INDIANAPOLIS—On Tuesday, Governor Holcomb gave his annual State of the State address. Democratic Leader Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement on the Governor’s speech:

“Once again, the Governor’s rosy picture of our state does not pair with the actual state of Indiana as it concerns everyday Hoosiers,” Sen. Taylor said. “While our state’s economy is prospering thanks to assistance from the American Rescue Plan, that’s only a small part of the picture.

“The bigger picture is that many, many Hoosiers are struggling. They’re struggling to access quality childcare and well-paying jobs that allow them to make ends meet. They’re fighting to stay healthy and protect their families as we see COVID-19 cases rise across the state. They’re struggling to make their rent and utility payments on time to stay in their homes.

“While I was glad to hear about the Governor’s plans to invest in projects around our state, his address was alarmingly silent about many of the everyday issues currently impacting Hoosiers. We cannot address the problems affecting Hoosiers if the Governor of our state consistently fails to acknowledge those problems.

“My caucus recognizes that the state of our economy is not reflective of Hoosiers’ well-being and success, and we will be advocating for a series of proposals that aim to improve the quality of life for Indiana residents. This session, members of my caucus are offering bills to address inadequate child care, create a paid leave program, address suicide and mental health in teens, give our teachers a 13th check and raise the minimum wage.

“A proposal I’m carrying, which is an Indiana Black Legislative Caucus priority bill, would create a Child Tax Credit program to get money directly into the pockets of our Hoosier families. My legislation to prohibit the disclosure of eviction records in cases where an eviction is not pursued or is dismissed is another proposal I’ll be working to advance on behalf of our Hoosier families.

“As always, my caucus will be fighting for every Hoosier and working to address the real, everyday issues that our residents have been asking us to make progress on.”