States, like individuals, are graded for their creditworthiness. A strong rating not only shows that the state is well run, it also saves taxpayers millions by allowing Indiana to issue bonds for roads, bridges and other investments at the cheapest possible rates. As your state senator, I have now voted for two budgets, and both were honestly balanced – a far cry from what we see from the federal government and even most states. In fact, states are rated by three major credit agencies and only 14 states are rated the gold standard, “AAA,” by all three agencies. Indiana was reconfirmed as one of the 14 this week, just as we have been since 2010. This makes me feel immensely proud and blessed to be a Hoosier, but it has not happened by accident. Keeping our top credit rating takes deliberate and sometimes tough decisions, but that’s the price of leadership. We are not perfect. We make mistakes, and we have challenges, but I will always vote in ways that prioritize our AAA rating because whatever challenges we have, it is easier to address them from a sound financial footing. Finally, our fiscal responsibility is more than a statement about how well our state is run or how affordably the state can borrow. It’s also about economic prosperity because one of the factors businesses consider when making investment decisions is the state’s fiscal health. Our prime location as the crossroads of America combined with our fiscal responsibility make Indiana a strong competitor to attract economic development. That benefits all of us through more economic activity and more state revenue without more taxes. Here’s to many more years as a national leader in fiscal responsibility!
