Gov. Mike Braun participated in a question and answer session Thursday during a Munster Camber of Commerce luncheon that focused on small businesses, local school referendums, and tolling, while protesters lined Ridge Road outside the event to express criticism with much of the legislation Braun has signed into law.
After college, Braun said he moved back to Jasper and ultimately became a small business owner, where he had 15 employees and established his office in a mobile home. The company, Meyer Body, grew into a national company with thousands of employees, he said.
Lake County is “a stew pot” of ethnicity, small businesses, and blue collar workers, Braun said. The region’s proximity to Illinois has resulted in an increase in Illinoisians moving to Indiana, he said.
While Indiana has “an environment” for businesses, Braun said Indiana doesn’t have many start-up companies. Braun said he has focused on reorganizing the state government to focus on entrepreneurship.
To grow the future workforce, Braun said Ivy Tech has become an important post-secondary education institution.
“Our other schools have got to get better at producing degrees that we have markets for in our home state. Otherwise, think about it, if you don’t you’re exporting your kid out of state to find a job. Or worse, in the basement, because they want to live here but found out they have been misguided into a degree that has no market. I can guarantee I’m going to get that balanced out.”
As a whole, Braun said he likes giving parents a choice because education isn’t “one size fits all.” Braun said he’d like to see schools offer students opportunities for apprenticeships and skilled jobs.
When it comes to tariffs, Braun said all the Trump Administration is asking to “keep them equal and hopefully both go down mutually to nothing over time.”
“That’d be called free and fair trade. Finally, we’ve got somebody attending to it. It needed to be done,” Braun said.
When looking at transit-oriented development, Braun said while in Indianapolis that has been “a big boondoggle” it makes sense for Northwest Indiana. The expansion of the South Shore Line will help Northwest Indiana prosper, he said.
“I’m anxious to see how you develop around it, and to make sure we, to the extent we can, support it so that we can give it an excellent chance to actually take root and work. From what I’ve seen, you are off to a good start.”
Following the end of his first legislative session as governor, Braun said the legislators worked toward putting “Indiana in a better place.”
“I am going to completely tune up our state government that had gotten a little sloppy over the last 8 to 12 years. I want to do better for the customer, the constituent.”
House Enrolled Act 1461, authored by state Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, would allow the state to charge tolls on all Indiana interstate highways, including I-80/94 and I-65. Braun signed the bill into law May 1.
Specifically, the bill would allow the Indiana Department of Transportation to submit a request to the Federal Highway Administration for a waiver to toll lanes on interstate highways. If the waiver is granted, the legislature would not have to enact a statute for the Indiana finance authority to take action on tolling.
Indiana uses fuel tax to fund road projects, Braun said, but as vehicles become more fuel efficient drivers have been buying less gas. Braun said he “probably will” ask for federal approval to toll Indiana highways.
“Tolling, when you’re the crossroads of America, especially on places like (Interstate) 70, where almost 70% of the use is by somebody that doesn’t even stop to eat or get fuel. It’s going to have to be considered because, otherwise, I don’t think we can maintain our main arteries,” Braun said. “Asking for the ability to do it doesn’t mean you’re going to do it comprehensively. You do it selectively, where the need is the greatest.”
Braun addressed Crown Point and Hobart taxpayers approving the renewal of eight-year school property tax referendums Tuesday. The special election in the two cities marked the last time such off-year votes were cast. Recent state legislation calls for school referendum votes to take place only in the general election cycle in November.
“We’re just getting back to a place where we need to make sure the taxpayers can shoulder the burden. Most of them want to, and then the jurisdictions have to make sure, if they need more, they make the case for it,” Braun said.
Braun said he was most proud of the legislature addressing health care, but didn’t expand on that with specifics. Senate Enrolled Act 2 — authored by Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka — places restrictions on Medicaid, including work requirements on an insurance program for Hoosiers with a medium income and between ages 19 to 64. Braun signed the bill into law May 1.
Protesters speak out
Around 60 protesters lined the sidewalk in front of the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, where the luncheon was held, and across Ridge Road. House Bill 1461, which lifts some hurdles for turning roads into toll roads, was top-of-mind.
“I get that he wants to nab the people traveling from Ilinois to Michigan, but the people of Northwest Indiana use the roads, too,” Deb Lueken, of Schererville, said. “It’s going to overburden all the state and side roads.”
“It might be worth having a toll road if there were someplace good to go to,” added Janet Knight, of Crown Point, said. “I lived in Illinois, and we moved for the lower property taxes. But now, I’m so sorry we ever moved.”
Carla Ducret, of Whiting, was upset about the toll roads, but she had other things on her mind.
“Who paid for that helipad at his own private house, and who paid for that $80,000 vehicle (Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith) now drives?” she said. “How bad do you have to be if you’re cutting a Dolly Parton (Imagination Library) program?”
“If you cut taxes, you’re cutting services,” added Angela Kwasnica, of Munster.
Protest organizer Tracie Martin said she was surprised at the larger turnout, but also not really.
“There isn’t a facet of Indiana life that hasn’t been messed with,” she said. “Whoever voted for Braun, I don’t think they thought he would make it impossible to live here.”
