STATEHOUSE (March 10, 2017) – The U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Indiana No. 1 on its list of “Best States,” according to State Rep. Tim Wesco (R-Osceola).
The ranking was based on several categories including fiscal stability, budget transparency, government digitalization and state integrity.
“Through a decade of conservative and commonsense actions taken by the Republican-led General Assembly and executive branch, we have reduced the size of government and supported sound fiscal policies that have put Indiana in our nation’s spotlight,” Wesco said. “I will remain committed to fostering the best government on behalf of all Hoosiers.”
Indiana was ranked first in the nation for budget transparency overall. Wesco said Indiana has honestly balanced its budget since 2005, remained fiscally responsible and maintained healthy reserves since House Republicans took over the majority in 2004.
Creating an honestly balanced budget has afforded Indiana fully funded pension liabilities and a AAA credit rating. Wesco said Indiana has reduced the number of state employees by 20 percent over 10 years, reduced state-funded debt by 68 percent since 2005 and cut state agency budgets by almost 30 percent since 2009. Legislators have also eliminated more than 70 government boards and commissions and 600 government appointments, while maintaining prudent reserves of at least 10 percent of current-year revenues in the past three biennial budgets. Indiana has also continued to fund its priorities, which include education and public safety. Wesco said the last three biennial budgets have included the largest investments ever in K-12 education.
House Republicans have maintained a commitment to transparency and digitization in government by live broadcasting each House session online since 2005, and House committee meetings since 2007. In 2011, House Republican members authored legislation to increase budgetary transparency within state and local government. The resulting law required the state auditor to create the Indiana Transparency Portal, www.in.gov/itp, bringing better visibility, openness and accountability to state government. The portal contains information including agency budgets, state contracts, agency performance measures and local government expenditures. Wesco said it gives Indiana taxpayers a detailed look at the state’s finances, from top to bottom.
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State Rep. Tim Wesco (R-Osceola) represents House District 21, which
includes portions of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties.
A high-resolution photo of Wesco can be downloaded by clicking here.
