Latest news with #MitchDaniels
Wall Street Journal
12-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Indiana's Big School Voucher Breakthrough
Indiana has been a leader in expanding school choice for K-12 students, and better student achievement results have followed. Now Hoosier lawmakers are building on that success by further expanding access to private and charter schools in the state. Gov. Mike Braun last week signed a budget that opens school choice to every Hoosier girl and boy. The state's voucher program is already generous, covering about $6,000 of private-school tuition for most families earning less than $250,000. The new law eliminates the limits starting next year. Like traditional public schools, the voucher program will no longer turn away students based on their family's income. Lawmakers are also putting charter schools on par with traditional district schools by giving charters full access to local property taxes. Today school districts in nearly every state have a direct claim on property tax money, while charters are funded through special appropriations. Indiana's reforms will let nearly all tax dollars follow students to whichever school they choose by 2029. These reforms may save school choice from being smothered down the road. Indiana first launched vouchers and expanded charters during a period of enthusiastic reform under former Gov. Mitch Daniels in the 2010s, and Mr. Braun pledged to push further during his campaign last year.
Indianapolis Star
30-04-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Conservative Indiana will explore psychedelic mental health treatment
Buried deep in the budget bill is something that might prove to be more than incremental. | Contributing Columnist F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, 'The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." I'm no first-rate intellect, but I'm going to do my best to keep functioning anyway, as I try to consider two opposing ideas about how change happens as equally true. The case for incrementalism In many of the circles I find myself in these days, it's become fashionable to call for bold action. We say things like, 'We can't afford to take small steps,' or 'This is a time for urgency and big swings.' The thing to be avoided at all costs is 'technocratic incrementalism,' the idea of tackling big problems with small, steady efforts. I've said these things. I've meant them. Honestly, I still do. But I also believe something else, which sits uncomfortably alongside that belief: Incrementalism is often the best we can realistically do, in a policy world rife with compromises and trade-offs. I offer this tension as a frame for thinking about Indiana's latest legislative session, especially as it relates to mental health. I began my time as an Indy Star contributor with a piece urging lawmakers to keep their promises and fully fund the overhaul of Indiana's mental health system that began in 2023. I used all the adjectives of the 'bold or bust' movement: words like 'historic' and 'transformational.' If we're grading on the scale of sweeping change and radical reinvention, then the answer to the question 'Did legislators keep their promises?' is 'no.' This session did not deliver a grand leap forward for mental health. But I'd argue that it was a win, all the same. Winning by not losing In a session marked by a $2.4 billion revenue shortfall and cuts to many high-priority initiatives, the new funding that was secured for mental health last budget session (an additional $50 million annually to build the new system) was not cut. That may not sound like a big win, but I'm counting it as a meaningful step forward. We didn't get the long-term, sustainable funding that advocates and providers were pushing for, but we did preserve the opportunity to keep building, and early signs suggest that it's already paying off. Sources tell me that Indiana's Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic pilot sites are significantly improving access to care, reaching more people and closing some longstanding gaps. The work is far from done. Gaps will remain, and people will still fall through them. But if we continue to build smartly and collaboratively, measure what's working, and keep making the case for investment, we'll have another shot at lasting change in two years. Legislative leaders compared this budget environment to the aftermath of the Great Recession, when former Gov. Mitch Daniels and the legislature gutted most of the Indiana human services field, including mental health. The damage from that earlier era is something the field is only now recovering from. Through that lens, just holding ground this year is no small thing. In a landscape full of hard choices, we protected our progress. And that's not all. Indiana will pursue promising mental health treatment Buried deep in the budget bill is something that might prove to be more than incremental. The legislature appropriated new funding for further study of psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental health and substance use disorder. Full disclosure: I'm a convert. I could bore you with studies, like the one where two-thirds of veterans with PTSD no longer met the criteria for the disorder after undergoing psychedelic-assisted therapy. It's not yet a gold-standard, fully approved treatment, but it is incredibly promising. Studies are important, but stories of changed lives are what matter. Consider the story of Colts player Braden Smith, who bravely shared his own mental health journey in IndyStar. He found healing through psychedelic therapy, but he had to go to Mexico to do it. Thanks to this new funding, future Braden Smiths might be able to get help closer to home. Indiana is a notoriously temperamentally conservative state (we haven't even legalized medical cannabis), and we just took a significant step toward exploring psychedelic mental health treatment. That is something close to miraculous. I've been (and will continue to be) critical of our leaders when it's warranted. There is plenty in this budget, or about this session, that I don't like. I'll keep being critical when it is called for. It is important, however, to give credit where it's due. When future Hoosiers look back at mental health in the 2025 session, they might not see the transformational change that some hoped for, but they will see that the legislature preserved hard-won progress, and maybe took a surprising bold step forward too.
