Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Editor, Times-Union:
Indiana has been under a one-party rule (Republican) for at least 20 years. Under that rule and according to the World Population Review, Indiana ranks third in mother mortality rate. Also, U.S. News and World Report and CNBC both report that Indiana ranked number 46 in 2025 with significant challenges in education and quality of life — the latter deficiency was attributed to crime, child care access, and environmental quality.
It was recently reported that Indiana faces a $2.4 billion shortfall because of the uncertainty surrounding federal funding cuts — which might lead to potential tax increases. In order to “deal with” this shortfall, Governor Mike Braun (a self-made millionaire) has proposed a budget that includes steep slashes to Health First Indiana which provides funding for local health departments. This would mean a 70 percent loss in Indianapolis alone where officials are trying to lower infant and mother mortality rates. Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill’s cuts in Medicaid affected one in four Hoosiers. –Indianapolis Mirror, 8/2025
Braun’s education cuts included a K-12 “structured reduction” [elimination] of $320 million which covered the cost of free textbooks. On other fronts, Braun’s budget interrupts and/or ends numerous public services and state programs — cuts in state employees, especially education and the state library (more than 82 positions), and commerce (49 positions). Ivy Tech, an alternative for thousands of students who cannot afford to attend state or private colleges and universities, has had to lay off 202 positions statewide in response to significant cuts in state funding and frozen tuition rates. –IN Capital Chronicle, June, 2025
Adding insult to injury, the Indiana minimum wage (for the 15th consecutive year) is still $7.25 per hour — the lowest rate permitted by federal law. On the Republican-led bright side, the reigning leaders of our state made sure they were granted sizeable salary increases: Braun, 65 percent increase; Lt. Gov. Beckwith, 66 percent increase; AG Rokita, 50 percent increase; Comptroller, Treasurer, and Secretary of State, 44 percent increases each. (Note: Governor Braun has also had a helipad installed “for security reasons” at his private home in Jasper.)
Republicans control 88 percent of local offices in Indiana. One hundred ten of the state’s cities are run by mayors. Sixty-eight of those, with a total population of 1.3 million people, are run by Republicans. Forty-two of them, with a population of 2.3 million people, are run by Democrats. The largest county, Marion, with a population of over 981,000, has three Democrat commissioners. Ohio county, with a population of less than 6,000, has three Republican commissioners.
Indiana’s 2026 election ballot lists Democrat candidates in all 25 State Senate races. This has not happened since 1974. Democrats are running for 91 of the 100 House seats this year. This has not happened since 1992.
“All great changes are preceded by chaos.” — Deepak Chopra
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
Vote!!!
Jeanne Tuka Schutz
Winona Lake, via email
