Session has ended, and we are now in the legislative season called the interim. The interim simply provides an opportunity to look into issues that we don’t always have the time for during session. For me in particular, this means looking into federal legislation and how it will impact Hoosiers.

Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), I have been very vocal about what I believe are the unintended but extremely negative consequences that it will have on individuals and businesses. This is a message which I have shared with you on more than one occasion because I believe that the ACA is bad policy.

As the March 31st deadline for enrollment approaches, we are still finding out what exactly is in the ACA. Just recently, I learned of a buried health insurance tax which is referred to as a “health insurance provider fee.” This is a new tax on health insurance premiums that will have very little impact on large employers but will increase individual and small group health insurance premiums by 2-3 percent. This tax does not have a fixed rate and will be set annually by the Treasury in order to meet a specified amount of revenue. This year alone, the tax will cost Americans an added $8 billion.

As our unemployment rate continues to recover from the recession, this is not a tax that I believe our nation can afford to gamble with. I am concerned about the impact it will have on our economy and that it may jeopardize small businesses’ ability to hire new workers or to provide health insurance coverage for their current employees.

While this is not a tax directly targeted at individuals, I think it is safe to say that any newly imposed tax on health insurance providers will be passed along to the consumer. As a member of the Indiana legislature, who serves on the Public Health Committee, I am alarmed by the impact this tax will have on Hoosier businesses and my constituents.

It is no secret that I have hoped for the entire ACA to eventually be repealed, but even if this small burdensome tax could be delayed or repealed, that would be a minor victory to me.

By Antonio Cordero TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Democratic auditor candidate Mike Claytor stood in front of the Indiana Department of Revenue on Thursday to talk about one of his main campaign goals: Equal rights for same-sex married couples.

Claytor, an accountant, focused on the tax policy set by the state Department of Revenue – and confirmed by the General Assembly – establishing that same-sex couples legally married in other states would not be allowed to file joint tax returns in Indiana. That’s even as those couples will be allowed to file federal tax returns jointly for the first time.

Instead, couples in Indiana will be required to file separate individual tax returns. That means same-sex married couples will need to start with a minimum of five different tax return forms, while heterosexual married couples only need two, Claytor said.

“Our state tax policy should not discriminate,” he said. “Filing your tax return should be an easy, streamlined process.”

Claytor is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for state auditor. The party’s nominee will be chosen at a convention this summer and no other Democrats are running.

Earlier this month, the General Assembly voted to keep Indiana’s tax system as is – despite the federal changes – to comply with the state law that doesn’t recognize same sex marriages performed in other states.

On Thursday, Claytor said that the Indiana Department of Revenue has not provided a worksheet to help same-sex couples file their taxes as Wisconsin and Michigan did. So Claytor created a worksheet to facilitate the transfer of information from the federal tax form to the state one. People interested can find it at www.claytor4auditor.com/worksheet.

“This worksheet will begin the process of alleviating some of the headache, by allowing couples to fill out four forms instead of five. I hope this helps, but we can’t stop here. We must encourage our state officials to rescind this discriminatory practice entirely,” Claytor said.

But Bob Dittmer, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Revenue, said the agency’s website — www.in.gov/dor/ – has plenty of information to help same-sex couples navigate the tax situation.

Dittmer said Indiana’s decision not to comply with the federal marriage rules won’t cost same-sex couples more money.

Claytor encouraged people who support equal rights to voice their concerns about the issue to Gov. Mike Pence.

“During this legislative session, we saw an all-out attack on equal rights,” Claytor said.

He also pointed to House Joint Resolution 3 – a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage – as an example. He said it was the “focus of too much attention and reinforced legal discrimination in Indiana.”

A spokeswoman for state Auditor Suzanne Crouch referred questions about the issue to the Indiana Department of Revenue.

 Antonio Cordero is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College students.

John Sittler By Allie Nash TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence held a press conference Monday where he signed four education-related bills into law – just hours after he also signed legislation that ends the Common Core standards in Indiana. “These bills help Hoosiers of all ages with tools that they need to succeed in college, the workplace, and life,” Pence said. Indiana officially left Common Core when Pence signed Senate Enrolled Act 91, which requires the state to adopt its own academic standards. Common Core standards have been adopted by many states as the benchmarks for student achievement. “By signing this legislation, Indiana has taken an important step forward in developing academic standards that are written by Hoosiers, for Hoosiers, and are uncommonly high, and I commend members of the General Assembly for their support,” Pence said in a press release. Later this week, Pence will sign the pre-k voucher bill that will help low-income families send their children to preschool. Pence said he believes the best enrichment comes from families before school starts for young Hoosiers, but he now knows that not all Indiana children have that chance. The bills allows for a pilot program to test out pre-k vouchers. On Monday, the governor also signed House Enrolled Act 1064, which calls for a study on career and technical education programs. The study will be done by the Indiana Career Council and will include 157,000 students state-wide. The study must be done by August 1st and will look into the college and career readiness of students that participate in career and technical education programs and if those programs are used efficiently and with sensitivity to markets. The study is designed to work with programs the state has now according to Pence. HEA 1213 allows the Indiana Career Council to appoint a committee to make and improve standards for career and technical education. The bill also allows for a subcommittee that would recommend changes to standards. Pence signed two adult education bills that focused on “second chance high schools” and funding for adults to update their skills. SEA 330 creates a new performance orientated program, which allows for adults to get the skills they need to succeed. That includes skills necessary for jobs that the Indiana Department of Workforce Development classifies as “high demand and high wage.” “Too many workers are left behind because their skills are outdated,” Pence said. The number of adult high schools now is uncapped, and the schools will be much more accessible to Hoosiers. The Excel Centers – the adult high schools – have repeatedly come to legislators for funding. But the new program does not provide a plan for funding for the high schools. “Long term funding is important for future sessions, but I am very happy we have lifted the cap,” Pence said. According to Pence, Indiana has proven that these high schools are effective and innovative for drop-out recovery. SEA 205 allows for charter schools to be held accountable. Charter schools are now required to submit an annual report to the State Board of Education. That report must include performance and financial information. After five years the Board of Education can determine if a school will return to operating under its district, become a charter school, or if additional intervention is needed. Allie Nash is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.