‘We will have a good year’: Indiana House begins session with words of cooperation
By DeMarion Newell, TheStatehouseFile, January 9, 2025
On Wednesday, the first day of Indiana’s 2025 legislative session, the Indiana House of Representatives held its first meeting to present lawmakers’ priorities for this term.
During the meeting, Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, introduced the Democrats’ Working Hoosiers Agenda, which he referred to as “focusing on the basics of what our government can and should be doing for folks who work hard every day to get ahead. It’s about leaving Washington extremism to the cable TV pros and focusing on what everyday, working Hoosiers really need.”
He said Democrats will try to address the rising cost of living as well as health care and utility bills. They will attempt to crack down on junk fees and scams.
“They [Democrats] believe housing costs too much, whether you’re talking about rising property taxes or how difficult it is to become a first-time homeowner,” GiaQuinta said.
A United Way of Central Indiana study disclosed that 38% of Hoosier working families struggle to afford basic necessities.
GiaQuinta also said child-care costs are stopping people from going to work or buying a home.
In a state budget year, education funding is also a priority for the House Democrats.
“Our public schools are the lifeblood of our communities, and we need to treat them as such with responsible investment,” GiaQuinta said. “We can take pressure off property taxes and increase state funding to public schools.”
As GiaQuinta wrapped up his speech, he left the assembly with a quote from late-President Jimmy Carter when he received his Nobel Peace Prize: “We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.”
Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, spoke after GiaQuinta’s speech, saying even though Democrats and Republicans have things they’ll disagree on, he believes there are a lot of things they can work on together.
“Health care is an issue that we have the same focus, housing we have the same focus. I think we will have a good year,” Lehman said. “One thing I tell people over and over about this place is that we are not Washington D.C., we don’t have the animosity that you just see evidenced throughout that.”
Lehman finished by quoting GiaQuinta’s words: “Let’s go to work.”
After the session, Speaker of the House Todd Huston, R-Fishers, answered questions on bills pertaining to charter schools, taxes, Medicaid, the death penalty and medical cannabis. The House will reconvene on Tuesday to discuss these bills in more detail.
DeMarion Newell is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. Grace Wilson and Jasmine Walker contributed to this report.
