Our economy will fail unless congress asserts its responsibilities as outlined in the constitution.

Why it matters
The executive branch is currently interested only in self enrichment at the expense of everyday Americans. By working with congress to enact effective policies, all Americans can increase their wealth.

The Backstory
President Trump's tariffs were enacted as a central part of his trade policy, intended to pressure foreign countries and protect American industry, but the approach has consistently shown to be ineffective.

The tariffs have been used as reactive tools, not as part of a broader strategic industrial agenda. As such, they have proven to be poorly targeted and ineffective as long-term solutions.​

Americans shouldn’t have to take out a second mortgage just to survive.

Why it matters: Healthcare costs continue to rise. However, the United States still refuses to make access to healthcare easy.

The backstory: The high cost of healthcare remain a major problem for millions of Americans. Even insured individuals can struggle with high deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses, which create financial barriers to care.

The Big Picture

Care for All the Wrong Reasons

The system is fragmented, inefficient, and lacks continuity of care. It rewards volume of services rather than health outcomes, leading to over-treatment and wasteful spending. Coordination of care is poor, and primary and preventive care are inadequately emphasized.

Leaving the Vulnerable Behind

There are significant disparities and inequities based on race, income, and geography. Rural areas suffer from lack of access to providers and hospital closures, compounding health outcome disparities.

Failing Reforms

Attempts at reform, such as the Affordable Care Act, have expanded coverage but left fundamental cost and equity problems largely unresolved by reinforcing the dominance of private insurers.​

Our country now has literal camps of people that have been locked up without due process.

Why it matters
The Trump administration has engaged in policies that legal experts, courts, and advocates have described as encroachments on the Fifth Amendment to include the guarantees of due proces.

The Backstory
President Trump issued a series of executive orders that threaten access to federal funding. Withdrawal of this funding is a prime example of arbitrary and potentially discriminatory enforcement of our laws resulting in classic due process violations.

The administration dramatically expanded "expedited removal," leading to mass deportations of noncitizens without meaningful hearings while also denying access to attorneys

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has been chronically mismanaged for decades, & veterans shouldn’t have to fight against the VA.

Why it matters: The department of Veterans Affairs is chronically mismanaged, and the current administration is trying to convert it into a system that would be used to line the pockets of the wealthy.

The backstory: The VA has been plagued by inconsistent budgeting practices and corruption. Investigations revealed wasteful spending that resulted in veterans losing access to care, and outdated financial systems unable to prevent overpayments or improper charges.​

The Big Picture

Improved Healthcare Access

Failures at the VA have forced some veterans to rely on private providers due to the inadequacy of VA services. Reforms contained within the PACT Act are a start, but we still have a long way to go.

Support for Vulnerable Populations

There is a need for targeted support for homeless veterans, amputees, and those requiring specialized care. Operational oversight would need to address mental health and rural populations in addition to new assistance for at-risk groups.

Redirected Spending

Cost savings from ending programs considered non-essential to the VA’s core mission by the current administration have resulted in lapses in care for veterans. These cuts and the push for privatization don’t serve our veterans. The policies instead take money from taxpayers to line the pockets of the wealthy.

People in power don’t want you to vote.

Why it matters: Indiana ranks 50th in voter participation, and lawmakers are trying to make it even harder to vote.

The backstory: Voting is a right of every American citizen. Lawmakers that are responsible for representing you are trying to take that right away. They are using tactics like burdensome citizenship requirements, arbitrary list maintenance rules, and unnecessarily strict mail-in ballot requirements. These actions are aimed at deterring voter fraud, but the fraud the rules are supposed to prevent was never happening.

The Big Picture

In 2025, Indiana enacted several significant changes to voter laws primarily focused on voter identification, proof of citizenship, absentee voting procedures, and party affiliation for primary elections.​ These measures have made Indiana’s voting environment more restrictive, especially for potentially vulnerable populations such as students, elderly, and infrequent voters. Advocacy groups continue to monitor and challenge several of these provisions.

