Gov. Mike Braun delivers inaugural State of the State address
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Braun in the House chamber Wednesday night. Photo: Arika Herron/Axios
Republican Gov. Mike Braun pitched his agenda to Hoosiers Wednesday night in his inaugural State of the State address.
The big picture: While Braun feels his victory — and President Trump's — makes his agenda a mandate from voters, he's just two weeks into the job and still building relationships with the lawmakers whose support he needs to put major pieces of that agenda in place.
- He spent the bulk of his speech discussing two of his major campaign promises — property tax reform and lowering health care costs — both of which need legislative action.
"I look forward to working with you all to get (the property tax bill) across the finish line," he said to the lawmakers gathered for his speech. "Hoosiers sent me here with a clear directive that this cannot be ignored."
Between the lines: Braun illustrated his major agenda items with real-world examples, like the Greenwood couple whose property tax bill has more than doubled since 2021 and a Fort Wayne woman who received a surprise medical bill for $1,300 after her annual physical.
- Yes, but: His mention of a knife attack on a 14-year-old Lowell girl last September gave the speech a darker tone than is traditional in these annual addresses.
- Braun used the attack, which was allegedly perpetrated by a Honduran man who entered the country illegally, to bolster his recent pledge to support Trump's immigration policies.
The other side: Braun is already running into opposition.
- Earlier on Wednesday, a small group of demonstrators gathered outside the Statehouse to protest a slew of conservative policies on issues such as abortion, immigration, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
- On Wednesday evening, the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus organized a rally inside the Statehouse while Braun delivered his speech, to "advocate for communities being negatively impacted" by Braun's agenda. Most of the caucus members did not sit in the House chamber for his speech.
What they're saying: "In the first few weeks of Gov. Braun's administration, we've received a message about the path he intends to follow," state Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, said in a statement before the rally. "We want to bring Hoosiers together to fight for a better state for all."
Reality check: Republicans have super majorities in both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly, meaning Braun does not need support from Democrats to pursue his agenda.
Go deeper: See Braun's full speech below.