BACKGROUND: The State Budget Committee met today to review, among many other agenda items, augmentation of the State General Fund for an Indiana Economic Development (IEDC) project from the Deal Closing Fund. This State General Fund augmentation would be repaid from IEDC land sales.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) is issuing the following statement today in response to several statements issued by State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) that grossly mischaracterize Sen. Garten's comments from today's budget committee meeting. Members of the media are encouraged to review archive footage of the meeting when it becomes available for the full context of Sen. Garten's comments.
STATEHOUSE (Aug. 22, 2024) – "I am personally frustrated by the uptick in politicization of State Budget Committee meetings. These meetings are intended to provide fiscal review of the implementation of our state budget and ensure funds are being used as intended, not a forum to debate politics.
"The assertion that our state isn't prioritizing Medicaid investments is simply untrue – the most recent state budget fully funded the Medicaid forecast, and when our state experienced a Medicaid funding shortfall of about $1 billion, we used (and expect to continue to use) our reserves to cover that deficit. I also personally authored a law requiring the transfer of approximately $23 million in old and unused state dedicated funds to the Medicaid Reserve Account to help alleviate that growing expenditure.
"Today, as part of the meeting, I made a point to clarify with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation that the state will be repaid the funds that would be augmented for the Deal Closing Fund because it's important the state is made whole so we can continue to invest in the services Hoosiers need from their government.
"My message to Rep. DeLaney is this: Hoosiers deserve better. Stop playing politics, and let's work toward solutions for the betterment of our state."
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State Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) represents Senate District 45, which includes Clark County and portions of Floyd County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
Contact: Molly Swigart, Communications Director
molly.swigart@iga.in.gov
317-232-9521
