Latest news with #MikeBraun
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SNAP cost-sharing jeopardizes food assistance program
Indiana could be on the hook for as much as $360 million a year in SNAP costs. (Getty Images) Most people are talking about work requirements for federal assistance like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). But it's another provision that could have a much bigger impact. More than 600,000 Hoosiers received $1.44 billion in financial assistance to buy food in fiscal year 2024, mostly families with children who can't make ends meet. That cost-sharing language for the federal program threatens to break Indiana's budget or take out the program altogether. A key provision in the federal reconciliation bill that passed the U.S. House and now is being vetted in the Senate would require states to have skin in the game for SNAP. Right now, the benefits are 100% covered by the federal government with the state picking up half of the administrative costs. But the proposal would require some states to cover as much as 25% of the benefits cost starting in 2028, depending on each state's error rate. States with the highest error rates would pay more as a 'state quality control incentive' to crack down on fraud and abuse. The seven states with error rates below 6% would only need to cover 5% of the tab under the current version of the bill. But Indiana's 10.5% error rate puts it into the highest tier for a match rate — even though it falls below the national average rate of 11.68%. That means Indiana could be on the hook for as much as $360 million a year. Coming off a budget session where state lawmakers had to cut higher education funding, child care aid and economic development programs, any new fiscal obligation will be a burden. But $360 million would be near impossible. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost-sharing component will save the federal government a little under $100 billion. 'CBO expects that some states would maintain current benefits and eligibility and others would modify benefits or eligibility or possibly leave the program altogether because of the increased costs,' the analysis found. Gov. Mike Braun's administration didn't provide a comment on the possible ramifications. It's important to remember the hungry Hoosiers at the heart of this debate. Despite the error rate — which includes underpayments as well as overpayments — most are desperate families in need of additional assistance to put food on the table. USDA research from fiscal year 2023 showed Indiana is among the lowest states in the percent of population receiving SNAP – between 8 and 10%. In comparison, six states and Washington D.C. were above 16% and all of Indiana's neighbors rank higher. To be eligible, you must have a monthly net income of less than $1,255 for a family of one; $1,704 for a couple and $2,600 for a family of four. That means if you live alone and make over $300 a week you are ineligible for SNAP. The amount you receive depends on your income but the average monthly payment per participant in April 2025 was $196. That is down slightly from April 2024. Indiana's enrollment went up during the pandemic when additional emergency aid was available. But generally, it has been stable and ranks about mid-pack nationally. For instance, in April 2025 281,112 households or 588,184 individuals. Those numbers are a few percentage points lower than April 2024 and slightly down from Fiscal Year 2023. Other changes being considered nationally include imposing work requirements on those receiving benefits. And some states, like Indiana, will ban using the benefits on candy and pop. I generally don't have a problem with those proposals. But the cost-sharing provision will undoubtedly take food from hungry adults and children, and I hope the U.S. Senate re-evaluates the pain it could cause. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Gov. Mike Braun: ‘Hoosier safety is top priority'
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun ceremonially signs legislation in his Statehouse office on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. He is flanked by administration officials, lawmakers, law enforcement officers and impacted family. (Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) It may have been just a ceremonial signing but Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and advocates lauded two public safety bills Wednesday afternoon. Braun signed Senate Enrolled Act 324 and House Enrolled Act 1014, both bills to protect Hoosier families as a part of his agenda, he said. 'Keeping Hoosiers safe is our top priority, and we've secured several wins for public safety this session.' Braun said in a news release. 