‘An intrusion into the judicial branch’: State Rep. Porter comments on Braun eliminating Race and Gender Fairness Commission 

Gov. Mike Braun presented his Freedom and Opportunity budget to the State Budget Committee on Jan. 16, which eliminated funding for the Commission of Race and Gender Fairness.& In 2023, nearly $880,000 was allocated yearly of the biennium, $500,000 of which is used for court interpreters.& State. Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement in response:& State. Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) “I continue to delve deeper into Braun’s budget proposal, and each time I find something new that’s disturbing. He has once again demonstrated that one of his priorities is slashing programs that benefit minority populations. I fear those ordering these decisions fail to understand the unintended consequences this has on Hoosiers.&  “Eliminating this commission will make it immensely difficult for non-English speakers to make their case in our judicial system. Indiana courts are required by law to provide interpreters, but they’ll struggle to do this without adequate funding. We have non-English speakers living in Indiana, and they have a right to a fair trial like their English-speaking peers. Everybody deserves a timely, equitable trial in our court of law regardless of their background. &  “This decision is an intrusion into the judicial branch, which is made...