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Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Gov. Mike Braun, Indiana GOP leaders talk redistricting with Vice President; Mrvan says decision ‘a done deal'
After Vice President JD Vance met with Gov. Mike Braun Thursday, U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan blasted the Trump administration for bringing 'the circus' of redistricting to Indiana and said he believed the decision to redistrict Indiana was 'a done deal.' 'Today, JD Vance and Donald Trump brought the circus to Indianapolis,' Mrvan, D-Highland, said. 'They are afraid of checks and balances. They are afraid of the polling that they see, and they want to redistrict things.' Mrvan, speaking at a press conference at the Indiana Statehouse, said he believed the meeting ended with an agreement to redistrict Indiana. 'I believe, humbly, that this is a done deal,' Mrvan said. 'No matter what district they put me in, I will fight for working class people. I will fight for fair education. I will fight for access to healthcare, and I will not allow our most vulnerable populations to be left behind.' Redistricting occurs every 10 years following the release of census data. But, the Trump administration has been pressuring states, most notably Texas, to redistrict ahead of the 2026 midterm elections as Democrats would only need to flip three seats to take control of the House. Texas House Democrats fled their state and came to the Chicago area last weekend to prevent a quorum for a special session to vote on a redrawn Congressional map. Texas Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Thursday the FBI has granted his request to assist Texas law enforcement in locating House Democrats who fled the state, according to the Chicago Tribune. Indiana Capital Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Niki Kelly shared on her X/Twitter account that Vance entered the Indiana statehouse through the basement, where media shacks are located, but did not respond to a question about why Indiana should redistrict. When Vance left the Capitol, Indiana State Police officers shut the doors of the shacks, Kelly tweeted, though some reporters captured short video clips of Vance leaving. After the meeting, Kelly tweeted that Braun walked by reporters and confirmed to them that redistricting was discussed. When asked if an agreement on redistricting was reached, Braun said 'we listened,' according to Kelly's tweet and videos shared on social media. Ahead of the meeting, multiple media reports confirmed that the governor's office was covered by a black curtain. Indiana GOP leaders didn't provide much detail on the topics of conversation or any potential agreement to move forward. Braun posted on his X/Twitter account Thursday that it was 'great' to meet with Vance and that they discussed 'a number of issues.' House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, said in a statement that he appreciated the opportunity to meet with Vance and 'share many of the successes we're experiencing in Indiana.' 'We've been proud to work alongside the Trump Administration on several issues to strengthen our state and nation. We had a meaningful discussion, heard the vice president's perspective on a number of topics, and will continue conversations as we work to advance Indiana and deliver results for Hoosiers,' Huston said. Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, said in a statement that officials had a 'productive' meeting with Vance. 'I appreciated the opportunity to hear from the Vice President on a variety of issues, which we will continue to talk through in the days ahead,' Bray said. In Indiana, Article 4, Section 5 of the state's constitution states that the General Assembly elected during the year in which a federal decennial census is taken shall fix by law the number of Senators and Representatives and apportion them among districts according to the number of inhabitants in each district, as revealed by that federal decennial census. The territory in each district shall be contiguous. Indiana has nine Congressional districts, which were last redistricted in 2021, with seven districts represented by Republicans and two represented by Democrats. The two Democratic districts are the first and seventh districts. The First Congressional District seat — which Mrvan has held since 2021 — is a 'realistic' target for redistricting because it's a larger district compared to the Seventh District, which encompasses Indianapolis, said Julia Vaughn, the executive director of Common Cause Indiana, a grassroots, nonpartisan organization with active independent redistricting commission campaigns in the state. The First Congressional District remains Indiana's most competitive seat. In 2022, Mrvan won nearly 53% of the vote against Republican Jennifer-Ruth Green. In 2024, Mrvan saw a small increase in the number of votes to just over 53% when he won against Republican Randy Niemeyer. But, Vaughn said redistricting the First District poses the risk of racial gerrymandering, which is the illegal packing of communities of color to preordain election outcomes. If racial gerrymandering were to occur, it would face legal action, she said. Aaron Dusso, an associate professor of political science at Indiana University Indianapolis, said if the Seventh District was considered for redistricting, legislators could use 'the pizza method,' which would slice Democratic portions of Marion County into Republican districts to break up Democratic support. During a press conference Thursday, U.S. Rep. André Carson, who represents the Seventh District, noted that Vance came to Indianapolis to talk about redistricting near the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting practices, being signed into law. 