Indiana's gas tax holiday extended another month, a shakeup at the state's utility commission and who will lead Indiana Senate next session.

From the television studios at Wfyi Public Media.

It's Indiana Week in Review for the week ending August 7th, 2026.

Indiana Weekend Review is produced by Wfyi in association with Indiana Public Broadcasting stations.

Additional support is provided by Parrichey.

Just when it seemed to be over, Indiana's gas tax holiday will continue.

Ben Thorpe reports.

Governor Mike Braun is citing a new energy emergency as the cause for the extension that will last another 30 days.

Last month, while extending the gas tax holiday, Braun said it was the final time he'd be able to do so without input from the legislature.

But Braun declared a new energy emergency, citing conflict in Ukraine and the fires in Canada instead of the ongoing conflict in Iran, which the previous emergency was based on.

Braun says the new emergency could last an additional 120 days.

This action will make life more affordable for Hoosier families and provide immediate, substantial.

Relief from continuing high gas.

Prices.

The state is estimated to have spent close to half $1 billion so far on the gas tax holiday.

Braun says a strong Indiana economy means the gas tax suspension won't impact other state services.

How long will Indianas gas tax holiday go on?It's the first question for our Indiana Week in Review panel: Democrat, Kip Tew Republican, Chris Mitchem Oseye Boyd, editor and chief at Mirror Indy Ben Thorp, government reporter at WFYI I'm Jill Sheridan, managing editor at WFYI.

So is the governor making the right move as it relates to affordability here in Indiana?

Well, certainly as it relates to affordability, at the first question you ask that I also answer is how long is that going to continue?

And I guess I would posit back, probably as long as the, war in Iran lasts and who knows how long that's going to go every week it's ending and every week it's starting.

So I think we're in a, doom loop when it comes to the Iran war.

And, while the governor, of course, said that this time it's because the Canadian fires and, the war in Ukraine, it's like I, I laughed at it, because, I think everybody knows that their war in Ukraine has been going on for quite a while.

the Canadian fires may have had, small impact, but the bottom line is the Straits of Hormuz, are in play all the time.

And that's what's causing the big problem.

I mean, it does seem smart for the governor to, you know, do this as it relates to affordability.

You know, people in Indiana are experiencing some of the lowest gas prices anywhere.

And certainly that is something that hits everyone's pocketbook, wouldn't you say?

Yeah, absolutely.

you know, I think he made the right move doing this just because you literally would have seen about a 60 cent increase in your gas pump prices overnight, seemingly.

And I think his way of doing it through an emergency is also another way to save money.

Instead of trying to call on the legislature to come in for a special session, bring all 150 members of the General Assembly to Indianapolis to try to pass something, and all the committee processes and all that it goes with.

So I do think, again, it goes back to his point of affordability.

and I think it's really important just to continue harping on continue recognizing that states around us like Illinois, like Michigan, don't really have an option of doing this just because they don't have the long term financial stability that Indiana has.

That's been, you know, a result of Republican leadership for a long time.

So, I think, you know, with that backing, he can continue to do this and continue to backfill the local communities like he has mentioned.

I do think there is a clock, however, you know, I think this one, he can take it to another 120 days or so.

So I do think the pressure will start to mount if we start getting into that additional 120 days, you know, when is enough is enough.

But as of right now, I think he can continue to kind of deal with the card that he's been dealt, something that is out of Governor Brown's control.

I don't think he's sitting in the war room with Pete Hegseth, trying to make decisions about the Iran war.

He's just dealing what's with giving with him and keeping Hoosiers front of mind and trying to make, the prices at the pump as affordable as possible?

Well, were you somewhat surprised, though, with this new emergency?

I mean, we were, led to believe that, you know, this gas tax holiday would end, and, and a bit surprised that we heard there was, you know, a new emergency.

Yes.

I was surprised because, I don't know, we could just find new emergencies.

wherever they can find them.

So we can we can keep finding emergencies.

Right.

I do think I agree, as a as someone who drives and uses gas, I like my gas being cheap and affordable, that is.

But my fear is when when it hits, what will the effect be then?

Will we be?

So use of this cheaper gas quote unquote cheaper since is cheaper here than other states.

But how will this affect your pocketbook?

Because people have gotten well, have gotten used to that affordability and not really knowing the real cost of gas.

so that's a concern that I have when, when when it hits me, how will I feel then?

