Indiana Democrats of both chambers rally around ballot referendums, property tax relief

“We wanted to make sure everyone knows that the Indiana Statehouse Democratic Party are on the same page, and we really want to help all Hoosiers by pushing for the same agenda,” Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, said.

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, started off the meeting by saying the system is failing Hoosier citizens. 

“Whether you live in a rural, suburban or urban area, Indiana is just too expensive to be a Hoosier,” he said. “It’s not because Hoosiers aren’t working hard enough or making poor financial decisions; it's because one-party Republican rule has never worked in our Hoosier citizens' best interest.”  

Statehouse Democrats’ priorities include:

• Increasing access to affordable, high-quality child care. Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said, “Currently, providers are only able to accommodate about 41% of the half-million children who need child care, meaning that 600,000 parents are left with no options.” 
• Providing all homeowners with property tax relief via a $250 property tax credit funded by surplus state dollars.
• Capping prescription drug costs: for example, insulin at $35 and albuterol at $55.
• Solving the third-grade reading proficiency crisis through individualized, student-focused and non-punitive interventions. “That way their future opportunities are multiplied, not diminished,” said GiaQuinta.
• Allowing citizen-led ballot referendums to take place in Indiana. 

“Today is not the last day you will hear Statehouse Democrats talking about these key issues,” GiaQuinta said. “We intend to force as many votes as possible throughout the session, so the Statehouse Republicans have a lot of chances to say yes to Hoosiers and no to wealthy special interests.”