AIP 08072026 INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana lawmakers from both parties sparred over several pressing issues affecting Hoosier families during a roundtable discussion on “All INdiana Politics.” The conversation highlighted ongoing problems with Medicaid waiver redeterminations, Governor Mike Braun’s extended gas tax holiday, a controversial firing at the state’s utility regulatory commission, and Indianapolis road funding debates. Medicaid redetermination delays affecting children Democrat Lindsay Haik raised concerns about lengthy delays in Medicaid redeterminations for children with disabilities. “Redetermination for these children takes a long time for FSSA for some reason,” Haik said. “It takes weeks and weeks and weeks, even after they’ve already been deemed a waiver recipient or a Medicaid recipient.” Haik said the delays force parents and caregivers to become “essentially a secretary” managing emails and following up on state errors. In some cases, she said, the delays cost children access to life-saving medical equipment like feeding tubes or tracheostomies. “This is a life-saving issue,” Haik said. “The Braun administration simply needs to fix ASAP.” Republican Chaka Coleman, the newest member of Indiana’s Best Political Team, said the Family and Social Services Administration is working within federal and state eligibility requirements. “These families are going through a very tough time,” Coleman said. “I don’t think that anyone at FSSA is taking that for granted. But there definitely are some things that their hands are tied on, and eligibility is definitely one of them.” Haik disagreed, saying FSSA has hired more staff but redeterminations still take longer than necessary. “These can be fixed within a matter of an email,” Haik said. “It can be fixed so quickly. It just depends on who that person is that’s sending that email.” Gas tax holiday extended with new legal justification Governor Braun extended Indiana’s gas tax holiday again this week. To work around limits on how long he can suspend the tax, he changed his legal justification to cite the war in Ukraine and Canadian wildfires. Coleman defended the move. “Governor Braun has made it very clear that his focus is on affordability,” Coleman said. “This is important to Hoosiers. There are many, many different reasons why a governor would suspend the gas tax.” Haik said she hopes Braun included legislative leadership in the decision, particularly given the impact on revenue streams that affect local road funding. “I seriously hope that Governor Braun has included his legislative leadership on this conversation,” Haik said. “That’s important to make sure we’re including everyone.” For months, Braun had said he could not extend the gas tax holiday. Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office apparently provided the new legal interpretation allowing the extension. Utility commissioner fired after AES rate vote Braun also replaced Andy Zay on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission this week. The governor initially said Zay was let go for ethics violations, but when pressed by reporters, Braun would not provide details. He said the firing was mostly about Zay’s vote on an AES rate increase. Haik said the situation could lead to legal challenges. “This is not unprecedented,” Haik said, referencing the 2012 firing of commissioner David Lott Hardy during the Duke Energy Edwardsport scandal. “However, that was not challenged. And I think I would not be surprised if it were challenged this go around.” Coleman said she didn’t see concerns about a potential defamation lawsuit. “It’s really up to him on what kind of action he wants to take,” Coleman said. Braun has said he will make utilities “whole” financially but remains focused on affordability for Hoosiers. City-County Council weighs road funding options An Indianapolis City-County Councilor wants to dedicate 10% of the city’s existing budget to roads, which would allow Indianapolis to meet a new state match without raising the wheel tax. Coleman said she likes the outside-the-box thinking. “Bringing forth great ideas is what his job is,” Coleman said. “What he’s doing could potentially be something that the council can take up.” Haik said the proposal runs up against tight deadlines in House Enrolled Act 1461 and may not have the funding the councilor believes is available. “You’ve got a deadline there of October 1,” Haik said. “I’m not necessarily sure the funds that are there, are there.” The council is scheduled to vote Monday on a potential veto override of Mayor Joe Hogsett’s rejection of a wheel tax increase. Both panelists predicted the override will succeed. “You’ve got Indianapolis infrastructure depends on this vote on Monday night,” Haik said. “And frankly, the largest infrastructure improvement we’ve seen in Indianapolis in decades.” If the council doesn’t act, Indianapolis could miss out on a $50 million state match. Coleman agreed the override is likely. “This is an important leadership moment for Joe Hogsett to make sure that he gets these matching funds from the state,” Coleman said. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Other Indiana cities, including Terre Haute, have already implemented similar wheel taxes to secure state matching funds for road improvements. “All Indiana Politics” airs at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on WISH-TV. ...read more read less