Will it be a shot then versus kind of a shock or a slow shock?

You know, over time.

I mean, maybe Hoosiers are just jaded now because we have enjoyed, you know, four months of really.

Low in the summertime when everyone when gas goes up and everyone's talking about gas and we're like, yeah, we don't have that problem here.

Or does in Michigan.

And it was a full dollar more expensive in Michigan.

And and so, you know, as people have enjoyed, you know, lower gas prices all summer long, lots of other people, including lots of Indiana lawmakers have pointed out that, you know, local cities and municipalities are going to be feeling the impact of this.

And there's also the question of where this money, will be coming to, will be going, you know, as far as when we're trying to, you know, ready the budget next year.

Is that a. Concern?

Yeah, I think there's a question about like what this means next year.

Right.

Like if we're spending half $1 billion on this now, I think it's going to be probably close to $1 billion if we do a full kind of 120 day thing.

Again, I asked the governor, like, does this mean that it could hurt other priorities of yours?

Things like child care vouchers, you know, are there other affordability issues?

Why is this the best place to spend our money?

And I think first and foremost, he said, look, I think that we have this great surplus that's coming in.

And so I'm not particularly worried about it right now.

but he also said, you know, I believe that the gas prices is the best way to, you know, tackle affordability.

That's something that touches everybody.

And so that's a good way to sand the returns that the state is seeing.

Back to, you know, everyday people.

As this kind of, you know, have an impact on what do you think cap for lawmakers when they, you know, go into the session next year.

And the governor said he will, you know, make good for for local municipalities that have missed out on some road funding dollars because of, of this move.

Well, to his credit, he did make them whole on the, on the, for the first four months, I believe, or at least first couple of months.

So hopefully he continues to keep that commitment because, most municipalities and local governments are running close to the bone.

I know there's talk all the time about how they waste money, but the fact of the matter is, those of us at least use the roads of Indianapolis and around the state.

No, they're not in the best shape.

And the reason they're not in the best shape is because we've been underfunding them for a long time.

And this these taxes were designed to fund them.

And if we're taking money from other places to to fill that gap, what are you going to do with, with the other things in bend?

And everybody else is already addressing this.

But it is it's a big concern, going forward.

And we just don't know how long the war is going to take.

I hate to be repetitive.

We don't know how long the war is going to go on.

And even if we do have a settlement in the war, it is certainly indicated that they're now going to control the Straits of Hormuz regardless.

And if they have control of the Straits of Hormuz, we're going to have volatility for quite a while, I think.

Yeah.

And I would just add to that, you've already heard state lawmakers already kind of start using the talking points of we're going to have to replenish some of these funds that are going into the road funds, including of, you know, the other priorities that just naturally exist with state government.

So, you know, I do think you're already hearing from them, trying to exercise caution of, you know, how big of an impact this is going to have on our budget going forward.

I do want to also jump in and kind of add that I feel like, you know, it felt like this was going to come to an end.

It felt like he was signposting that this was about to be over.

And then he declared this kind of new emergency.

And reporters were basically asking like, can you do this?

Do you think somebody is going to sue over this?

And you heard Brian kind of say, I think he's counting on people not wanting to try to stop him here because this is such a otherwise popular initiative.

And he was like, yeah, I mean, you can sue, but why would you?

It's popular.

But there's a long term effect.

Yeah.

And the long term effect is our roads keep getting worse and worse.

And we are already talking about how horrible the roads are in Indiana, not just Indianapolis, Indiana.

So what what is the long term effect going to be?

So we're paying we're going to pay the piper at some point.

And I think that is part of what state government we we don't have I think ahead, I think for the future holistic viewpoint in state government at all.

That's just my perspective.

I'd love to see who wants to sue for higher gas prices.

I it's a good point.

For better roads maybe.

Well.

It's time now for viewer feedback.

Every week we posted unscientific online poll question.

This week's question is the continued gas tax holiday a top affordability solution for Hoosiers?

Vote yes or no.

The last question posed to viewers Should Indiana move to closed primaries and election?

12% saying yes and 88% saying no.

Thank you would like to take part in the poll?

Go to wfyi.org/i r and look for the poll.

The former chairman of Indiana's powerful Utility Regulatory Commission was fired from the board this week.

The governor is also named a new member now for the five member commission.

Zach Castle has more on the continued shakeup at the IU.