Indianapolis Star
30-04-2025
- Health
- Indianapolis Star
Conservative Indiana will explore psychedelic mental health treatment
F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, 'The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." I'm no first-rate intellect, but I'm going to do my best to keep functioning anyway, as I try to consider two opposing ideas about how change happens as equally true. The case for incrementalism In many of the circles I find myself in these days, it's become fashionable to call for bold action. We say things like, 'We can't afford to take small steps,' or 'This is a time for urgency and big swings.' The thing to be avoided at all costs is 'technocratic incrementalism,' the idea of tackling big problems with small, steady efforts. I've said these things. I've meant them. Honestly, I still do. But I also believe something else, which sits uncomfortably alongside that belief: Incrementalism is often the best we can realistically do, in a policy world rife with compromises and trade-offs. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. I offer this tension as a frame for thinking about Indiana's latest legislative session, especially as it relates to mental health. I began my time as an Indy Star contributor with a piece urging lawmakers to keep their promises and fully fund the overhaul of Indiana's mental health system that began in 2023. I used all the adjectives of the 'bold or bust' movement: words like 'historic' and 'transformational.' If we're grading on the scale of sweeping change and radical reinvention, then the answer to the question 'Did legislators keep their promises?' is 'no.' This session did not deliver a grand leap forward for mental health. But I'd argue that it was a win, all the same. Winning by not losing In a session marked by a $2.4 billion revenue shortfall and cuts to many high-priority initiatives, the new funding that was secured for mental health last budget session (an additional $50 million annually to build the new system) was not cut. That may not sound like a big win, but I'm counting it as a meaningful step forward. We didn't get the long-term, sustainable funding that advocates and providers were pushing for, but we did preserve the opportunity to keep building, and early signs suggest that it's already paying off. Sources tell me that Indiana's Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic pilot sites are significantly improving access to care, reaching more people and closing some longstanding gaps. The work is far from done. Gaps will remain, and people will still fall through them. But if we continue to build smartly and collaboratively, measure what's working, and keep making the case for investment, we'll have another shot at lasting change in two years. Legislative leaders compared this budget environment to the aftermath of the Great Recession, when former Gov. Mitch Daniels and the legislature gutted most of the Indiana human services field, including mental health. The damage from that earlier era is something the field is only now recovering from. Through that lens, just holding ground this year is no small thing. In a landscape full of hard choices, we protected our progress. And that's not all. Indiana will pursue promising mental health treatment Buried deep in the budget bill is something that might prove to be more than incremental. The legislature appropriated new funding for further study of psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental health and substance use disorder. Full disclosure: I'm a convert. I could bore you with studies, like the one where two-thirds of veterans with PTSD no longer met the criteria for the disorder after undergoing psychedelic-assisted therapy. It's not yet a gold-standard, fully approved treatment, but it is incredibly promising. Studies are important, but stories of changed lives are what matter. Consider the story of Colts player Braden Smith, who bravely shared his own mental health journey in IndyStar. He found healing through psychedelic therapy, but he had to go to Mexico to do it. Thanks to this new funding, future Braden Smiths might be able to get help closer to home. Opinion: Make Indiana Healthy Again is about cost-cutting, not wellness Indiana is a notoriously temperamentally conservative state (we haven't even legalized medical cannabis), and we just took a significant step toward exploring psychedelic mental health treatment. That is something close to miraculous. I've been (and will continue to be) critical of our leaders when it's warranted. There is plenty in this budget, or about this session, that I don't like. I'll keep being critical when it is called for. It is important, however, to give credit where it's due. When future Hoosiers look back at mental health in the 2025 session, they might not see the transformational change that some hoped for, but they will see that the legislature preserved hard-won progress, and maybe took a surprising bold step forward too. Favorable Thriving Conditions.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana Democrats are out of touch. They need a Hoosier family agenda.