'These bills will increase the penalty for pushing fentanyl on our streets, help keep police officers safe, and make our communities safer for Hoosier families.' SEA 324, effective July 1, increases penalty levels for crimes involving fentanyl. It also states that a court must consider requiring a person charged with domestic violence to wear a monitoring device as a condition of bail. The bill hits close to home for one Indiana family — the Stoebick's, who attended the bill signing after losing a loved one to domestic violence. Jessica Stoebick, a nurse at Riley Hospital for Children, was murdered by her ex-husband after a history of domestic abuse incidents on Dec. 18, 2023. Her mother, Bobbi Stoebick stood next to Braun as he signed the bill wearing a shirt that read 'I wear purple for my daughter. Stop domestic violence.' Jessica's father and sister also attended. Bobbi Stoebick said she thinks that if her daughter's ex-husband was wearing a ankle monitor, her daughter would have had more time to prepare herself. 'It is baby steps,' She said after the signing. 'Women live in fear everyday, it has to stop.' Braun also signed HEA 1014, which will restrict government entities from hosting or organizing obscene performances. 'That's just common sense,' Braun said about the bill. 'It just isn't what the government should be spending taxpayer dollars on.' During the legislative session, no examples were provided of any such instances. The law also makes it a sentencing aggravator to be in the U.S. 'unlawfully,' as well as having distributed a controlled substance. 'There are no disruptions from the federal border,' Braun said. 'Things are already getting better.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
New Indiana enrollment quotas could reduce local campus degree offerings; eliminate programs
New state law enrollment quotas on Indiana's public university degree programs could have a large impact on regional campuses and lead to the elimination of some degree programs. At the session's end last month, GOP lawmakers added the quotas to House Bill 1001, the state budget bill, approved and signed by Gov. Mike Braun last month. The addition received little public scrutiny until a story appeared recently in the Indianapolis Star. Universities with degree programs that fall under the quotas for three consecutive years must request permission from the Commission for Higher Education to continue them. Those quotas include an average enrollment of 15 or more for three consecutive years in bachelor degree programs, 10 students in associate degree programs, 7 students in master's programs and 3 in educational specialist and doctorate degree programs. In 2023, the number of Hoosiers with college degrees ranked 43rd in the nation, while studies cite more educated citizens lead to stronger state economies. Some educators worry the quota law will lower the state's attainment rate even more. According to data in the Star's recent story, 76% percent of bachelor degree small enrollment programs at IU Northwest in Gary and 53% of bachelor degree small enrollment programs at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond and Westville could be affected. The data calculations came from the National Center for Education Statistics as compiled by DATA USA based on 2022 or 2003 data. Future data tracking from the Center could be in peril. In February, the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, terminated $900 million in contracts in the U.S. Department of Education including the National Center for Education Statistics. State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, said regional campuses like IU Northwest and PNW don't draw as many students as their main campuses do to always support enrollments of 15 or above. Smith is also an education professor at IU Northwest, although he's announced his retirement effective at the end of May. 'Often we have to offer independent studies and use adjuncts in those classrooms to keep costs down,' he said. 'They don't understand what we have to do to meet the needs of the students in our area,' Smith said of Republicans who control the General Assembly. 'I think the system is not broken. It's because they have all this power and they are control freaks,' Smith said. 'Their argument was less government and now they're in everything.' Republican lawmakers defended the quotas saying they'll lead to better efficiencies on campuses. Officials at Indiana and Purdue universities didn't respond to email requests for comment. Sources, however, say the quotas triggered concern across university campuses. A recent social media post by a member of PNW's Social Work Club alerted students to the new law. The post stated PNW's new social work bachelor program averaged 13 students from 2021 to 2023, leaving it in jeopardy. The post urged students to send testimonials to the Commission on Higher Education. PNW's bachelor in social work program has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education until 2031. Graduates are eligible for state licensures as social workers in the job field that shows increased employment projections of 7%. Several STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, programs at IU Northwest could also be in jeopardy. They include biology, biochemistry, computer and information sciences, engineering and math, radiation therapy and informatics. PNW degree programs with smaller numbers include computer engineering, electrical engineering, general chemistry and physics, history and math. Braun, who appoints 12 members of the 14-member Higher Commission board, supports the enrollment review process. Griffin Reid, spokesman for Braun, said in an email: 'This provision ensures our state-funded universities are preparing future college graduates for professional success with degrees that are in demand in Indiana. Universities will be able to request (the state) continue degree programs that fall below this threshold and are of specific interest to the state.' The next meeting of the Commission for Higher Education is July 10. Bill Hanna, executive director of the Dean and Barbara White Foundation, represents Northwest Indiana although his current term expires June 30.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana Governor signs Senate Bill to protect small pharmacies