Proof of Citizenship Requirement

A new law allows Indiana to use records from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to flag registered voters thought not to be U.S. citizens. Those flagged are sent notices and must submit proof of citizenship within 30 days or risk having their voter registration canceled. This move will wrongly disenfranchise eligible voters who have difficulty accessing documentation on short notice.​

Changes to Voter List Maintenance

New procedures require more aggressive voter roll maintenance including possible cancellation of registration if a voter fails to respond to citizenship requests. Voters can also be removed if they do not vote in two consecutive general elections.

Updated Party Affiliation Rules

Starting July 1, 2025, Indiana will implement new rules for primary elections. Voters must now declare a political party affiliation on their registration form if they want to vote in a primary. Affiliation must be chosen no later than 119 days before the primary. Special exceptions apply for new residents and 17-year-olds turning 18 before the next general election. Voters can change affiliation under certain circumstances, such as moving to a new district shortly before a primary.​

Absentee Voting and Voter ID Number Requirement

Absentee ballot applicants must supply a "Voter ID" number matched to their voter file—this could be their driver’s license, the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number, or an assigned state number. Confusion about which number is on file has led to the rejection of applications.​

Women are not treated as equals in Indiana.

Why it matters: Indiana has the third highest maternal mortality rate in the United States which has a domino effect on all aspects of women’s care.

The backstory: 25% of Indiana’s counties are considered maternal healthcare deserts with notable shortfalls in rural and low-income counties. In some counties preventative and postpartum services are almost nonexistent.

The Big Picture

Maternal Mortality and Disparities

Indiana ranks 3rd in the nation for maternal mortality, with a rate that is double the national average and even higher for Black and rural women.​ Contributing factors include homelessness, unemployment, food insecurity, and a lack of social support, especially in communities of color and among rural residents.​

Service Access and Health Deserts

Nearly a quarter of Indiana counties are classified as maternal healthcare deserts, lacking access to essential prenatal and maternity care facilities.​ Rural and low-income women often face delays in preventive screenings like breast and cervical cancer due to cost, inadequate transportation, and systemic stigma.​ In some counties, preventive and postpartum services—like contraception education and breastfeeding support—are almost nonexistent.​

Policy Restrictions and Reproductive Rights

Indiana enacted a near-total abortion ban in 2023, eliminating almost all legal access, even in cases endangering the health of the mother.​ Recent cuts and freezes of federal funding for clinics such as Planned Parenthood have further reduced access to birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing, disproportionately affecting low-income and minority women.​ The focus of state maternal care programs remains largely at the personal level and assumes that everyone has the same understanding of how they can advocate for themselves.​

Systemic and Social Barriers

Systemic issues such as provider shortages and restrictions on midwives and community-based birth centers prevent holistic and culturally relevant care.​ Financial barriers, insurance challenges, and unreliable Medicaid transportation exacerbate difficulties in obtaining timely care. This results in missed appointments which lead to loss of care continuity.​ Indiana's health policy and social context increasingly frame reproductive health as a matter of control rather than care, emphasizing motherhood at the expense of women's autonomy and comprehensive wellness.

We need common sense gun laws.

Why it matters: Communities of color only make up 14% of Hoosiers, but they make up 50% of all homicide victims.

The backstory: Indiana has a history of making firearms accessible. While our country has a tradition steeped in self determination, sometimes through force, this was accomplished by competent gun owners. However, this has been twisted by advocacy groups resulting in unnecessary deaths at the hands of people that shouldn’t have access to firearms.

The Big Picture

Close the Gun Show Loophole

Gun shows in states like Indiana make it alarmingly easy for people to purchase firearms without proper oversight. A uniform federal policy is needed to ensure all gun sales require full background checks.

Promote Responsible Gun Ownership

Just as drivers must pass a test before handling a car, owners of highly lethal semiautomatic firearms should be required to pass a weapons handling and safety test.

