Enthusiastic Crowd Welcomes Senator Yoder

Shelli Yoder, the Indiana State Senator for District 40 and Democratic Senate Minority leader since 2025, spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of roughly 250 people at the Goshen Theater on Thursday evening, April 23. The Executive and Call to Action committees of the Goshen City Democratic Party organized this gathering and moderated the event. 

Also present were Karen Tallian, Chair of the Indiana Democratic Party, and three candidates running for District 49’s state representative in the upcoming May primary election. These candidates include Monica Garbaciak, Susan Lawson and Michelle Milne. The winner will oppose Joanna King, the incumbent Republican in that seat.  

Phil Lederach welcomed the audience and gave a brief history of the Goshen Dems founding principles. It was spawned by citizens concerned about the direction of Indiana politics who made the decision to “turn talk into action.”  The group has grown exponentially since its inception. He then introduced party leadership, the candidates, and finally, Shelli Yoder. Senator Yoder took the podium and began her presentation.

Legislative wins and losses for voters

Senator Yoder began her presentation by posing the question, “What does it mean to be a Democrat?”  She answered that question with several concepts inherent in the party’s principles: support working people, identify positive values, and encourage community with friends and neighbors.  She further stated that Democrats strive to work towards a more productive life for citizens and to make a better life for their children and grandchildren. She also asserted that rules should be fair and promote a better life for all. 

Affordability

The cost of utilities, groceries, and healthcare have skyrocketed in our state.  These increasing costs not only place a financial burden on many families, but they make it extremely hard for lower income households to survive. In addition to premium price increases, the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) has made recertification and verification more difficult. These new requirements can result in a delay of critical medical care.  

Indiana’s SNAP food assistance program tightened eligibility income requirements resulting in 3,200 families being kicked off the program. The discontinued Sun Bucks benefit helped feed hungry children of lower income families during the summer months when school meals are not available.  More than 660,000 children in Indiana received food assistance in 2024. “When a policy asks the most from those who have the least, that’s not reform, that’s harm.” 

Child care benefits were also affected with the new legislation. The state has stopped enrolling new families in subsidized Child Care and has created a waiting list with 35,000 students. Payments to child care providers were also reduced 10-35% depending on the age group.

Public schools were also dealt a financial blow with more educational funds being channeled to charter and private schools in the way of vouchers.  Many public schools are already considering staffing cuts, consolidation or elimination of classes in music and art, and a reduction of pre-K sites. Senator Yoder stated, “If we’re going to be a universal school choice state, then every school must be held to the same accountability and transparency standards.”

There was some good news. The Indiana General Assembly, however, did pass HB 1001 which aims to increase housing supply and reduce housing costs for Hoosiers. It helps streamline the approval process for construction and restricts the administration of local fees and delays in the permitting process. Indiana’s median wage is $21.61/hour, 14% below the national average. 

Immigration

As a result of recent legislation at both the state and federal level, citizens, law enforcement and public institutions must now cooperate with ICE. These new standards now make some of our neighbors afraid to go to school or to seek medical attention because of the fear of being reported, arrested, and sent to an immigration detention center. Senator Yoder believes that “we are strengthened by immigrants and can be secure without being cruel.”  

Questions and Answers

The program concluded with a Question and Answer segment. Audience members brought up currently controversial issues like the influx and approval of massive data collection center locations in Indiana.  What will the environmental impact be? How much water and electricity will be consumed?  What will happen to jobs after the collection centers are built?  Senator Yoder suggested that lawmakers should demand specific details in proposals from companies requesting approvals for these structures. 

Chair of the Indiana Democratic Party

Paul Stauffer, the Chair of the Goshen City Democratic Party, introduced Karen Tallian, the new Chair of the Indiana Democratic Party, a position she has held since 2025. She has served 16 years in the Indiana Senate representing parts of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties.  In her comments to the audience, she stated “Federal government concepts such as DOGE, ICE, Minnesota killings and Venezuela’s invasion didn’t do a damn thing to help us.”  She strongly advocated for CHANGE and stated it was time to take back our state.  She pointed out that there are more Democratic party candidates running now than Indiana has seen since 1974. She believes that voter turnout is also critical since Indiana ranks in the lower 10% nationally every election.

An appreciative audience was then dismissed to a “meet and greet” session with local and state political representatives.

Author: Ron Altenhof

Editor: Marilyn Torres