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed Senate Bill 140 last week to address restrictive practices by pharmacy benefit managers. The bill that was signed into law establishes critical protections for local pharmacies and their patients. Senate Bill 140 will require pharmacy benefit managers to reimburse pharmacies fairly for their services based on the average cost to purchase and dispense medications. It also guarantees all pharmacies the opportunity to contract with a pharmacy benefit manager. Indiana Statehouse bills on local pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers According to American Progress, 'PBMs occupy a central role in the drug price supply chain as negotiators, administrators, and decision-makers about which drugs will be most accessible to consumers.' In the news release from the Indiana Pharmacy Association, they applauded Braun due to the belief that pharmacy benefit managers often favor their own affiliated pharmacies, which undercuts independent pharmacies, pushing out healthcare providers and driving up costs. The bill also protects patients by allowing Hoosiers to choose their preferred pharmacy in their network. Pharmacy benefit managers must now offer retail networks that include at least one retail pharmacy within 30 miles of every insured person. They believe this will end reliance on mail-order-only options for Hoosiers and improve access to timely care. 'This bill is a significant step forward in ensuring the continued viability of local, community pharmacies,' said Indiana Pharmacy Association Executive Vice President Darren Covington, J.D. 'For far too long, pharmacy benefit managers have inadequately reimbursed community pharmacies, which has led to pharmacy closures, reduced hours, and staffing shortages. When local community pharmacies close, the whole community suffers. This bill sends a clear message that local community pharmacies matter to public health. We applaud the Indiana General Assembly and Governor Braun for their support of this important legislation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana farmers celebrate 2025 legislative wins, but key transition tax credit falls short
Indiana farmers had several legislative wins during the 2025 session, but budget constraints stymied some proposals. () Property tax tweaks and a new online portal were among this year's legislative wins for Hoosier farmers. But a high-priority proposal to help retiring farmers transition land to a new generation of growers failed to cross the finish line in the final days of the session. Rural-focused portions of Gov. Mike Braun's first agenda pledged to 'cut red tape,' strengthen the agricultural economy and protect Indiana farmland from encroaching development. The Republican governor had two early successes: property tax relief and a new online farmer portal. Baked into Senate Enrolled Act 1, a hotly-debated property tax measure, were changes to how farmland is assessed for property taxes — increasing the capitalization rate in the farmland formula from 8% to 9%, and adding a new assessed value deduction. Braun maintained those changes will bring at least some relief for farmers. Agricultural lobbying groups agreed, in part, but said more works need to be done on property taxes, specifically. 'While this will provide relief to Hoosier farmers on their real property taxes the next couple of years, taxes on other agricultural infrastructure like farm buildings and permanent structures are expected to increase due to shifts within the tax base,' said Andy Tauer, Indiana Farm Bureau's executive director of public policy. 'Our members have seen property tax bills go up 60% over the past three years, while net farm incomes have gone down. So, we need to return to the Statehouse in the coming years to craft a more comprehensive and sustainable solution for farmers.' Another win came in House Enrolled Act 1149, the first bill signed into law by Braun. The measure, authored by Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer, creates an online 'one-stop-shop' portal for farmers to access funding opportunities, regulatory information and state agency contacts. 