Stop U.S. Guns from Fueling Cartels

Lax gun laws allow hundreds of thousands of firearms to flow from U.S. markets into the hands of drug cartels. Stronger background checks and tracking systems can cut off this deadly pipeline.

Hold Negligent Gun Owners Accountable

If a parent fails to secure a firearm and that negligence leads to injury or death, they must face prosecution. Responsible storage laws save lives and prevent family tragedies.

Energy costs for Hoosiers has increased over 20% since the year 2000.

Why it matters: Energy costs are outpacing inflation. This increased cost results in less money in the pockets of everyday people and more money in the pockets of the owners of utility companies.

The backstory: The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has allowed utility companies to continue to raise rates without improving the quality of services. The state currently ranks 12th in the nation in cost and service interruption.

The Big Picture

Investor Owned Utilities

Investor owned utilities (IOUs) are more expensive for consumers than public utilities due to their profit-driven nature. Shareholders demand returns, which can lead to higher rates, baked-in profit margins, and increased utility bills. IOUs often hold regional monopoly status, meaning consumers have few or no alternatives for electricity service. These monopolies can result in inefficiency, lack of innovation, and higher prices because the utility faces little competitive pressure. Decisions in IOUs are made centrally by corporate boards with limited input from the local communities they serve. This disconnect leads to insufficient planning for local needs.​

Renewable Energy Barriers

Many Indiana counties have enacted temporary or permanent moratoriums on new solar, wind, and battery storage facilities, freezing approvals while local governments arbitrarily review or tighten zoning ordinances. Utility-friendly regulations and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s rate approval processes often favor investor-owned utilities which further discourages rapid renewable integration. Without a unified standard companies must deal with conflicting requirements.​

Customer Bill of Rights

A customer bill of rights for energy would promote transparency, accountability, and consumer protections, especially as residents face rising energy costs and utility rate increases.​ Recent legislative initiatives have targeted these concerns and begun to address some of them, but a formal, enforceable bill of rights would provide a firmer foundation for everyday Hoosiers. Other states have established similar frameworks. They grant customers the right to safe and reliable service, fair billing, and a choice of provider where applicable.

Current immigration policies do not attract the best and brightest to our nation.

Why it matters: Immigration wait times have doubled from 1991-2018. Furthermore, recent data shows that the majority of illegal immigration stems from expired visas, not illegal border crossings.

The backstory: U.S. immigration policy has evolved from open borders to a complex system largely shaped by social, political, and economic pressures. Initially, immigration was mostly unrestricted and citizenship was granted primarily to free white persons under the Naturalization Act of 1790. Over time restrictions grew in response to labor demands, xenophobia, and global events

The Big Picture

Early and Restrictive Legislation

The Page Act of 1875 and Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 marked the shift toward exclusion based on race and class, targeting Asian immigrants and other groups viewed as undesirable.​ The Immigration Act of 1917 implemented literacy tests and further excluded many from Asia and Africa.​

Quota System Era

The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924 established strict national-origin quotas, heavily favoring Northern and Western European immigrants and restricting all others.​ These acts prioritized family-based admissions and created caps that excluded millions based on nationality.​

Mid-century Reforms and New Priorities

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 continued quotas but set the stage for broader inclusion, allocating quotas for Asian countries for the first time.​ Landmark reforms in 1965 abolished national-origin quotas, emphasizing family reunification and skill-based preference; this fueled increasing immigration from Latin America and Asia.​

Recent Developments

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 addressed concerns about undocumented immigration through amnesty and employer sanctions.​ The Immigration Act of 1990 established new caps and diversity visas, reflecting a policy focused on balancing family, employment, and representation from underrepresented countries.​

Modern System

The current policy encompasses pathways for permanent residency and citizenship, temporary visas, refugee admissions, and humanitarian relief. All are managed through a regulated and quota-based network that continually adapts to economic, demographic, and political changes.​ U.S. immigration policy thus reflects its ongoing struggle to balance openness against national identity, security, and labor needs.​

Schools boards have become more focused on politics than students.