RC Indy's AA served in the Indiana Senate until governor Mike Brown appointed him as chair of the r u r c in January.

The body oversees rate cases for utility companies.

They oversaw a months long investigation into consumer outcry over electric utilities billing practices.

They voted to approve a rate increase for central Indiana electric utility A.S Indiana in June.

Because of the vote, Braun demoted him from chair to commissioner, the governor's office confirmed today.

A Republican was fired from his seat.

The state personnel department says they was let go over allegations about a financial disclosure, filing personal gifts to employees and telling staff to change a public meeting agenda.

So, Chris, what do you think Hoosiers should make of this latest drama that you are seeing yet?

Certainly keeping people in the industry in and around the industry on their toes, that's for sure.

but I do think the biggest takeaway here is Braun's commitment to utility affordability.

I think in talking with, legislators from around the state, the first or second concern they hear from all of their constituents is high utility costs and how that's really impacting a lot of people.

So I think when you look at the IU, RC, you know, Braun, you know, isn't the old man yelling at clouds.

This is an issue that a lot of people are talking about and want to see addressed.

And I think Braun could very easily kind of sit back and throw his hands up in the air and say, well, you know, I don't really have any influence over, over this commission when in reality he appoints the people.

So I would argue that's a pretty good amount of influence.

But also, you know, in the people that he has appointed, he's making clear what he wants them to prioritize, which is affordability.

And I think you saw that in the latest action that they took.

I think they declined a request from Nipsco for over $700 million when it comes to improvements to their transmission infrastructure.

And in that declination, they didn't say that.

We don't want you to improve your energy infrastructure.

They just said, we want you to provide more information to justify the costs.

Why is it this amount?

Why is it so high so they can get a better idea of, you know, do they want to bring that down?

Do they want to reconsider?

And I think that's kind of the balance that you want to strike, because I think we've all discussed long enough.

It's it's really hard to actually lower utility costs.

But I do think with the flexibility you have is controlling, controlling the spikes or controlling how fast utility costs might increase.

I think that's where you can have a lot more flexibility when you're Governor Braun and I. I do think his his latest appointment, you know, counselor Josh, Ben is a really good example of that.

He has a really good reputation of working in the community in Indianapolis, but also has the utility energy background that you need for that position.

And so he can bring a really unique, perspective when it comes to these larger conversations about affordability, but also the X's and O's about how utility infrastructure works.

I mean, this is an important commission.

And is he is he employed with the right people?

Well, it raises a couple of good questions.

The first is the power of the executive.

We just talked about his power to, suspend the gas tax.

And he had to, you know, kind of go pretzel pretzel on that one to, to do that one.

And this one you also have there's supposed to be an independent body.

They're not supposed to be, subject to politic the day to day politics.

And so there's there's some real questions about what the executive power ought to be, I think in the, in the small view of it, obviously, he wants to put pressure on them to lower prices, which I think is a good thing.

I would take issue with Chris when he's talked about there's really not much you can do with, with, the price of the price of energy, electricity specifically.

The legislature has debated in years past many things to do, to, rein in the costs.

And the legislature has chosen not to do so.

One in particular was there was a bill several years ago to try to force competition at the transmission line, construction area.

And the folks that wanted the competition weren't successful in getting the bill passed.

And the electric utilities were successful about being the only ones that got to build their own transmission facility.

So that's one example of a lot of different areas where the legislature has said, we trust the commission and we trust the electric utility industry to do what they do and then blame it on environmentalism, when prices went up.

So there are things you definitely can do.

And if Governor Braun's serious about it, maybe he'll take a look at some of those pass bills that weren't successful.

Do you think, Ben, though, that, you know, the commission is bound by law and that ultimately, you know, may stifle the work?

I'm so interested to see how, the commissioners end up voting on this original a, rate case.

I think it's going to be really interesting.

You know, a couple of the, like, utility advocacy groups that I was talking to were like, I think that the underlying law here might force a position where it's really hard to say no to kind of rubber stamping this and approving this.

But again, it's very clear that Braun is kind of putting his thumb on the scale and saying, this is what it what I want you to decide on this.

And so it'll be interesting to see with those pressures how these guys end up voting.

but I, you know, again, I think this is a it's an interesting thing here with the kind of the executive power because again, I think this is a place where I, you know, some Democrats were raising that as a concern.

