AIP062826 INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — U.S. Sen. Todd Young said a proposed $300 billion payment to Iran would not be funded by American taxpayers, pushing back on concerns that the deal would drain U.S. resources. The Republican from Indiana told “All INdiana Politics” that the money would co me from Gulf countries and the unfreezing of Iranian assets. Young also said the long-term viability of any ceasefire with Iran hinges on one condition: the dismantlement of the country’s nuclear program. If Iran’s nuclear program is not addressed, no ceasefire will hold, Young said. Young and Banks split on housing bill The two Indiana senators were on opposite sides of a housing bill now sitting on President Donald Trump’s desk and awaiting his signature. Young opposes the measure, while Sen. Jim Banks is among its supporters. Young said, “We need more supply, as the economists say, on the market. And the best way to get more supply in the market is to reduce the regulatory burden of local land use and zoning policies. Forty percent of the (costs) nationally associated with housing, whether it’s in terms of mortgage costs or rent, are associated with overly burdensome land use and zoning policy.” The bill includes Banks’s Revitalizing Empty Structures Into Desirable Environments (RESIDE) Act, which would allow communities to convert underutilized commercial buildings — such as strip malls — into residential housing. Banks said the legislation offers a practical path to easing the housing shortage without expanding federal spending. “Owning a home is a cornerstone of the American dream, but too many families are being priced out of the housing market,” Banks said. “The RESIDE Act is a commonsense solution that helps communities turn abandoned buildings into new homes, revitalize neighborhoods, and expand housing opportunities without creating a new federal spending program. I’m proud to see this bipartisan bill pass the Senate and look forward to it becoming law.” Panelists weigh in on recent state government actions Gov. Mike Braun has replaced the chair of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission following a vote to approve a rate increase for AES Indiana. Republican analyst Matt Bell and Democratic analyst Karlee Macer weighed in on the move during the “All INdiana Politics” roundtable. They also weighed in on a recent move by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. FSSA announced it will deploy artificial intelligence to identify Medicaid fraud, a move that comes as Indiana’s Medicaid spending has grown sharply in recent years. ...read more read less