Porter's Publication: Monthly Update for December

Dec 30, 2024

Middle and High School Students: Join the Statehouse Page Program!

Want to see how laws are made? Apply for our Page Program! Get a front-row seat at the Indiana Statehouse and meet your elected officials. This opportunity is open to middle and high school students aged 13+. It's an exciting experience that will give you a unique perspective on government and a behind-the-scenes look at the Capitol. Programs are available for both the Indiana Senate and Indiana House of Representatives.

The step-by-step application process is listed below:

Complete the online application here.  Each student must complete an application for the Senate or the House of Representatives. The online application will indicate how many open spots remain for each date.
After applying, several required forms will be emailed to you. These are to be submitted before Paging.
1. Alternative Adult Release Form
2. Page Photo Release Form
3. Page Student Driver Release Form
Want to bring in a whole class, scout troop or other large group? Group Page days must be set up ahead of time with the Page Program Director and are only held on Wednesdays. Since there is no Wednesday session, the schedule may look different than a typical page day. To schedule your group, please reach out to the Page Program Director at (317) 232-9410 or pageprogram@iga.in.gov.

For more information, click here!

I encourage all interested students to apply and I hope to see YOU in the Indiana Statehouse!

Porter speaking with two pages on the House Floor.

The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL)

During the first week of December, I had the opportunity to attend the NBCSL’s 48th annual legislative conference. The NBCSL is an organization dedicated to supporting African American legislators across the United States. Held in Washington D.C this year, the legislative conference is a great opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and discuss issues impacting minority communities.

The conference lasted three days and hosted numerous events and roundtable discussions. Some of the policy sessions held during the conference are “Social Determinants of Wealth: How Social Factors Impact Equal Access to the American Dream” and “The Right Prescription: How Public Policy Can Promote Equal Access to Healthcare for People with Lower Income.”

This year, I was honored to receive the Commitment to Care and Access Award. I was recognized for leadership in health care equity and access by the NBCSL’s health, pharmaceutical and biotech partners. I remain committed to ensuring every Hoosier has access to quality, affordable health care. We must continue to address implicit bias and discriminatory behavior in hospitals and clinical settings. I’m grateful to have received this honor from the NBSCL.

Rep. Porter with the Commitment to Care and Access Award

Indy’s Historical Markers: Crispus Attucks High School

In each monthly newsletter, I will share a historical marker within Indianapolis. It’s important to share the rich history of our city. This month I would like to highlight Crispus Attucks High School.

Built in 1927, Crispus Attucks High School opened its doors as a segregated high school to serve Indianapolis’ growing Black student population. The high school is nationally recognized for its win in the 1955 IHSAA state basketball championship. The team was the first all-Black school team to win a state title with their star player, Oscar Robertson, going on to become an NBA legend. The school was finally desegregated in the 1960s.

Crispus Attucks has a rich history of academic excellence and is a source of pride among our city’s African American community. Now the school serves grades 9-12, and they specialize in college and career options in health science and education. You can learn more about this historic school at their website, available here.

Photo of Crispus Attucks in 1928 from the Indiana Historical Society

My Comments on Braun’s Tax Proposal

On Dec. 3, Gov-elect Mike Braun released his “Freedom and Opportunity Agenda,” partially focused on tax relief. It’s clear that Braun’s tax plan was designed to provide further benefits to wealthy Hoosiers. I haven’t seen any legislative proposals, but I’m highly concerned with the plan’s contents. My major concern is the two-year state income tax credit for those bumped into higher tax brackets due to inflation, the so-called ‘Bidenflation Relief Tax Credit.’

Braun believes federal taxes are slamming Hoosiers, and we can soften the impact with Indiana’s tax code. Frankly, this idea is misguided and fiscally unsound. In 2022, we addressed a federal change by tying state and federal fiscal tax policy together. We’re still experiencing inconsistent revenue flows from that decision.

It’s a dangerous game to link these two systems together. We’re comparing apples to oranges. Indiana has a flat tax rate. Everybody is taxed at 3.05% whereas the federal percentage changes based on your income level.

Besides, addressing inflation isn't a novel idea. Most of Hoosier’s federal taxes are already calculated with inflation in mind thanks to the 1981 Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA). It’s passive income streams for higher tax brackets, like stock investments, where there will be real benefits. The better option is to make the state-earned income tax credit more reflective of the federal amount. This would benefit lower to moderate-income taxpayers who don’t have passive incomes.

The bottom line is this proposal will divert our limited state income tax revenue to the wealthiest taxpayers. Middle- and working-class families will get no relief. Indiana’s human infrastructure needs, like childcare and K-12 public funding, will be even more strapped for cash. We should shelve this proposal from further consideration and create something that truly helps the average Hoosier.

A link to Braun’s agenda is available here.

FSSA Announces Waitlist for Child Care and Pre-School Vouchers

On Dec. 11, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced a waitlist for the Indiana Childcare Development Fund and On My Way Pre-K voucher programs, effective immediately. New applicants will automatically be put on the waitlist until further notice due to all federal childcare funds being maximized in the state of Indiana.

As we head into a budget session, it is crucial that we do all we can to allocate funds to affordable, high-quality childcare. Currently, Indiana is ranked worst in the nation for access to childcare, and no county in the state is currently meeting the criteria for adequate access to care.

Access to childcare helps countless Hoosier parents get back into the workforce to provide for their growing families, and we as lawmakers have an obligation to create – and fund – as many pathways as we can to these programs.

This session, my fellow House Democrats and I will be doing whatever we can to allocate funds specifically for childcare. I echo House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta in his calls for the majority party to fulfill their obligation to Hoosiers to address this issue.

Learn more about the waitlist on the FSSA website here.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to my office at h96account@iga.in.gov