Libertarian Donald Rainwater talks taxes, health care, other key issues in governor’s race

Indiana has not elected governors from the same political party for more than 20 consecutive years. Libertarian Donald Rainwater wants to keep it that way by completely upending the two-party system and making history as a third-party candidate. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Brandon Smith sat down with Rainwater to discuss some of the biggest issues in the governor’s race.

You can also find interviews with Republic and Democratic candidates.

IPB News Statehouse Bureau Director Brandon Smith: I want to start with something that seems to be on the minds of many Hoosiers, and has certainly been a big issue in this campaign so far, which is the property tax. How do you deal with people’s property tax bills without struggling or punishing local governments the way they will struggle with their finances?

Donald Rainwater: So, when someone says to me, ‘Your property tax plan is going to cut fire and police budgets,’ I’m going to say, ‘No, local government has already decided to do that. with tax increase funds.’ What my proposal forces local governments to decide, are we going to fund the necessary local government jobs and care for people with the tax dollars that people pay? Or will we continue to give it to economic development? Which should be private development, not private development supported by tax dollars.

Smith: One of the fastest growing parts of Indiana’s education budget is private school vouchers. We have a program that is close to the rest of the world – only the upper limits of the amount are restricted to get those dollars. Would you like to see the program expanded further to become more universal, removing income limits?

Rainwater: I am 100 percent in support not only of universal school choice as it is currently defined, but I believe we need school choice that allows parents to have access to any school choice that provides the right environment to maximize that child’s positive outcomes, whether or not they are recognized by the state. We need, I believe, we need to desegregate education in the state of Indiana.

READ MORE: What do I need on Election Day? The general election is Nov. 5

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Smith: So, lawmakers are looking for ways to reduce the rising costs of Medicaid for the state of Indiana. Is there a way to recover those costs without cutting services to Hoosiers?

Rainwater: Services promised to Hoosier citizens – state government made a promise, they need to keep it. We have a $1 billion accounting error. But we also have a final budget of about $1 billion in new budget allocations to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. But to tell these people, well, we made a budget mistake, so we’ll have to cancel this program, but that’s okay because IEDC will bring 1,000 new high-paying technology jobs that you won’t be there. able to do because you have to stay at home with your child – it’s moral and ethical guilt for me.

Smith: We have an imminent ban on abortion in Indiana. As governor, would you like to see that change? Do you think Indiana’s abortion rights are in the right place?

Rainwater: The current law needs to face any legal challenges that may require going through the court system. And that the national legislature should listen to the people and that if there are reforms that need to be made, they should be made. I am a health professional. But I don’t believe that one person should decide what changes should be made in that law. I believe that is a very neat concept and I am very tired of politicians using it to get votes.

Brandon is our Statehouse office manager. Contact him at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.