State Sen. Ryan Mishler (L) makes a point while State Rep. David Abbott (C) and Craig Snow listen during a public meeting held on the campus of Grace College Monday, Nov. 28. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE – The spending party is over.

That’s the message from State Sen. Ryan Mishler, who plays a key role in deciding much of Indiana’s spending priorities.

Mishler was joined by State Reps. David Abbott and Craig Snow on Monday, Nov. 28, for a preview discussion on next year’s General Assembly. The event was hosted by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and held on the Grace College campus.

Mishler, a Bremen Republican who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said federal money used to fuel the frenetic spending during the pandemic is now exhausted and warned that the state’s existing surplus derived from traditional revenues isn’t as grand as it might appear.

“Everyone’s coming asking for more money, more money. I think we created bad behavior with the covid money because we gave so much away,” Mishler said. “Now everybody wants more, and it’s gone. It’s done.”

While people reference a $4 billion surplus, Mishler said much of that is reserved for emergencies.  Those include the state’s Medicaid reserve account ($500 million to $600 million), the state’s tuition reserve ($600 million to $700 million) and the state’s Rainy Day Fund ($900 million).

“You take those away and we’re down to $1.7 billion,” Mishler said.

He said he was amazed to see the many new spending proposals organizations are seeking for next year. Among those, more money for state salaries, more money for school voucher programs and more money for charter schools.

“I’m here to tell you we don’t have that much to work with when we craft a budget,” he said.

Lawmakers will have a better idea of how much they have to work with when a revenue forecast is released in mid-December.

One of the chief proposals already coming from Gov. Eric Holcomb is to spend $240 million to improve Indiana’s public health system.

While Indiana, compared to other states, ranks low in health services, Mishler joined other Republican leaders who have criticized the plan. He said he doesn’t believe the state health department has enough staff to adequately use the money.

Indiana scores low in many facets of public health care and the lawmakers were asked what areas they’d like to see improved. Mishler pointed to the need to somehow financially support EMS services in rural areas. Abbott said he’d like to see the high hospital costs reduced.

You can see the governor’s health care proposal here.

Abbott and Snow also provided updates to a small crowd made up mostly of community leaders.

Snow, who represents the new House District 22, has been angling for a seat on the House Ways and Means Committee and Mishler, said Monday the assignment could happen soon. Mishler tipped his hat to Snow for his interest in learning the ropes of the budget process and attending meetings held by the committee at his own expense.

Snow is entering his second full term in the State House next year with a newly drawn district that encompasses much of Kosciusko County.

Mishler is pushing for Snow’s assignment and said having a lawmaker from the area on the committee could be beneficial for Kosciusko County

“We’ll find out how good of a lobbyist I am,” Mishler said.

Aside from the possible committee assignment, House Speaker Todd Huston has turned to Snow to oversee a wide-ranging bill connected to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.

The bill is sometimes an alternative route for legislation and often entails local finance issues. In some instances, proposals that don’t go through Ways and Means on their own end up added to the DLGF legislation.

Snow was asked if he’s developing a niche focus on budgetary issues. He said he enjoys that type of work.

“I told the speaker if I can be useful in certain areas, I have skill sets I’d like to put to use down here for the state and specifically Kosciusko County,” Snow said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Abbott continues to introduce himself to Kosciusko County constituents as the new District 18 representative. Redistricting moved him from District 82 to 18 and the area he now represents is significantly more to the west and now includes Turkey Creek and Tippecanoe townships in Kosciusko Country as well as parts of Whitley, Noble and Elkhart counties.

He said he looks forward to representing the local issues involving the lakes region.

“It’s been quite a job the last year trying to get out to all these functions,” Abbott said.

Abbott predicted education will become a top issue during the session.

He also said he expects legislation could resurface again next year that would change school board elections to include party labels with each candidate.