Latest news with #Mishler
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ceremony honors fallen military veterans
ELKHART — A Memorial Day ceremony at Rice Cemetery on Monday honored the lives of military members who made the ultimate sacrifice. 'The freedoms that we currently enjoy sometimes are forgotten,' Mayor Rod Roberson said. 'Sometimes they are treated as insignificant, but it isn't.' Roberson noted the importance of the holiday to honor the service members who have come before. The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day is that Veteran's Day celebrates all veterans, Roberson said. City Councilman Aaron Mishler said the day is significant for him and many Americans. His father, who died in 2016, was a Vietnam War veteran and part of him never left the war, Mishler said. Mishler's middle name comes from his father's best friend who died in Vietnam. 'The sacrifices of our veterans is something that carries on with me for my entire life,' Mishler said. 'Memorial Day is a special and sacred holiday.' Mishler previously served as a medic in the Indiana Army National Guard and a nurse in the Army reserves. City Councilman Dwight Fish said he has seen the Memorial Day ceremony now from different perspectives as a council member and as the husband of a 28-year Army veteran. 'She has seen a lot in her career,' Fish said of his wife. 'But a lot of our friends are not around anymore. Our parents, some of her fellow soldiers, are down range, and they are no longer with us because of war and the elements around war, and now we have to honor their memory and the service that they gave us.' The mayor also noted the absence of former Mayor Dick Moore, who served in the Navy. Moore died just a few weeks ago. A parade was scheduled to followed the ceremony. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 88 also planned a late morning ceremony at Prairie Street Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the post.
Chicago Tribune
18-04-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Indiana Senate gives Medicaid bill final approval
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun will receive the Senate Medicaid bill in the coming days as the Senate gave final approval to the bill Thursday. The Senate voted 37-10, with all Republicans present voting in favor of the bill and all Democrats voting against it, Thursday on the Medicaid bill to affirm the amendments made by the House. Senate Bill 2 — authored by Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka — places restrictions on Medicaid, including work requirements, with 11 exemptions, on an insurance program for Hoosiers with a medium income and between ages 19 to 64. The bill requires the office to establish performance standards for hospitals that create eligibility requirements and action for when hospitals do not comply with standards. The House Public Health Committee amended the bill to remove a 500,000 cap on the Medicaid program. The House Ways and Means Committee amended the bill further to allow an Indiana resident enrolled in or attending an accredited educational program full-time to be eligible for the plan. The House Ways and Means Committee also amended the bill further to allow the secretary of Indiana's Family and Social Services office to advertise or market participation in the Medicaid program. The office can also reimburse medical providers at the appropriate Medicaid fee schedule rate for some medical claims prior to the beginning of benefits. When the state first established the Healthy Indiana Plan, the Indiana Medicaid program, in 2006, there were 40,000 people on the program, Mishler said. Before COVID-19, there were around 390,000 people on HIP, and currently there are more than 700,000 people on the program, Mishler said. Overall, Medicaid has grown by $5 billion in the last 4 years, Mishler said, and the rate of growth is greater than the state's revenue increase. In the upcoming 2-year budget the legislature is working on, Mishler said the majority of new revenue will cover Medicaid costs. Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said while she's pleased the program cap was removed from the bill, her 'continued concerns' were the increases in administrative costs as the bill calls for more eligibility checks and the work requirements. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that 73.1% of people on Medicaid in Indiana have jobs, and the remaining 26.9% are either caregivers, in school, too medically frail to work, or have trouble finding a job, Yoder said. Ultimately, Yoder said the bill makes Indiana's Medicaid program 'more complicated' which will result in people who qualify for coverage getting kicked off the program. Then, when they need healthcare, those individuals who were kicked off the program will go to emergency rooms for care, which increases the state's healthcare costs, she said. 'While the language has changed, the goals haven't wavered,' Yoder said. 'We don't want to punish people for being sick.' Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, said he supported Senate Bill 2 because it will ensure 'that those folks that are on the program are eligible.' 'When the pandemic happened, we expanded Medicaid and we let a whole lot of folks on it. A lot of those folks, many of them, weren't qualified and weren't eligible but we did it anyway because it was the right thing to do because we had a health emergency. Those times are over, and now it's time to get back to where we were before,' Bohacek said. Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, said the bill kills Medicaid expansion in Indiana because it will give state control over the program and limits elements of the Affordable Care Act. While the bill was amended to remove the cap, Qaddoura said the program is still capped because it states that FSSA 'shall limit enrollment in the plan to the number of individuals that ensures that financial participation does not exceed the level of state appropriations or other funding for the plan.' 'The solution is not to reduce eligibility. The solution is not to reduce appropriations. The solution is not to withdraw from the Medicaid expansion, but rather the solution is to look at the population and find alternative policies,' Qaddoura said. Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, said Medicaid is 23% of the state's budget. He said Indiana's Medicaid program 'exploded because of COVID,' when non-eligible people joined the program. 'Every dollar that goes to somebody that's not eligible is taking away a dollar from a poor, disabled Hoosier who otherwise should be getting that dollar and receiving benefits,' Garten said.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana faces $2.4 billion budget shortfall according to updated revenue forecast
