the 2014 legislative session beginning Jan. 6, we wanted to review some highlights in the Indiana General Assembly from 2013.
Cutting taxes for Hoosiers: In 2013, the Indiana State Senate and House of Representatives enacted what’s been called the largest tax cut in state history. This included reducing the individual income tax rate, eliminating Indiana’s inheritance tax, cutting the financial institution tax and decreasing the corporate income tax rate. These tax cuts – in addition to our honestly balanced two-year budget and $2 billion in reserves – allowed us to maintain our record of fiscal responsibility. It also gave us the distinction of the 10th-best business tax climate in the nation. We plan to build on this record of accountability as we begin another legislative session.
Closing the “skills gap”: Employers in Indiana have reported that one of the biggest obstacles to stronger job growth is a “skills gap” between available workers and available jobs. The General Assembly and Gov. Mike Pence aimed to close that gap by focusing on two major initiatives: Regional Works Councils and the Indiana Career Council. Together, these groups have fostered collaboration between leaders in state government, business and education, and have made contributions toward helping students graduate high school with college credits or an industry certification. Our focus on job growth has helped Indiana achieve the third-highest manufacturing job growth rate in the nation. In 2014, we’ll continue to look at ways to spur job creation and encourage career readiness.
Improving Indiana schools: 2013 saw a steady increase in the number of students passing ISTEP as well as the highest on-time graduation rate since the state began tracking it. To continue this trend of excellence, the General Assembly increased K-12 funding by $333 million, improved vocational education and expanded school choice, creating more options for Hoosier students and their families. As always, education is a top priority for the Indiana Senate, and it’ll be a focal point for legislation in 2014.
Responding to Obamacare: The federal Affordable Care Act gives states the option to expand Medicaid eligibility, but also gives Indiana a lofty price tag of more than $1.4 billion by 2020. This presented a difficult choice for lawmakers who want to help low-income Hoosiers but avoid creating a new entitlement that taxpayers can’t afford. To address that, Indiana is continuing its Healthy Indiana Plan instead, giving low-income individuals and families regular commercial insurance funded in large part with state dollars. As we approach a new legislative session, we’ll continue to find ways to support Hoosiers and address concerns over Obamacare.
Remember: you can always contact your senator to share your thoughts and ideas for 2014 or sign up for e-newsletters to stay in touch throughout the year. We hope you have a very happy New Year, and we’ll see you in 2014!
