U.S. budget bill reactions, new Indiana laws, cut to Purdue degree programs

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    In response to Indiana Republican Sens. Todd Young and Jim Banks voting for the GOP’s budget, Indiana Democratic Party Chair Karen Tallian released the following statement:

    “Todd Young and Jim Banks once again failed Hoosiers by caving and passing Donald Trump’s disastrous billionaire-first budget. This budget is the worst bill to pass the Senate in over 40 years and it will rob Hoosiers of their health insurance, take food off the table, and kill good-paying jobs—all to line the pockets of the GOP’s billionaire donors. This budget is an attack on working families across Indiana. Hoosiers Democrats are mobilizing to hold Republicans accountable everywhere because the stakes have never been higher. This budget is retaliation to against states who expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and will strip healthcare coverage from 230,000 Hoosiers and lead to hospital closures in places like Logansport, Rensselaer, Portland, Sullivan, Washington, Bremen, Winchester, North Vernon, Brazil, Salem, Decatur, and Corydon. It’s shameful.”

    Shortly after noon Tuesday, U.S. senators voted 50-50 on the “big, beautiful bill” and Vice President J.D. Vance broke the tie to send it back to the House.

    Erin Macey, director of the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute: “We know that when Hoosiers are financially stable, they can better contribute to their families, communities, and the world. Making dramatic cuts to the programs families rely on to stay healthy and feed their families to give tax breaks to those who don’t need them hurts us all.

    Olivia Smith, tax and budget policy analyst at the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute: “The most recent analysis we’ve seen suggests that Hoosiers in the bottom income bracket will see tax savings of only about $80—barely enough to fill the car’s gas tank or pay for back-to-school supplies—while those in the top 1% will receive an additional $60,000 in tax relief. The tax breaks for the top 1% provide more than what most working Hoosiers earn in a full year! While they can use this windfall to buy a luxury car or a lavish vacation, regular families will be worrying about how to keep food on the table. The cuts to Medicaid and SNAP will likely mean increased grocery bills and medical debt, while cuts to the funding of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will leave Hoosiers with an underfed, weakened watchdog. It’s distressing to consider the far-reaching impacts this will have on those who are already struggling to make ends meet and the domino effects on grocery stores, hospitals, and other corners of our local communities.”

    Last week, Statehouse leadership selected topics for legislators’ interim study committees.

    Rep. Gregory W. Porter, D-Indianapolis: “There are some valuable study topics this year, but there are a lot of missed opportunities. Indiana’s seeing cuts from the revenue shortfall, and the sword is hanging over our head with the One Big ‘Beautiful’ Bill. But we’re not going to discuss how these cuts or potential changes impact Hoosiers. We don’t know what will be in the final version, but we know things will change. We also need to look into the impact of tariffs on our small businesses, farmers and factories. Indiana will be going into these changes blind.

    “We could lose nearly a trillion in federal Medicaid funding, but the Medicaid Oversight Committee isn’t meeting. We’re not going to discuss the change to HIP 3.0, the implementation of work requirements or the FSSA’s plan for increased eligibility checks. None of my submissions to examine additional revenue streams were considered, including adjusting the alcohol tax, free play casinos, or a small tax on soda. Even a small tax increase could bring local public health funding back up to its original appropriation.

    “But we’re not going to look into solutions for the revenue shortfall. Even if our state revenues do rebound, the One Big ‘Beautiful’ could sink us again. There are several devastating problems we could have addressed this summer but chose otherwise.

    “Indiana’s at a fork in the road, and instead of continuing the journey, we’re stopping for a picnic.”

    House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, issued the following statement on the new laws going into effect  July 1:

    “Today, Indiana’s misguided budget and Medicaid cuts go into effect. In recent weeks, we’ve seen our state pre-K program get cut. Just yesterday, the Commission for Higher Education announced that over 400 degree programs at public universities will be cut or merged.

    “What this all means is this: Working people get ripped off while the wealthy get richer. You’ll have fewer health care options and your local public school will have less funding. Meanwhile, you’ll be paying more taxes and receiving less services. But at least a few corporations no longer have to pay some business taxes, and wealthy families who already were sending their children to private school will get a tax break for it.

    “This doesn’t have to be Indiana’s future, though. Indiana House Democrats are committed to fighting for laws that invest in public education, protect health care, and ensure working families aren’t left behind.

    “The message from Statehouse Republicans is that you should be happy with less. House Democrats believe you deserve more. You deserve an Indiana you can afford.”

    On June 30, the Commission for Higher Education (CHE) announced that more than 400 degree programs across six of Indiana’s universities would be eliminated, suspended or merged. The state budget included a statute setting a minimum threshold of graduates for all degree programs. Across all Purdue University campuses, 83 programs will be impacted. Programs include bachelor’s in various disciplines of engineering, foreign languages, special education, economics and mathematics.

    Rep. Chris Campbell, D-West Lafayette: “This is an overreach of government into higher education, echoing a dangerous national trend. The majority isn’t outright controlling students’ education, but they’re restricting it, which achieves the same goal. Students should be able to study whatever they choose, especially since they’re paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for it. Programs impacted include economics, secondary education, finance and three engineering disciplines. I was especially shocked to see special education degrees on the list.

    “When I got my master’s in audiology at Purdue, it was a relatively small program. But the size of the program didn’t matter. It was offered because students were interested, and even though the discipline is small, audiologists provide essential services.

    “Our public university is arguably our state’s greatest strength. Purdue is globally recognized. But to continue their record of success, Purdue has to be a great place to work and study. The General Assembly has continued to undercut these efforts with tenure reviews, monitoring instruction and now eliminating degree programs. It will get harder and harder for Purdue to pitch itself to out-of-state students and the nation’s top researchers.

    “For the party of small governance, this is a gross overreach into students’ academic opportunities.”

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