'A democracy belongs to the people, and the people are making their voices heard. We will not accept our state being cut and spliced and maneuvered for a wanna-be king in Donald Trump. We won't accept our democracy to turn into a dictatorship,' Carson said. The mid-decade plan to redistrict aims to disenfranchise Hoosier voters, Carson said. 'Seven out of nine seats in Congress just isn't enough. Now, they want all nine,' Carson said. 'It is our turn to call out this power grab. We don't need a dictatorship nationally, statewide, or locally.' State Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said the effort to redistrict Indiana's Congressional maps 'is the most dangerous political scheme this state has seen in a generation.' 'This is not democracy, this is cheating. Donald Trump is losing, and he knows it,' said Yoder, who is the Senate Minority Leader. Vance came to Indianapolis 'to rig Indiana,' Yoder said, because the Trump administration is afraid of facing the voters. 'They are not drawing new lines, they are erasing people. This is political fraud, a premeditated attack on your vote, on your voice, on our futures,' Yoder said. 'They may try to erase districts, but they cannot erase us.' State Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, said Trump 'is running scared' from voters because 'it's pretty clear that the people are not happy with his policies.' 'The voters are going to make that clear in 2026, and that's what scares President Trump,' Pierce said. Braun has 'to stand up for democracy' by not calling a special session to address redistricting, Pierce said. 'If the only way the Republicans can maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives is to run across the country stealing seats out from underneath members of Congress, they don't deserve to have that power,' Pierce said. 'We are in a fight to save our very institutions of government.' Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Chair State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, said in a statement that the two Democratic congressional districts represent areas with some of the largest minority populations in the state. 'This GOP rush to redistrict congressional maps is not just a pathetic attempt to strip voters of their right to a free and fair election; it's a direct attack on Black and minority voters in Indiana,' Harris said. Holding a special session to address redistricting would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money, Harris said. When the legislature held a special session in 2022, during which the legislature passed a near-total abortion ban, it cost the taxpayers $240,000, he said. The Voting Rights Act has been drastically stripped down over the last 10 years, which has presented minority voters with challenges in casting their ballots, Harris said. 'I have little confidence in our governor and our Republican supermajority's will to consider the voices and circumstances of minority and disenfranchised Hoosiers in their rush to appease Donald Trump,' Harris said.
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Vice President JD Vance heads to Indianapolis to talk redistricting; U.S. Rep Frank Mrvan's seat likely under attack
As Vice President JD Vance heads to Indianapolis Thursday to discuss redistricting with Gov. Mike Braun, U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan said potential redistricting of Indiana's First Congressional District would silence the voices of his constituents. 'The Trump administration has recognized that their harmful policies to benefit wealthy elites at the expense of working families are wildly unpopular,' Mrvan, D-Highland, said in a statement issued Tuesday night. Braun told reporters Tuesday that Vance will visit Indianapolis Thursday to discuss many topics, including possible redistricting. 'Whatever we discuss there, and if that topic comes up, it's exploratory,' Braun said. 'There's been no commitments made.' House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, did not respond to requests for comment about a potential special session to address redistricting. Redistricting occurs every 10 years following the release of census data. But the Trump administration has been pressuring states, most notably Texas, to redistrict ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Texas Democrats on Monday prevented their state's House of Representatives from moving forward with a special session to vote on a redrawn Congressional map. After the Democrats left the state, the Republican-dominated House was unable to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made threats about removing members who are absent from their seats. Democrats counter that Abbott is using 'smoke and mirrors' to assert legal authority he does not have. The Texas House quickly issued civil arrest warrants for absent Democrats and Abbott ordered state troopers to help find and arrest them, but lawmakers physically outside Texas are beyond the jurisdiction of state authorities. Indiana has nine Congressional districts, with seven districts represented by Republicans and two represented by Democrats. Of the two Democratic seats, the First Congressional District seat – which Mrvan has held since 2021 – is a 'realistic' target for redistricting because it's a larger district compared to the Seventh District, which encompasses Indianapolis, said Julia Vaughn, the executive director of Common Cause Indiana, a grassroots, nonpartisan organization with active independent redistricting commission campaigns in the state. 