Holdman and Lehman, GOP leaders, give insight into General Assembly actions
By DAVE SCHULTZ
Wells County’s two primary state legislators were in Bluffton Saturday morning, leading a one-hour Third House meeting.
The events are held during meetings of the General Assembly and give State Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, the majority caucus chair in the Senate, and State Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, the majority floor leader in the House, an opportunity to interact with constituents. It was a fast-moving meeting as each man had a lot to say, and they also took questions from the floor.
Holdman went first, and he particularly wanted to emphasize a two-year project that would, he hoped, get the state to a position where Indiana residents would have to pay “zero individual income tax” within the next three to four years.
He referred to the proposal, labeled as Senate Bill 3, which he initiated, as “transformational tax reform.” In a handout, he said it would create a State and Local Tax Review Committee “to study the feasibility of ending Indiana’s income tax and reforming property taxes for Hoosiers.”
Again, quoting from the handout, Holdman acknowledged that Indiana’s tax climate “consistently ranks among the best in the nation. Senate Republicans want to take a holistic look at our tax structure to ensure we remain competitive in today’s economy.”
Lehman took advantage of his time to speak on a wide range of topics. They included:
• The next state budget proposal was released Friday. There are a number of things in it — accelerated income tax regulation, putting $155 million into Hoosiers’ pockets; a $2 billion investment in education, that will eliminate the need for parents to pay textbook rental fees; increasing Medicaid funding, and putting money into local mental health. He said the state plans to spend $1 million on veterans’ suicide prevention and removing all income tax requirements from active duty service members.
• More money for the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, known as the READI program, which is similar to the Regional Cities Initiative. This time, Lehman said, it would push money into more rural areas, not just the larger metropolitan areas.
• Increase state police pay and also pay for statewide officers’ training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
• Ensure that all funds from the state’s gasoline tax goes to roads and bridges. The most recent gas tax increase, Lehman noted, sunsets next year.
Holdman and Lehman both talked about eliminating sales tax collections on sales by not-for-profit groups. As Holdman put it, “you should have been collecting sales tax on those bratwursts you sell at the Street Fair each year.
Lehman said a bill is moving forward on workforce development, which will include a requirement that students are exposed to a larger spectrum of trades in high school.
A bill that would alter school board elections is coming up on its third reading, and both legislators indicated it is likely to pass. The bill allows local school boards to decide if they want to allow candidates to identify themselves with a political party. Because the school boards would make the decision, and it would not be a state mandate, both legislators said they were likely to vote for it.
Public health was a priority for both Holdman and Lehman, with Holdman emphasizing SB 4, which would, as he put it in his handout, “modernize Indiana’s state and local health departments.”
Indiana’s creation of tax increment financing districts are getting a review. Instead of 100 percent of the tax revenue generated by development, it’s been proposed that a certain percent will be going to schools and/or cities. That can be negotiated now, they said.
When asked about the legalization of marijuana in Indiana, Lehman — wanting to hold to the meeting’s one-hour time limit — said “Look at the time.” Holdman said the 34 states that have legalized marijuana in violation of federal law. Neither legislator indicated any support for the measure or deemed it likely to likely to pass in Indiana.
daves@news-banner.com