Why it matters: Underserved neighborhoods have been unfairly affected by cuts to Indiana Public School Systems. This problem gets worse as more charter schools open and districts suffer from political polarization.

The backstory: In 1954 the Supreme Court ruled on the case of Brown vs Board of Education, but Indiana didn’t desegregate until 1973. Since then over 64,000 students have dropped out of Indiana Public Schools. This can largely be attributed to continued resistance in suburban schools. This problem and others has only gotten worse as school boards become more politicized.Schools boards have become more focused on politics than students.

Why it matters: Underserved neighborhoods have been unfairly affected by cuts to Indiana Public School Systems. This problem gets worse as more charter schools open and districts suffer from political polarization.

The backstory: In 1954 the Supreme Court ruled on the case of Brown vs Board of Education, but Indiana didn’t desegregate until 1973. Since then over 64,000 students have dropped out of Indiana Public Schools. This can largely be attributed to continued resistance in suburban schools. This problem and others has only gotten worse as school boards become more politicized.

The Big Picture

The Indiana public school system suffers from a range of failures caused by underfunding, poor resource allocation, and policy issues. These issues have grown over the years leading to failing grades, teacher shortages, run-down facilities, and worsening educational outcomes compared to national standards.​

Chronic Underfunding

Indiana’s spending on K-12 education has not kept pace with inflation. It currently has a $1.8 billion shortfall per year compared to maintaining prior commitment levels. Reduced state investment has led to unfair educator salaries, difficulty attracting new teachers, and less funding for vital student services, especially in high-needs districts.​

Resource Inequity and Facility Challenges

Schools in low-income and urban areas face significant shortfalls in infrastructure and basic resources. Poor maintenance and a lack of accessibility have created a climate of insecurity and further erode morale for students and staff. Funding formulas based on limited “complexity” factors often miss thousands of eligible students due to data errors which worsens disparities in support for disadvantaged communities.​

Concerns about Politicization

Increasing partisanship risks undermining school governance by shifting focus from educational priorities to political agendas. Qualified educators or community members are less likely to serve which could limit the diversity of viewpoints represented on local boards. The importance of boards serving students instead of partisan interests is central to ensuring that Indiana’s sons and daughters recieve the high quality education they deserve.

Educator Shortages

Indiana faces a critical educator shortage due to prolonged underfunding and efforts to devalue the importance of teaching. Challenging licensure exams and low pay make recruitment and retention of qualified teachers difficult. This further impacts classroom learning and support for both general education and special populations.​

AI data centers are not good for Indiana.

Why it matters: Data centers drive up energy costs as well as consume millions of gallons of fresh drinking water daily. The cost of this resource usage is then passed to Indiana communities.

The backstory: Data centers provide little long-term economic benefit to local communities despite their size. Studies indicate they create less than 50 jobs compared to the much larger workforce required for manufacturing facilities. However, Indiana has offered tax breaks and exemptions to attract data centers resulting in fewer funds for public services and infrastructure.

The Big Picture

Environmental Impact

Data centers require enormous amounts of electricity and often rely on fossil fuels, worsening Indiana’s air quality and contributing to climate change. For example, just ten new data centers could consume about one-third of the state’s total electricity generating capacity during high-demand periods. In addition to air pollution, these centers also use large volumes of water, putting pressure on local water resources and increasing the risk of contamination and depletion.

Rising Utility Bills and Displacement

The immense demand for power by data centers increases utility costs for residents as utilities invest in new generation capacity or delay the transition away from coal and other fossil fuels. Community members are also concerned about being displaced when agricultural land is rezoned for data center development resulting in the loss of farmland and rural businesses.

Ethical Considerations

Children are using Artificial Intelligence for everything from mental health counseling to building relationships. Their increased usage of AI in a manner not intended is resulting in a decline in socialization among youth. Additionally, adolescent use of AI is worsening our unsustainably increasing demand for AI.