'The target would be on Northwest Indiana, but I think the Congress people representing those districts that border the First Congressional District will be very nervous because they'll have to take Republican voters from their districts and put them in the First,' Vaughn said. But Vaughn said redistricting the First District poses the risk of racial gerrymandering, which is the illegal packing of communities of color to preordain election outcomes. If racial gerrymandering were to occur, it would face legal action, she said. Aaron Dusso, an associate professor of political science at Indiana University Indianapolis, said if the Seventh District was considered for redistricting, legislators could use 'the pizza method,' which would slice Democratic portions of Marion County into Republican districts to break up Democratic support. The First Congressional District remains Indiana's most competitive seat. In 2022, Mrvan won nearly 53% of the vote against Republican Jennifer-Ruth Green. In 2024, Mrvan saw a small increase in the number of votes to just over 53% when he won against Republican Randy Niemeyer. In Indiana, Article 4, Section 5 of the state's constitution states that the General Assembly elected during the year in which a federal decennial census is taken shall fix by law the number of Senators and Representatives and apportion them among districts according to the number of inhabitants in each district, as revealed by that federal decennial census. The territory in each district shall be contiguous. Mrvan said the Trump administration's 'only hope to maintain control' in Congress is to force the state legislature to 'violate' the Indiana Constitution and undergo a mid-decade redistricting. 'It is no surprise that some believe redistricting is the only option to cling to power when they know the American people are rejecting the damage done by the House Republican Majority,' Mrvan said. For example, Mrvan said the reconciliation law hurts healthcare providers and limits healthcare coverage 'all to fund massive tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and special interests.' It would be 'reprehensible to call in the Indiana General Assembly for a special session on redistricting,' Mrvan said. The legislature should be focused on issues that impact Hoosiers, he said, like restoring state funds for local police departments. In states where redistricting is controlled by state legislatures, like in Indiana, it's common for the majority party to engage in gerrymandering, which is when Congressional and state legislative maps are drawn in a way to benefit the majority party, Dusso said. Dusso said he was surprised to hear that Vance is coming to Indiana to talk about redistricting because Indiana is already gerrymandered in Republicans' favor, with Democrats packed into two Congressional districts and the remaining seven in safe Republican districts. 'There is a danger involved in this, too, because you're going to have to put Democratic voters, solidly Democratic voters, into a lot of different Congressional districts. If you have a swing election coming here in 2026, you could end up losing some of these districts, which you would've won easily, but then you monkeyed around with these districts,' Dusso said. With California officials signaling they will pursue redistricting as well, Dusso said Democrats there have more options for creating new seats because California has an independent commission in charge of redistricting. Republican-led states are heavily gerrymandered, Dusso said, so it's likely national leaders are looking at Texas to create a new seat because it's a large state. But Indiana, Dusso said, is already gerrymandered in Republicans' favor. State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, joined Texas Democrats in Boston on Wednesday to show his colleagues support and call attention to gerrymandering. 'Although I am in Boston standing with Texas Democrats, this fight has now reached our doorstep,' Andrade said. 'This is pure gerrymandering disguised as redistricting. It is a blatant power grab from the national level that has trickled down into Indiana and Hoosiers don't want it.' Andrade said redrawing Indiana's Congressional maps would take away voters' voices. 'This will take power away from the people,' Andrade said. 'Instead of voters choosing their representatives, the party in power will choose its voters. That was never how our democracy was intended to work.' Indiana shouldn't enter the national fight over redistricting Congressional seats, Vaughn said. 'Governor Braun doesn't work for the White House. He doesn't work for JD Vance. He works for Hoosiers, and I have not heard one single Hoosier say, 'Let's go back and revisit redistricting,'' Vaughn said.
