For immediate release:
July 9, 2008
State Rep. Peggy Welch to lead study of next stage in property tax reform;
Medicaid oversight also on legislator's agenda for 2008 legislative interim
INDIANAPOLIS —— State Rep. Peggy Welch (D-Bloomington) will be taking part in an ambitious schedule through the rest of 2008, with the lawmaker set to take part in a legislative study of property tax reform, as well as oversight of Medicaid services in Indiana.
Welch's selection to five interim study committees was announced by Indiana House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend). Her appointments include serving as the chair of the Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy, the group that served as the starting point for the sweeping property tax relief plan that was enacted earlier this year by the Indiana General Assembly.
In addition, Welch will be a member of the Select Joint Commission on Medicaid Oversight, which will spend this summer determining the effectiveness of delivery of services to patients, particularly in the wake of recent decisions to have private contractors handle some of those services.
"These assignments reflect the hard work and dedication that Peggy Welch brings to her position as a state representative," Bauer said. "I have faith in her efforts to do the background research needed to enact good public policies that benefit the people of Indiana."
While the commission Welch chairs has a lengthy list of proposed study topics, the legislator said she intends to focus on issues surrounding property tax relief and transportation finance.
"Now that the property tax reforms contained in House Enrolled Act 1001 are in place, we want to review the changes and see if there are areas that can be refined," Welch said. "I am particularly interested in getting feedback from the general public, since that proved to be a great starting point for our discussions last summer on this subject.
"I also believe our state must begin to take a more proactive look at mass transit, particularly as our society comes to grips with a world where gas prices appear to be remaining at current levels for the foreseeable future," Welch said. "We will begin by looking at funding for extensions of the South Shore Railroad in Northwest Indiana, but I also want to look at the feasibility of developing other transit systems around the state.
"In addition, I believe we must consider the continued problems faced by local units of government in getting the funding needed to maintain roads and bridges," she continued. "These problems have been aggravated by both the recent flooding that has plagued our state, as well as reduced revenue caused by decreased driving."
Welch said the Medicaid oversight commission conducts an ongoing study of the services that are provided through the state's Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA).
"I believe we must make sure that patients are receiving their entitled benefits in a timely fashion, and that Indiana residents are seeing their tax dollars spent in an efficient, responsible manner," Welch said.
Welch also will serve on three other study groups: the Health Finance Commission, the Water Resources Study Committee and the Military Base Planning Council.
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