From DeLaney's Desk: 2025 State Budget, SNAP Cuts, IEDC Investigation
Welcome to "From DeLaney's Desk," a newsletter where I can provide state and community updates as your State Representative. Please reach out to my office at h86@iga.in.gov if you have any questions, concerns or thoughts on what you see or would like to see in this newsletter.
Why I Opposed the 2025 Budget
Last month, Indiana Republicans passed the final version of House Bill 1001, sending a budget to the governor’s desk. I voted against the budget due to insufficient funding for K-12 public education, cuts to higher education as well as the expansion of the voucher program. I am also concerned that we do not have adequate reserves given a potential economic downturn.
When it comes to this year’s Republican budget, I want to know how we got here and where we go from here. First, we got here through years of cutting away at our financial resources while expecting an ever-growing economy. Those are two bad ideas that underpin the current shortfall.
What we need to do now is to protect the most vital parts of our state and its people and correct our past mistakes. We are failing on both challenges.
We have done very little for K-12 public education in this budget while being disproportionately generous with private school vouchers. Additionally, this budget eliminates pre-k programs for tens of thousands of Hoosier children.
Amongst my deepest concerns is that we have undercut our 200-year-old system of state colleges and universities. Instead of creating a “Department of Government Efficiency,” we have laid down a whole new bureaucratic framework and a set of rules to limit the success and independence of our higher education institutions. Our professors will have to beg to keep their posts and to teach the things they know and are committed to. What happened to academic freedom? What happened to free speech?
This body is on the verge of unraveling one of our state’s greatest economic assets, our universities, behind closed doors at the 11th hour.
One of the finest accomplishments of the last decade of the General Assembly was the strengthening of our local public health system. This budget cuts our support for that by more than two thirds.
To top it off, we have done nothing to protect our budget from the impending doom of more cuts from the federal level. The economic uncertainty from Washington wrecked our revenue forecast to the tune of $2.4 billion. Whatever happens next could very well wreck the entire budget. Neglecting to plan for these risks is not just fiscally irresponsible, it is foolish.
My Legislative Team
This budget session was one of the most eventful sessions I have witnessed since I was elected. I want to take a moment to thank my staff for all the work they did during these long four months. From corresponding with constituents to raising awareness for controversial issues on social media, this talented and hardworking team of young professionals plays a critical role in allowing me to represent my district to the best of my ability.
Indiana Programs at Risk with Federal Cuts Approaching
The national Republican spending bill, known in the media as President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” will cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by nearly $300 billon over the next decade. With over 610,000 Hoosiers relying on SNAP to put food on the table, including 264,000 children and 82,000 seniors, Indiana families will suffer if this bill passes on Thursday.
Without these federal funds, the cost of SNAP could revert back to us, leaving Indiana with a $356 million bill. With a tight budget just passed last month and a dismal revenue forecast, it is highly unlikely that the state will step up to the plate to provide for these vulnerable Hoosiers. Many families will likely lose access to the program, and the average Hoosier on SNAP could lose almost a full week of benefits per month if they are allowed to continue on the program. According to a statement by Gleaner’s Food Bank, Indiana’s 11 food banks across the state last year provided 108 million meals to Hoosiers. There is no way they will be able to fund the reduction in 133 million meals funded by the SNAP program.
This cut is part of the ongoing attack against government services in the name of “eliminating waste.” However, SNAP is known for being both efficient and effective in addressing food insecurity while simultaneously stimulating the economy. Attacking this program is not only senseless, but dangerous.
To make matters worse, Indiana opted out of the SUN Bucks program that supports children who rely on their schools free and reduced lunches and breakfasts. Last summer, the SUN Bucks program served 669,000 children.
Fred Glass, the head of Gleaner’s Food Bank, put out a press release that provided much of the information above. Thank you to Mr. Glass and FOX59 for their coverage of this issue. Click here to read the story.
LEAP Project Falls Flat
Over the past few years, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has purchased 5,800 acres in Boone County for a secretive project they call the LEAP district. With taxpayer dollars, the IEDC has spent close to $427 million. That’s an average of roughly $73,620 spent on each acre. The average price of farmland in Boone County is $9,155 per acre.
A month ago, the IEDC listed two parcels with houses for sale. The IEDC claims its organization is “in the process of analyzing all land assets within the LEAP District.” However, both properties are listed at a lower price than the state spent, meaning taxpayers aren’t making their money back.
These land sales raise even more red flags. The IEDC used taxpayer dollars without oversight or accountability, and now we’re not getting all of our money back. Overpaying for residential properties jacks up the market value of nearby properties, potentially increasing property taxes and the price of available homes.
IEDC Under the Microscope
The news about the flailing LEAP Project comes shortly after the state announced that it hired an independent firm, FTI Consulting, to conduct a forensic audit of the agency and its affiliates. Additionally, funding has been frozen for the IEDC’s venture capital firm, Elevate Ventures.
I have been voicing my concerns that the IEDC is a runaway agency with a blank check for years now. The IEDC has frequently been allowed to hide behind the shield of ‘private sector competitive edge’ when asked to produce details about what they deem ‘confidential’ projects. IEDC representatives have been slow to discuss the amounts of money being spent on the controversial LEAP project to members of the state budget committee.
One bottom line seems to be that a few highly paid people are wearing multiple hats. That begs the question of whether any pockets are being padded with these taxpayer dollars.
For more information about the backstory behind how this audit came about, check out this special issues from Hannah News Service.
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Thank you for what you have done and will continue to do. It must be so much harder now.