Axios
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Indiana passes bill to court Illinois counties
The Indiana Legislature has passed a bill creating a commission to study the Indiana/Illinois boundary in the hope of stealing away several downstate Illinois counties. Why it matters: The legislation, which Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is expected to sign, is a step forward for the separatist movement in Illinois. Voters in downstate Republican counties have shown dissatisfaction with the Democratic majority in Illinois, saying the current state government doesn't reflect their values. The intrigue: Indiana's GOP seems hell-bent on exploring the idea of absorbing downstate Illinois counties that have recently passed ballot referendums looking to break from Illinois, even if Illinois' Democrat-majority General Assembly wants no part of it. The latest version of the bill, which received final passage Thursday, makes Illinois' participation voluntary instead of mandatory. What they're saying: "That's their choice, whether they want to participate or not," Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, said after the vote. Zoom in: Gov. JB Pritzker has waved off the attempt as a stunt, but downstate Republicans like Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) want the state to take it seriously. He authored a bill to appoint Illinois representatives to the Indiana panel, but Democrats in the Illinois House have quashed it. "Indiana is doing its part to facilitate the wishes of these rural residents. It is time for the Illinois Legislature to do the same," Halbrook tells Axios. "The only reason for Democrats to oppose this idea is simple vindictiveness." Between the lines: Halbrook suggests it could be a win for Illinois Democrats, who could redraw the state to help elect more Democrats to Congress. But losing Republican-majority counties could set back the Illinois GOP, which is trying to claw its way back to statewide offices. State of play: The separatist movement has passed referendums in 33 Illinois counties (out of 102). Reality check: Though the Illinois movement has generally centered on splitting from Cook County, Huston sees an opportunity to expand Indiana's borders. "I think it's been a great opportunity to talk about all the great things going on in Indiana, and to say, look, you know, we'd love to have that conversation," Huston said. Yes, but: Don't expect new state borders anytime soon.
Axios
11-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Senate Republicans propose more conservative budget
Senate Republicans introduced a two-year spending plan Thursday that's more conservative than the House's version. Why it matters: Lawmakers have about two weeks left to hammer out a state budget — and they're far apart. An upcoming revenue forecast is expected to project relatively flat growth over the biennium, and major funding uncertainty at the federal level will further complicate matters. Driving the news: Senate Republicans rolled out a $46.8 billion budget plan with modest 2% annual bumps for K-12 schools and full funding for Medicaid — but they're keeping most other spending flat. They also want to keep reserves above 13%, ending the biennium with $3 billion in the bank. Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, the Senate's top budget writer, said they kept so much back because the state has almost no new dollars to spend in the second year of the budget. Between the lines: Republicans have a supermajority in both chambers so they control the budget-writing process. The final budget will be a compromise between the House and Senate proposals, likely falling somewhere in the middle of the House's more aggressive spending plan and the Senate's more conservative one. Zoom in: There are some major differences to be worked out. The Senate proposal did not make the state's private school voucher program universal — a priority for House Republicans and Gov. Mike Braun that is likely to come back during conference committee. "Obviously that's an important thing to our caucus, and it's something that we've always believed in," said House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers. Huston said he still believes it's the right year to lift the income eligibility caps on vouchers, even in a tight budget year. Republicans matched the House's proposal for local public health funding at $100 million each year and stipulated the money may be used only for residents who are legal citizens. Their bill does not eliminate Medicaid waitlists. It eliminates the wait list for child care assistance vouchers but does so by reducing eligibility rather than putting more money into the program. The other side:"They did not address the problem," said Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, who voted against the bill. "They just eliminated the problem by reducing eligibility, but we will still have families across the state who are struggling." 👀 The intrigue: Senate Republicans seemingly want to use the budget to rein in Secretary of State Diego Morales. The bill includes a provision that requires an annual travel report for the governor, lieutenant governor and all separately elected officials. Morales, a Republican elected in 2022, ruffled some feathers recently when he took a 10-day "economic development" trip to India (and skipped his Senate budget hearing). The budget bill also gives the General Assembly oversight on how Morales can spend his office's dedicated funds. What they're saying:"I think we just all need to know where they're going," Mishler said, "and if they're on state business, how they're paying for it." What's next: An updated revenue forecast will be released Wednesday.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House Republican plan for property taxes to save homeowners $1.1B