The Indiana Democratic Party's new leadership team has a daunting task ahead, but also a unique opportunity to reshape its future. After years of setbacks, now is the time for a bold agenda that resonates with Hoosiers. I'm not a Democrat or a Republican. I try to evaluate issues on their own merits rather than the lens of Team Red or Team Blue. My motivation for wanting a strong Indiana Democratic Party is about healthy governance, not political preference. As former Gov. Mitch Daniels has argued, one-party rule for too long is not healthy for any state. Indiana's longstanding political imbalance stifles necessary debate, competition and progress. The last two election cycles have seen Indiana Democrats set shockingly modest goals — be competitive in a statewide race against weak candidates and chip away at the legislative supermajority — only to fall woefully short. The path forward isn't to shrink expectations further, but to take a bigger swing. Briggs: Indiana needs normal people to get political Many folks rightly focus on strategy, data and talent recruitment, which are critical components of a winning campaign. Others will want to talk about what not to do, and some of those points will be worth listening to. But the biggest problem remains: To the average Hoosier, Indiana Democrats don't stand for anything. The party needs an affirmative, clear, and compelling vision: an Agenda for Strong Hoosier Families. Life for the average Hoosier family is harder than it should be, and there is a real opportunity to champion policies that help children, families, and communities thrive. Call it 'care-mageddon,' the 'care-pocalypse,' or even 'care-gate' (a stretch, I know), but the crisis is undeniable. Indiana faces severe shortages in essential care professions — mental health professionals, disability care workers, nurses, elder care workers, and child care providers. Without decisive action, future Hoosiers seeking care for aging parents or child care to remain in the workforce will face growing obstacles. The economic and cognitive burden of this shortage on Hoosier families is reaching crisis levels, demanding a proportionate response. Small government rhetoric offers no real answers to this crisis, because care infrastructure doesn't magically materialize through tax cuts or deregulation. Indiana Democrats should propose activating the full apparatus of state government — with robust private, philanthropic, faith-based and education sector collaboration — to ensure every Hoosier family has access to the care they need across their lifespan. Caring for our most vulnerable isn't just the right thing to do — it's a critical quality of life issue and a driver of economic growth. The earliest years of life are the most consequential, yet they receive far too little attention in policymaking. Our failure to prioritize the needs of young children and their families during this critical window of development isn't just tragic — it's expensive for taxpayers, who could pay far less by investing in early support rather than later remediation. For a specific example, consider the growing epidemic of maternity care shortages throughout Indiana. It is hard to get a good start on life if you can't get good care in the womb. A growing national and bipartisan coalition is advancing policy solutions focused on ensuring children and families thrive in the first 1,000 days of life (including prenatal care). Indiana could put its unique stamp on this movement by leveraging our public, private, philanthropic, and faith-based resources to make our state the best place for young families. The First 1,000 Days framework offers a compelling package to rally around. A common theme here is the concept of cognitive load: the idea that people struggling to manage basic life responsibilities have little mental bandwidth left to thrive and grow as individuals or workers. Government can't and shouldn't solve every problem, but it can work to reduce the burden on families so they have the opportunity to flourish. Two targeted policies that would meaningfully reduce cognitive load are enhanced paid family leave and family tax credits. These aren't radical ideas — there are serious, conservative-coded versions of these proposals, particularly from groups like American Compass, that could be adapted for Indiana's political landscape. This agenda isn't about pushing a nationalized Democratic platform onto Indiana voters, but about meeting Hoosiers where they are and responding to their real, everyday struggles. By focusing on strong families, access to care, and reducing the burdens on working families, Indiana Democrats can offer a pragmatic vision for the state that is rooted in Hoosier values. Building a party that Hoosiers see as fighting for them starts with having something to fight for. The path back to relevance begins with a clear, affirmative vision, centered on the families who call Indiana home. Jay Chaudhary is the former director of the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction and chair of the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission. He writes the Substack, Favorable Thriving Conditions. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Democrats have new leaders. They need an agenda. | Opinion
