INDIANAPOLIS — Today, Republican state leaders and Governor Braun presented Indiana’s final version of the two-year budget as the General Assembly works to navigate a $2.4 billion revenue shortfall. The Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus is urging leaders to stop pointing fingers and start delivering a budget that reflects Indiana’s values — and protects the people who need help the most.
“This shortfall didn’t come out of nowhere,” the caucus said. “It’s the direct result of economic fallout tied to Washington’s tariffs and trade instability that began in January. That’s not politics. That’s what our own state revenue experts pointed out in testimony.”
A Budget Is a Moral Document — And This One Still Falls Short
“We all agree — we must balance the budget,” the caucus said. “But we can’t balance it on the backs of school kids, working families and aging parents and grandparents while the politically connected continue to benefit.”
The caucus says Hoosiers want more than another round of tax shifts, slogans and selective oversight. They want a government that protects what matters: strong public schools, affordable healthcare and fair, transparent budgeting.
What We’re Still Concerned About
Public school support remains flat — while vouchers keep growing.
The budget keeps public school funding at a 2% increase, while still expanding to universal vouchers in year two of the budget — shifting millions more to private schools. And lawmakers claim funding is stable all while underfunding textbook fees for students by a third. The status quo remains with the 85% funding for virtual charter schools while public schools, serving 90% of Indiana’s students, see the largest cuts.
“Let’s stop pretending this is neutral. Public schools have made cuts for years. Vouchers have grown. This budget doesn’t balance anything — it picks a side and gives all of the choice to private schools,” the caucus said.
Public health was promised more — and given less.
The governor promised $100 million for public health under the “Make Indiana Healthy Again” plan. The final budget delivers a devastating blow to community health programs. The final budget delivers a 60% decrease, leaving a meager $40 million for public health.
“You don’t make Indiana healthy again by cutting local health departments. You do it by investing in them,” the caucus said. “A headline is not a plan.”
There’s Still a Path Forward — And We’re Ready to Lead
Senate Democrats are offering a comprehensive, disciplined approach to close the shortfall and protect what matters — without pushing the burden onto families, children or local governments to help make up for any additional gaps in the budget.
Real solutions we’re ready to discuss today:
- Generate Sustainable Revenue
- Regulate and tax cannabis, generating up to $200 million over the biennium
- MCAF, leveraging federal funding, with a potential for an additional $2.8 B
- Control Government Spending Responsibly
- Rein in inflated administrative costs, including six-figure cabinet salaries, excessive bonuses and vague “contingency” accounts
- Apply the same standards of oversight to every agency — including IEDC and charter schools
- Enact No-Cost, High-Impact Reforms
- Fully restore public health funding to the promised $100 million
- Establish a summer commission on tariff impacts — because Indiana’s farmers, manufacturers and families deserve clarity, not chaos
The Stakes Are Too High for Spin
“This is a defining moment for Indiana,” the caucus said. “We can play politics with talking points — or we can face the truth and build a budget that actually works for the Hoosiers who sent us here.”
“We’re not here to point fingers. We’re here to offer solutions. And we’re asking every member of the General Assembly to put Hoosiers first — not donors, not slogans and not partisan cover stories.”
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