House Speaker Todd Huston, right, and Rep. Jeff Thompson present the House Republican plan for property taxes on April 4, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Lawmakers introduced yet another plan for property taxes this week, pitching a proposal to save homeowners $1.1 billion over three years. In comparison, homeowners would have seen nearly $1.3 billion in relief in 2026 alone under Gov. Mike Braun's previous proposal. In the atypical Friday afternoon press conference, Rep. Jeff Thompson said that 93-94% of homeowners would see lower property tax bills than they would with no action. But the majority of homeowners would pay less in 2026 than they did in 2025. 'We have two main goals in crafting this bill: deliver immediate relief to homeowners and reform the system to prevent the dramatic spikes in property taxes that we've seen in recent years,' said House Speaker Todd Huston. 'Our amendment accomplishes both.' The amendment to Senate Bill 1, set to be introduced on Monday, isn't yet publicly available. Once adopted by a committee, the Legislative Services Agency will release an estimated fiscal note. According to the two Republican leaders, all homestead property tax bills will get a 7.5% credit in perpetuity, up to $200, based on a calculation performed after accounting for property tax caps. Fixed-income seniors will see an additional $150 credit while disabled veterans will get an additional $250 credit. 'Now, every single veteran and every single senior will get a benefit if they qualify,' said Thompson, R-Lizton. But one of the biggest benefits for the average homeowner, Huston said, would be improved transparency for taxpayers, who would be able to assess their bills on a Property Tax Transparency Portal. 'When we do a rate-based and non-levy-based system … I think the normal Hoosier homeowner can understand what their bill looks like. It's not some algebraic equation,' said Huston, R-Fishers. The plan for property taxes joins a handful of other efforts, including one from Gov. Mike Braun, Senate Republicans, a House Democrat and a previous Thompson pitch. Each proposal has varying impacts to homeowners and local units of government, which rely on revenue from property taxes to fund public safety, infrastructure and schools. For instance, Braun's plan would save homeowners the most money on their property taxes going forward but be a heavy hit to the budgets of school corporations, counties, cities and towns. Alternatively, plans that reduce that revenue loss have a small, nearly negligible impact on homeowner property taxes. It's not yet clear what the total estimated impact of those credits will be to local governments. Thompson, the chief budget architect in the House, said most units will still see additional revenue but smaller increases than they would without Senate Bill 1. 'They're still going to be gaining dollars. If I recall, it's about a 5.6% gain (under) current law. This will roughly cut that down to a little over 3%,' Thompson said. 'So they're still adding more dollars, just not as many new dollars.' But Huston cautioned that some units, depending on their circumstances, could see losses simply because of the 'complexity of the system,' pointing to local referendums and debt. Similarly homeowner tax bills vary significantly depending on a home's value, the local tax rate and other factors. 'You could have the same home in the same county — and built in the same year — and you'd have two wildly different property taxes,' Huston said. '… I wish I could stand up here and give you all the bare bone specifics. I'd love to know what my property tax bill is going to look like in '26.' The proposed amendment would also 'rein in' locally held debt, though it's not yet clear how the General Assembly would accomplish that. House Republicans reported that the state's 2,000-plus local units of government hold a combined $53.4 billion in debt. Such calculations will impact local schools, who would get a double-whammy revenue hit with the incorporation of Senate Bill 518 into the plan for property taxes. The current version would require schools to split their revenue with certain charter schools. Under the new language for sharing property taxes, which isn't yet available, Huston said changes for schools wouldn't kick in until 2028 and would be phased in over four years. Thompson also alluded to changes in the state's personal business property tax, including a 'very, very slow, gradual phase down' for purchases made after Jan. 1, 2025. Will it be enough? It's uncertain whether the plan will be enough for the Hoosiers calling for relief. Last month, hundreds rallied to push lawmakers to adopt a plan closer to Braun's proposal, pointing to tax jumps in recent years during the economic fallout of COVID-19. Democratic Rep. Greg Porter said that big business would still be the winners in a Friday press release, criticizing the plan for not addressing home assessments that increase faster than business assessments. CONTACT US 'With roughly $1.1 billion saved over three years and about 1.9 million homesteads, each homeowner will save an average of close to $575 from 2026 to 2028,' Porter said in a statement. '… With an average property tax bill ranging from $1500 to $3000, a yearly credit of only $200 will fail to make a difference.' He also denounced the lack of relief for renters as well as an increased reliance on local income taxes for municipalities to backfill losses. 'Our schools will lose money, especially with Senate Bill 518 rolled into the plan diverting property tax dollars to charter schools so the state can pay even less. This plan encourages local governments to raise their local income tax rate, so you'll get more money in your right pocket but have to pay more out of your left,' Porter continued. Braun threatened to veto earlier versions of the proposal, citing the need for homeowner relief. Still, Huston seemed comfortable with the current package. 'We feel very good about the trajectory that we're on and we will continue to work with our partners on this and figure out where the best place to land the plane is,' said Huston. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