INDIANAPOLIS— According to Indiana's latest revenue forecast, state lawmakers now have a $2.4 billion budget shortfall on their hands with less than two weeks to go before the legislative session concludes. 'Everything's on the table,' said State Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka), the Senate appropriations chairman. 'I'm not being sarcastic…In the 21 years I've been here, and I was here during the recession in '08 and [the] '09 budget—this one scares me a lot more than that.' 'I talked to the most senior economic guy around this building, and he's never seen anything like this,' said State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis). Mishler acknowledged Republicans had already started talking about potential cuts in anticipation of the forecast, but added that those cuts will be bigger than what they had expected. 'We're going to have to make tough decisions, we're going to have make some cuts, and if anybody has the audacity to come and ask us for more money, more than likely just take them out,' Mishler said. 'Maybe everything is on the chopping block except I want to say education…With the tariffs and other issues out there in the federal government right now, this really affects our bottom line,' said State Rep. Gregory Porter (D-Indianapolis). 'When the U.S. gets a cold, Indiana's got pneumonia.' Indiana Democrats introduced dozens of budget bill amendments earlier this session that could create/strengthen revenue streams—options some of those lawmakers now hope will be taken into consideration by their colleagues across the aisle. 'We think we can weather this storm to a certain degree,' Porter said. 'We feel as the Democrats on the House side as we go through the budget process…the process is attainable.' One of those proposals includes a cigarette tax increase that could add $800 million to the budget. 'We've been fooling around for years about a cigarette tax. Way overdue,' DeLaney said. 'We have several options—revenue resource options that we can offer in the next eight days to fully fund Medicaid, fully fund public education,' said State Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis). 'The Senate Democrats will be very proactive in working with our Republican colleagues because, as I said, this is not a Republican versus a Democrat issue. This is a state budget that impacts every Hoosier, and our goal is to get it done before the end of session.' Republican leadership said they're confident a solution will be finalized before the end of session. By law, the General Assembly has until April 29 to wrap up any unfinished business this session. 'We just got to have long nights,' Mishler said. 'I mean, that's what we do, we've done it for years, and we'll be here, and probably be staying here most of the weekend, too.' 'That remains to be seen,' said State Sen. David Niezgodski (D-South Bend) said when asked whether lawmakers could feasibly find a solution in two weeks. 'If we all have collaboration, it is not, the picture is not as bad as it seems or could be.' 'I think we can get something done in a week that's at least an honest start towards solving the problem, and if we don't, shame on us,' DeLaney said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
17-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Bleak economic outlook wipes out $2 billion from Indiana's next budget
Indiana lawmakers need to cut a staggering $2 billion from their two-year spending plan. Why it matters: With essentially no new money to spend, lawmakers are looking for ways to trim the budget, potentially leading to deeper cuts to public services and welfare programs like Medicaid. Driving the news: The state budget committee received an updated revenue forecast Wednesday that was historically bad. Projections were revised down between the December and April forecasts more than they were in 2009 during the Great Recession, surprising lawmakers with just how quickly the economic tides had turned. "I was here during the recession in '08, the '09 budget. … This one scares me a lot more than that," said Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, the Senate's chief budget writer. State of play: Statehouse leaders have said they want to wrap the legislative session by the end of next week, giving lawmakers just eight days to write the new budget. "We have a lot of tough decisions to make and we have to be disciplined," Mishler said. Speaking with reporters after the forecast, lawmakers said they would examine every piece of the pie, but K-12 education is the last place they would look to cut. Earlier spending plans from both the House and Senate proposed 2% annual increases for schools. By the numbers: Lawmakers have just $170 million in new dollars to spend in 2026 and $30 million in 2027. That's not much, considering the state spends around $22 billion annually and its Medicaid expenses are projected to grow by more than $400 million in the first year and another $375 million in the second. Between the lines: The dismal forecast is driven by slower than expected growth in jobs and wages, stock market declines and the effects of federal policies around tariffs, immigration and spending cuts. Mishler said he was expecting the forecast would go down but thought it would be closer to $1 billion. "I was way off." What they're saying: "When the U.S. gets a cold, Indiana's got pneumonia," said Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis. Democrats said they would like to see the state consider new revenue generators, like an increase in the cigarette tax, in addition to spending cuts. The other side: Republicans, who have a supermajority in both chambers, have for years resisted calls to increase the cigarette tax but didn't immediately reject the idea when asked about it Wednesday.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana Senate passes $46.8 billion budget for the next two years
