ABC57 News talks with Governor Mike Braun about data centers, gas tax suspension

ELKHART, Ind. -- ABC57 talked with Governor Mike Braun about issues impacting Hoosiers, including data centers and gas tax suspension, during the RV Power Breakfast in Elkhart Thursday morning.

Governor Braun was one of the many speakers at the early morning breakfast. After speaking to 1,400 attendees, he spoke with local media.

ABC57 first asked about transparency and holding data centers accountable.

ABC57: "How are data centers going to pay their fair share of power? Will the rates they pay be public information like that of Hoosier households?"

Braun: “With me, everything‘s transparent. You’re not going to get under the radar on anything. I reconstituted the Indiana Economic Development Commission because they weren’t, and when it comes to data centers, they have gotten the message. Indiana's a really good place to have any business, but you’re not coming into this state where you’re going to aggravate affordability issues. You’re going to be transparent, where they kind of did it behind closed doors and snuck in especially in northern Indiana. Well, that caused an issue for NIPSCO. NIPSCO is now segregating any of that, if they’re going to do them, if the communities want them to where it can structurally impact rates. That's the kind of stuff you’re going to do if you want to be here for it; each community weighs the pros and cons. It will be transparent and I'm going to be out there saying add to the community's economy, don't hurt it by what you're doing. Very simple and if you don't want it, don't do it."

ABC57 also asked about the suspension of the gas and excise tax, as well as whether Governor Braun will ask President Trump to pay the tax deficit.

ABC57: "What is the suspension of the gas and excise tax costing Hoosiers in tax revenue? Do you plan to ask President Trump to pay the tax deficit?"

Braun: "No, that's the responsibility... they need to get their act in order at the national level by not borrowing and spending and regardless of the Iran issue which has bumped the gas prices, we produce more than we use. We're a net exporter so that's something to keep in mind and we used to not be that, you know, we were depending on OPEC and other places. This is costing roughly $52 million on the GUT (gasoline usage tax) tax, the sales tax. It's a little around $90 million on the excise tax but since I've been running the state, we're running it much more efficiently and I've got a legislature that weighed in when we need to have proper legislation. We do it by running our state government better and that is how we pay for it. Other places that don't wouldn't even have the flexibility to do it. Hoosiers are hard-working, think long-term, we'll get through it."