The Indiana House broadly approved a deal providing wraparound social services and inflation relief in a 93-6 vote on Friday.
The legislation uses over $1 billion in reserve accounts to send $200 checks to millions of eligible Hoosiers, including hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers utilizing Social Security or disability benefits.
For some lawmakers, that wasn’t enough.
Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, urged lawmakers to do more, saying that with revenue exceeding expectations by $145 million each month, the state will recoup the billion soon enough.
“Why do our Hoosiers have to continue to carry the blunt and help build this surplus and not get any relief?” Porter said. “I’m going to vote yes because a little bit is better than nothing.”
Five Democrats and one Republican rejected the bill, including Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis.
DeLaney noted the confusing process for the poorest Hoosiers, those who normally don’t file taxes because of their low income, who would receive a $200 tax credit when they file their 2022 taxes next year.
“It’s now a combination of some bad ideas from the Senate and limited ideas from the House,” DeLaney said. “It reminds me of when my kids would frustrate me, I’d just say, ‘Here’s $20. Go do something.’ And that’s what this is – that kind of ‘Just get out of my house.’”
He also criticized the roughly $77 million in direct appropriations and discretionary spending for social services, saying the state could, and should, do more. The package was crafted in response to an expected abortion ban the legislature is debating.
Bill sponsor Rep. Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville, said he anticipated the Senate would concur with the final bill this afternoon.