Friday, February 7, 2014
Like any good Super Bowl, the Indiana State Senate has reached its halftime. We’ve gotten a lot done in the first half, and lawmakers are gearing up to finish out strong when the Indiana General Assembly’s 2014 legislative session ends on or before March 14. As any football fan knows, at the heart of a good team is a great playbook, so let’s take a look at some of the most noteworthy “plays” the Indiana Senate Republican Caucus has made so far.
Pro-Growth Tax Reform
Authored by State Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Buck Creek), Senate Bill 1 would provide major support to Hoosier employers. It would cut two taxes that often burden these job creators – the corporate income tax and business personal property tax – in order to boost Indiana’s economic competitiveness. These changes would give Indiana the second-lowest corporate income tax rate in the nation, and eliminate the personal property tax on small businesses with less than $25,000 in equipment. But most importantly, it doesn’t strain local government budgets. In fact, it would reduce their statewide property tax revenue by only 0.5 percent.
Supporting Education for Indiana’s Workforce
State Sen. Phil Boots (R-Crawfordville) authored Senate Bill 330, which would target some of Indiana’s college financial aid and job-training dollars to help adults participate in education programs. Its goal is to help more adults who may have not received a full education attain high-wage, high-demand jobs. In all, this would give Indiana’s economy the boost it needs to get more unemployed and underemployed Hoosiers back into the workforce.
Supporting Hoosier Veterans
As always, the Indiana State Senate has kept our service men and women a priority. Senate Bill 352, authored by State Sen. Allen Paul (R-Richmond), would provide financial assistance to post-9/11 veterans and their families, allowing them to apply for the state’s Military Family Relief Fund any time after their service. Currently, families can only apply within a three-year window. A second bill by Paul, Senate Bill 354, would establish a Hoosier Women Veterans Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to specifically address the needs of Indiana’s female veterans. Together, these bills send a message that Indiana is a state that cares for its heroes, whether they’re at home or overseas.
All of these bills have passed the Senate and now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration. The House has sent us a few noteworthy bills of their own, including business personal property tax elimination, transportation funding, early education vouchers and criminal sentencing reform. Stay tuned to the Indiana Senate Republican Caucus blog for more updates!