But to what extent do you want to be seen blocking the governor if he's taking these steps towards, you know, affordability for people, right.

Is this musical chairs the Oceana.

Is that a bit of a distraction to the real work that needs to get done here?

Well, I will say it made my head spin.

It seemed, to be just out of the blue, but also put the governor using his executive powers to make, make put pressure on the commission and and get what he wants.

I think, for the public who actually most people are watching this, right?

Most people don't know how these things work.

Most people don't really care.

They just care about what their utility bill looks like when it comes in.

We're talking about the commission, but people who get their bill every day have no idea how these things work.

They just know and got to do what they want to do.

And so people are not happy.

So I do think the governor is listening and is being receptive to what people are saying if they want their bills lower.

And so it is his right to put pressure on, even though they are independent.

But he still has some power there to let them know, hey, these are things that people in the state of Indiana want and they want lower electric bills, period.

He's got he's got the power of the bully pulpit.

Right.

Like if you if you really wanted to say he was abusing his power, it's not like he can come into the IOC and say, no, you're going to rule this way.

No, he can't change, but he can keep moving people around.

Yes.

To get well you have to fire for cause, right.

So I think the state parks state personnel department came out and that's not really in their realm.

But, you know, what he is doing is that he is expressing displeasure.

He's using the, office of the utility, or the folks that represent the utility ratepayers, encouraging them to continue fighting these and continue reconsidering them so he doesn't have the power to Ben's point, to come in and try to overturn anything that they want to do.

But he can't continue to try to use his influence, appoint the right people to make sure they have affordability, top of mind.

Well, also this week, senators State Senator Chris Garden says he wants to be the leader of that Indiana Senate.

Drew Dolan has more from our content partners at Indiana Capital Chronicle.

The news comes just days after Senate President Pro Tem Roderick Bray announced he will not seek reelection for the role.

Bray was the focus of a pressure campaign by President Donald Trump and Governor Mike Braun to deliver a failed mid-decade congressional redistricting map that would favor the party.

His term runs through 2028.

Curtain resigned as majority floor leader in June, four years after Bray appointed him to the Senate's number two Republican Post.

Garten said he no longer aligned with leadership.

Strategic direction.

While he and Bray disagreed on redistricting, they voted similarly on many other key topics.

Members of the Senate Republican caucus will ultimately choose their leader after the November election, and others could join the race.

So, Ben, we heard quickly from garden, but do you think other lawmakers may be throwing their hat into the ring?

You know, I really don't know.

I heard from Brian was kind of asked this question this week.

Are there other people that you would support?

He's kind of said, I'm staying out of it.

I'm waiting to see, you know, how the how the chips fall.

I think garden is such an interesting figure.

You know, he was really at the at the heart of advocating for redistricting last year.

And I think he really got a lot of national attention, particularly from the Trump administration.

You know, he gave this like very fiery floor speech, right before the vote on redistricting.

And you saw a lot of Trump people saying this is a guy to watch.

And so I feel like his star is kind of rising.

He was at the head of a lot of the kind of state Medicaid changes here.

during this most recent session.

He's the thing that I also want to point out is I feel like he has this flair for, for like the dramatic that I feel like we haven't seen from someone like Bray.

I'm thinking about last year.

He, he made these posts around Christmas where they're, they're I and it's him kind of punching Santa Clause and saying, this is me opposing bureaucracy.

and so I think he's a much more, you know, in some ways charismatic figure for, Senate Republicans shaming.

Certainly I this also comes on the heels of Senator Senator Bray last week announcing on a Friday during the show that, that he will not, you know, seek to be the leader again of the Senate here in Indiana.

Do you expect, that we will have a much different leader than next session.

From Senator Bray?

Yes, yes, I think that's been proven with, Senator Garten.

He's much different from Senator Bray.

So, yeah, I also am wondering how much more, depending on who's chosen, how much more influence Trump administration will have in the state of Indiana, because that has been something that Senator Bray, we have talked about being independent.

We've talked about we are Indiana.

We have to do what DC does.

but that has been changing here recently, and we are falling in line more and more with what, what President Trump wants, what the Trump administration wants to do.

So I wonder, with the change now from Senator Bray stepping down, how much more we will be in lockstep with what DC.

I think we saw during the primaries, certainly.

And I'd like to add that, you know, that's a sticky wicket for Republicans in the state of Indiana.