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A real estate perspective in the Hoosier property tax debate
Indiana lawmakers are trying to find a balance between rising property tax bills and local governments' need for revenue to provide services. (Getty Images) Any Hoosier who has bought or sold a home in recent years can attest to the rising price of putting down roots in Indiana – our statewide median home price is up 60% since 2018 to hit $250,000 in January. Rising property values are a good thing: Indiana is growing, attracting new residents, employers and investment. And housing budgets still go much further in Indiana, with costs nearly 40% lower than the national average. But if you aren't in the market to move, the most tangible effect of higher housing prices is higher property assessments and tax bills. For seniors on fixed incomes, young families who have worked their way into starter homes and a growing number of moderate-income Hoosier homeowners, Indiana's growing property tax burden represents a real hardship. REALTORS® understand the importance of a fair and affordable property tax climate and we've championed significant and lasting residential tax relief through the years. So we're grateful for the leadership of Gov. Mike Braun and the many lawmakers who embrace the cause of pro-homeowner reform. Senate Bill 1 is a blueprint for reducing homestead taxes. Homeowners have essentially been hit with a $2 billion property tax increase in the past six years, and we support efforts to ease their burden. But with two-and-a-half months left in this session, there's plenty of debate and discussion left on the topic of property taxes. Senate Bill 1 has already changed significantly, and the House will certainly have their say. With that in mind, we offer a few considerations on behalf of the 21,000 REALTORS® who have long been a leading voice of taxpayers at the Statehouse. REALTORS® proudly stood with then-Gov. Mitch Daniels to fight for a constitutional cap on homestead property taxes at 1% of a home's assessed value; the caps have saved taxpayers more than $11 billion since 2010. Current proposals range from targeted relief for certain groups of taxpayers to a broad-based maximum tax liability credit or scaling up homestead assessed value deductions across the board. The momentum for property tax relief is on the right trajectory, but whatever approach ultimately becomes law, it must preserve uniform and objective methods of taxation – property assessments should fairly reflect value. Before 2000, Indiana's assessment system was based on arbitrary adjustments to largely outdated estimates of how much a home cost to build. The system bred inequitable taxation, provoked a seven-year court battle and nearly a decade of chaos for taxpayers before 2008. We should learn from this history, and leave artificial caps on assessments out of any serious negotiations on restructuring. Local officials are concerned about the revenue losses that come with lower property taxes. REALTORS® recognize a healthy balance between cost of living and quality of life: Communities demand and deserve quality public services and physical infrastructure. But Indiana's system of local government was designed in the age of horse-and-buggy, not high-speed internet. Overlapping layers of government push property taxes rates up while creating a confusion of duplicative bureaucracies. Eliminating township government, consolidating administrative offices while keeping policymakers accountable to voters and stopping the runaway creation of special taxing districts can all help our cities, counties and school districts live within a limited tax base. In 2024, 13,000 homes were available across our eight MLS marketplaces on a given day. This number was nearly 40,000 ten years ago. Indiana has underbuilt new homes for more than a decade – since 2014, we've grown by more than 250,000 new households while building less than 173,000 new housing units. This long-term housing shortage explains why we were already seeing statewide home prices rising faster than the U.S. before the pandemic. Looking ahead, the only sustainable way to keep homeownership affordable and assessments in check is ramping up new home construction to match supply with demand. We're pleased that the plight of homeowners has taken center stage at the statehouse. REALTORS® have worked with governors, lawmakers and local partners to build one of the nation's most competitive property tax climates – and this year, we see opportunities to put Indiana even further ahead. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
