Indiana Governor Mike Braun came into office with support from a solid majority of those Hoosiers who voted. He unveiled an 8-point plan long on substance and short on red meat for his base. Unfortunately, his first 100 days, which ended last week, have looked more like a continuation of his campaign than implementation of his plan. They have been marked by executive orders and actions that have stoked fear and alienation among some Hoosiers instead of addressing nuts and bolts issues for everyone.
Out of the gate, the Governor ignored the increasing diversity within Indiana and eliminated state programs that seek to create equal opportunity within state workplaces and services. Through executive order, Governor Braun banned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that can prevent discrimination against women, people of color, people with disabilities, people of faith, veterans, and others. And he seemingly took this action without first talking to state employees about the value of these programs and what, if any, improvements could be made.
About a week later, he stoked fear and anxiety among Hoosier women concerned about their medical privacy with an executive order that gave the impression that state and local officials are not fully enforcing Indiana’s near-total abortion ban. A ludicrous notion. Women throughout the state understood that the actual point of the order was to coerce the Indiana Department of Health, which had expressed concerns for the privacy of Hoosier women, into publicly releasing terminated pregnancy reports. A prospect which terrified many of them.
The following week, the Governor released an executive order that compounded fear within many immigrant communities statewide. While the Governor had come into office pledging support for federal immigration enforcement, his focus had been on “criminal elements.” Yet, his executive order went well beyond dangerous individuals by mirroring national rhetoric about targeting a “flood of illegal immigration.” Missing from the executive order was any acknowledgement that the vast majority of immigrants living in Indiana – including those here without authorization - are actively contributing to the economic and community well-being of our state. In fact, the Governor made no effort to reassure thousands of people statewide and their families, neighbors, and coworkers that the Indiana he leads will be one where everyone living here would be treated with dignity and respect by the state government.
And, as if to double down on the disrespect, about six weeks later, the Governor issued a pair of executive orders making clear that, under his leadership, the state of Indiana was openly hostile to transgender Hoosiers and their families. As a result, transgender Hoosiers are no longer able to change the gender marker on their birth certificate, something they had been able to do for more than a decade. Not a single Hoosier benefits from this change in policy, but the small number of transgender people born in our state are devastated by it. Any state leader should be, at a minimum, skeptical of actions that meaningfully harm some but benefit no one.
The through line of these executive orders, and of much of the Governor’s first 100 days, is that he is eager to pander to a portion of his base who dislikes the increasing diversity in our state, immigrants, women’s health care, and transgender Hoosiers. And he is unconcerned with, or at best uncurious about, the harm, heartbreak, and anxiety that his actions are causing in every corner of our state.
Governor Braun won the election. There is room for disagreement and debate about how he chooses to address the many issues facing our state. But that is different than creating issues where none exist or stoking fear and anxiety for certain groups.
The election is over. It is now time for the Governor to stop campaigning and start governing for all Hoosiers.
