Gov. Mike Braun Joins!

Nigel (0:00)

The Hammer and Nigel.

Hammer (0:02)

You believe these characters are weirdos?

Nigel (0:04)

So let's rock it! My name is Nigel Jason Hammer, right over there with a very special in-studio guest.

Hammer (0:13)

The governor of the great state of Indiana is Governor Mike Braun. Governor, it's an honor that you join us here. I can't believe you keep coming back on this program, but thank you.

Mike Braun (0:24)

I like it. You've got good service here and we cover a lot of good content.

Hammer (0:29)

Let's dive into it because we have a short amount of time that we have with you and there's a bunch of stuff we want to get into.

Gas tax holiday. You've been extending it and extending it. Gas prices are still high.

Nigel (0:44)

Keep it going.

Hammer (0:45)

What's the future of the gas tax in Indiana?

Mike Braun (0:49)

So the dynamic hasn't really changed. And the only reason we could do it is because, you know, I'm a fiscally responsible individual, and you couldn't do it unless you could afford to do it. And that's all a result of our economy as a state is as good as it's ever been compared to our peer group competitors. And when I came in, we were over 4% in unemployment. We're 3-3.

We got all kinds of businesses moving in. And I did campaign on running our state government like a business, making sure that we're getting value out of it. It got a little bloated through COVID. So we're saving about a billion dollars in how we run state government, getting more done. And on the economic development front, we're generating about a billion dollars more in revenue. It's two billion dollars in extra reserves. The affordability issue is real. I campaigned on property taxes, but that means you're at the pump.

We've had the least expensive gas in the country for six months. I'm going to take a look at that again here very soon.

When it comes to health care costs, that's a longer term wrestling match. Some of the highest costs in the country, some of the poorest outcomes, education, owning a home, you name it. IURC, we talked about a little bit before the show.

We've actually got a utility company now that we've got four commissioners of the five that are rate payer conscious that up in the northeast has said publicly, nobody's covering it, I wish they would, that they're going to lower costs by 5%. And I couldn't believe it, freezing it for three years. We've never had that out of a utility. So that's good news. Things are going well. And the fact that our economy is doing well, I felt the way you can help the average Hoosier, the most 49 other governors would like to do it, is giving a reprieve on the gas tax. So I got two more swipes at it. Underlying issues haven't really changed. Likely to extend it here in a few days.

Hammer (2:54)

Okay, because the way I'm looking at this, again, I'm a taxpayer. I live in Marion County. You mentioned the state is doing well financially. Just dude to dude here. Just a couple of guys having beers together, Governor.

We're doing just fine without it, aren't we? Without this gas tax, the state's doing okay without it, right?

Mike Braun (3:15)

So if you're looking at if we're doing okay without it, why do we need it? Yes, that can anticipate that question.

The only part that's a challenge for all state governments, it's a gift from Joe Biden, 25% inflation, 22, 3, and 4 Steel and concrete went up 50%.

So we're okay currently, but dedicated road and bridge funding, it comes from that tax. It's a user pay. That's got its own discussion, but infrastructure, due to the past administration, before Trump took over, just raised the cost of it, to where we get half as much for what we did pre-COVID. So we got to be responsible in terms of the long run of how we keep safe roads and bridges for the crossroads of America. We've probably got more interstates per square mile of state than any other state that are heavily used. So that's the reason it's a reprieve, and we got to have a discussion on what we want to do to keep roads and bridges in good shape.

Hammer (4:22)

Now, if you're listening to us, yes, we're going to get into flock cameras, we're going to get into all the things. So just be patient. We got two segments with the governor here. But I want to piggyback on something you said earlier, the state's doing well financially.