The Senate gave final approval to the budget Tuesday following a nearly four-hour discussion of the budget on Monday during which Senate Democrats proposed 60 amendments, all of which failed. The Senate approved House Bill 1001, the biennial budget, in a 40-9 vote. Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, and Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, joined the majority of Republicans present to vote in favor of the bill. Sen. R. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, was the only Republican to vote against the budget. Young offered Monday four amendments, including an amendment for the legislature to have more time to review the budget, but they all failed. While Taylor said there are parts of the budget bill he disagrees with, he voted in favor because it was 'the best that (he'd) ever seen in a preliminary form' of the budget. But, Taylor said because the budget was amended in the Senate it will likely see a dissent vote in the House, which means the bill will go to conference committee for further discussion. Last week, the Senate Appropriations committee approved a $46.8 billion 2-year budget. The majority of new money was allocated for Medicaid, Department of Child Services, and Department of Correction, said Senate Appropriations Chair Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka. Through the budget's end in 2027, the state will see $3 billion in reserves, Mishler said. The majority of the budget — 47% — will fund K-12 education, while 22% will go toward Medicaid. Then, 9% of the budget will go to higher education, 6% to public safety, 5% to child services, 4% to health and human services, 3% to general government, and 2% each for capital projects and other, Mishler said. The state's Medicaid costs have increased following a nearly $1 billion shortfall as a result of a misprojection in the program. Comparatively, 15% of the state's budget in 2021 went to Medicaid, 18% of the state's budget in 2023 went to Medicaid, and the current budget allocates 22% of state funding, Mishler said. The budget fully funds a Medicaid forecast of $10 billion over the biennium period, which reflects a $2.1 billion increase to Medicaid, Mishler said. Additionally, in the 2023 budget, Medicaid went up by $2.3 billion and then halfway through the current budget cycle the state had to fund nearly $1 billion as a result of the shortfall, he said. For K-12 education, the state budget allocates $18.9 billion for tuition support, which reflects a $870 million increase in tuition support compared to fiscal year 2025, Mishler said. The budget also reflects an increase of $208 million for special education funding and $9 million for the non-English speaking program, Mishler said. Further, Mishler gave highlights of the budget Tuesday, which included requiring the Legislative Services Agency to complete a fiscal analysis of each executive order the governor signs, $1 million a year for the beginning farmers tax credit, and requiring the budget director to withhold 5% of each agency's appropriations with some exceptions. The Senate and House Republicans split on funding virtual students: House Republicans sought to increase the reimbursement from 85% of an in-person student to 100%. The Senators proposed a cut to 70% as Mishler raised concerns about virtual schools. Senate Democrats proposed multiple bills to increase the state's revenue through increasing the cigarette, alcohol and gaming taxes. Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, proposed an amendment to legalize marijuana, because it would bring another revenue stream to the state. Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, said he'd want to review legalizing marijuana, but he wouldn't support legalizing marijuana on the basis of addressing a fiscal challenge. Senate Democrats also proposed Monday amendments for housing credits, child care expansion, and exempting sales tax for menstrual products and adult diapers. They also proposed amendments to establish a $60,000 minimum teacher salary, restore income limits for school voucher eligibility, and a $1,000 credit for teachers who buy supplies for their classroom. Senate Democrats also proposed an amendment to fund pediatric cancer research and programs to increase birth control access. After all amendments failed, Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, said it was disappointing that not a single one passed. It was 'disappointing,' Hunley said, especially since legislators are frequently told revenue is scarce, but Senate Democrats proposed multiple ways to generate revenue. Senate Democrats wrote their amendments based on months of conversations with constituents and their requests, Hunley said. 'Our Hoosiers deserve better than a chorus of 'no, no, no' today. No to pediatric research. No to increase teacher salaries. No to easing the burden of property taxes on seniors. No to funding proven practices that would help ensure women and babies, who look like me, don't keep dying at the highest rates in our state,' said Hunley, a Black woman. 'They deserve a government that'll listen and respond with more than temporary fixes or inaction.' Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said Tuesday the budget has 'missed opportunities,' including many — from medical research and tax relief — with little to no impact to the state's budget. 'While House Bill 1001 has some good things in it, it also has some missed opportunities that are budget neutral — missed opportunities that could increase revenue for our state,' Yoder said. Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, said while there were a few amendments proposed Monday that she wanted to vote in favor of, but 'dollars are finite.' 'We don't have unlimited funding,' Rogers said. Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, said House Bill 1001 'was in some ways the best budget and the hardest budget.' Medicaid funding was 'a big problem' as the legislature approached the budget, Brown said. 'When you have to make tough decisions and determine what's fundamentally important to your state, it makes you really dig down,' Brown said. 'I don't think there's a Senator in this room who didn't have some angst when some of the programs that are near and dear to their heart got cut.' akukulka@
