Indiana Gov.-elect Braun lays out transition, first priorities
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Republican Gov.-elect Mike Braun said his first priority in the upcoming legislative session will be property tax reform.
Why it matters: If adopted, Braun's plan could lower the average homeowner's tax bill by roughly 20%, but it would also result in a massive hit to government revenue and services.
Driving the news: Braun held a press conference Wednesday to announce his transition team and talk about his priorities coming into the governor's office.
- His transition team includes many Indiana GOP insiders, including party chair Randy Head, several former staffers from former Gov. Mitch Daniels' administration, and well-known lobbyists.
- It also includes outspoken far-right lawyer Jim Bopp and champion of school choice Betsy Wiley.
State of play: Braun's decisive 14-point victory over Democrat Jennifer McCormick will give the senator and former state lawmaker some additional political muscle to flex when the Indiana General Assembly returns in January.
- Braun said he'll use that leverage to focus on "kitchen-table issues," including education, workforce development and health care.
Zoom in: The first issue Braun says he'll work with state lawmakers on is property tax reform.
- While lawmakers began looking at this issue last session, Braun's proposal includes capping property tax increases (in addition to the existing cap on values), expanding deductions, and restricting property tax referendums.
The intrigue: Braun also said he wants to make Indiana the next Florida, Texas and Tennessee — states where Republican leaders are known for not shying away from social issues.
- "To me, those are states that emphasize freedom and opportunity," Braun said. "Legislatively, I'm not necessarily saying we're going to emulate them. But they have the basic core that we get by with less government, and we run that government more efficiently."
Between the lines: Lt. Gov.-elect Micah Beckwith and Attorney General Todd Rokita, who was reelected Tuesday night, are also not afraid to tackle social issues.
- Though Beckwith was not Braun's chosen running mate, Braun said he's been "a benefit, in a way, because it's kind of brought the party together."
What he's saying: "The part of the party that I think he represents is where all the passion is on the conservative side," Braun said. "Now they're on board and it's my job to make sure that the full spectrum of what being a Republican is about in this state is going to be focused on the kitchen-table issues I've been talking about."