'Hoosier farmers feed America and power our economy, and this bill makes their important job a little bit easier,' the governor told reporters at a Statehouse bill signing ceremony. Braun's plan additionally called for the creation of a farmland preservation task force, as well as upgrades in rural communities, including roads, broadband and water systems. Members of Indiana Farm Bureau's water task force in 2024 identified a 'gap' in protections for agriculture and significant groundwater well users who utilize irrigation or need water for livestock, Tauer said. Under earlier state law, those users were responsible for proving any loss of water and were liable in court. Farm bureau leadership said the lobbying group worked with Republican Sen. Sue Glick, of LaGrange, to craft Senate Enrolled Act 28, which establishes a reporting and investigation process managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to fix those issues and ensure that agriculture is protected in cases when usable water is unavailable. Braun signed the legislation in mid-April. 'Although we were successful in getting our water policy signed, we did not get the property tax relief that Hoosier farmers really need,' said Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron. 'While we are appreciative of the change in the farmland formula, it's incredibly important that we advocate for more tax relief for our members in the future and we vow to do just that. Other agricultural sector bills that passed and were supported by Indiana Farm Bureau and other lobbying groups included: Senate Enrolled Act 461: Clarifies the responsibilities of the Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency, ensuring better compliance and support for struggling licensees. House Enrolled Act 1012: Requires law enforcement to inform landowners of any damage to their property resulting from motor vehicle accidents. House Enrolled Act 1461: Provides additional funding and tax options for local government infrastructure projects, benefiting rural communities. Axed from the final draft of the state's next two-year budget, however, was a tax credit to support land transitions. The proposed 'retiring farmers tax credit,' originally introduced by Culp, would have offered up to $67,000 in tax credits to landowners who sell or lease farmland or agricultural equipment to beginning farmers, helping ease barriers to land access and encouraging transitions to a younger generation of farmers. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signs first bill into law, creating new online portal for farmers Claire Shipp, Midwest policy manager for the American Farmland Trust, said the policy was based on successful models in Minnesota, Iowa and other states. With more than 34% of Hoosier farmers now over the age of 65, Indiana is facing 'a major shift in farmland ownership,' Shipp said. Many retiring farmers want to sell or lease to a beginning farmer but can't afford to turn down higher offers from developers or institutional buyers, she added. The tax credit would have provided an incentive 'to preserve Indiana's agricultural legacy, support rural economies, and ensure farmland stays in productive use for future generations.' Although the tax credit was included in Braun's proposed budget in February, it was removed by GOP budget writers in the House. A Senate version of the state budget later added a 'beginning farmer tax credit,' modeled after a similar program in Ohio, but was ultimately dropped in final budget negotiations. Caitlin Smith, Indiana Farm Bureau's director of policy engagement, said that while her group supported the tax credit, budget pressures ultimately derailed the proposal. She pointed to the state's April fiscal forecast, which revealed $2 billion less in revenue that expected, prompting lawmakers to trim provisions late in the session. Keeping farmland in the hands of farmers is not just a private benefit — it is a public good. – Claire Shipp, Midwest policy manager for the American Farmland Trust 'Indiana Farm Bureau's two main policy priorities this year were to provide tax relief and water protections,' Smith said. 'While we supported the governor's agenda initiative, as well as Rep. Culp's bill as filed, ultimately those didn't make it across the finish line due to budget constraints. After the April forecast was released, legislative leadership made tough decisions to close the budget gap and that was one of the items that fell off.' Smith noted that the goal of the credit was to help encourage and foster young farmers buying land to start their businesses. 'We know land prices are skyrocketing while the farm economy is on a downward turn, so this credit would be a tool in the toolbox to foster the next generation taking over farms,' she said. 'We're supportive of those initiatives, but we were really focused on asking and advocating for tax relief this year.' Shipp said the American Farmland Trust plans to advocate for similar legislation again and is working with Culp and other lawmakers to revisit the proposal in 2026. 'Keeping farmland in the hands of farmers is not just a private benefit — it is a public good,' she continued. 'When young farmers have access to land, they contribute to local economies, bolster rural communities, and continue the agricultural heritage that sustains Indiana.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