Most recent polling shows the president's actually underwater for the first time in a very long time in state of Indiana.

hitching your wagon to Donald Trump, maybe a little late, in the in his cycle of influence to be doing that.

but Chris Garten definitely is a Trumper.

It does.

It does, absolutely show that, Trump wing of the party, has control here in the state, in the state of Indiana.

But I don't know how much longer that lasts, because Donald Trump himself is increasingly unpopular everywhere in the country.

I think many people were surprised during the primaries that he still, you know, had such a grip.

But, do you think, Chris, have you heard that there may be other Republicans that are interested in this position?

I don't think in the top position.

I think Senator Garten and rightfully so, probably has the best claim to it.

I think he's absolutely qualified for the position.

He served as a majority floor leader since 2022, which is kind of like the second in command in the Senate.

and he's also served on a lot of influential committees.

He's been on appropriations, tax and fiscal, which consider a large like array of issues that go through those committees.

he's been a leading voice in, like, the health care cost conversations and serves on rules as well.

So, he's absolutely qualified for the position.

I do think you'll see some fireworks for that number two position.

the Senate majority leader that he previously served as, and even the third position as well.

and I'm really kind of watching for the cascading effect that might have you already saw in the primaries that five committee chairpersons, were defeated.

And so if you see some more movement and leadership that might move some people out of chairmanships and that those will be replaced and you'll kind of see a domino effect.

So I think a lot of folks who work in and around the state House are looking forward to November to kind of get an idea of what our committee chairs look like, because they are very powerful positions in the state House and kind of start adjusting, you know, strategy and education, strategies based upon that.

I'm wondering if I'll add to the divisiveness, though, that that's Republicans in the in the legislature already feeling, I mean.

Potentially I mean, our firm actually asked the question of like, okay, how different was Brain Garden kind of in their voting voting pass.

And when you look at the high profile things, social issues, large tax issues like SCA one that gets discussed a lot, social issues, they are actually pretty lockstep.

There's not a big difference in how they vote.

So I think you will maybe see a change in some of the bills that are considered.

But when it comes to actually how the Senate votes, I don't think you'll see much of a change.

Interesting.

Well, some Indiana leaders want coal plants to remain open in the state.

Zach Castle has more on their efforts to block the planned closure of one coal plant in southern Indiana.

Attorney General Todd Rokita is trying to intervene in a court case leading to the retirement of a coal unit at the Rockport Power Station.

It was ordered closed in a 2019 agreement.

In that case, the plant is owned by Indiana, Michigan Power Company and AEP enterprises, which plans to stop using cold air by 2028.

Rokita says Indiana faces an energy crisis.

We love all God's children nuclear gas, but certainly coal.

At a time when our state's power demand is growing, we need all the power we can get.

Not a replacement strategy, an all of the above strategy.

A court has not yet approved.

Rokita has motion.

The attorney general's announcement comes as governor Mike Braun tells state agencies to review court approved plans to close coal based power plants.

So should the state try and reopen some of these aging coal plants?

I don't know.

I, I'm assuming no, I mean, that's what I think is no, but I don't know enough about coal to give a definitive answer.

But I do know this has been an issue that has been talked about for decades.

the cases go back to the late 90s, early aughts.

So, and there was a plan to close these, these coal facilities down for a reason.

Yes.

and it's because of pollution and ash, were actually getting into the groundwater.

All these things that that were happening.

I know we're revisiting this because the EPA has made changes, but I don't know that those changes are necessarily good changes that the EPA has made.

So, I think I wonder if the EPA made them more stringent.

Will we have gone back to revisit to close them earlier?

Probably not.

I know there's economic issues attached to this, but part of the problem is we have been fighting for years the change that needs to happen.

There has to be some kind of way.

We come to a an agreement on how we can both have, economic stability.

We need more electricity.

We need more power.

We know that.

No, but why do we need it?

But we also need people to be healthy.

Go ahead.

sorry.

I don't know where.

You know, I mean, it really boils down to, some people are just ignoring what's happening in the environment.

We have Canadian fires.

We have fires in Oregon.

We have, upheaval in our environment everywhere.

these coal plants are shut down for the reason being that they were too expensive to use the coal for clean.

Right?

I mean, clean the coal up and use it.

And so, I think we have to be very mindful about what's happening in our environment.

it's it's critical for the human race that we're, we are concentrating on that.

And and to reopen these things to me, seems counterproductive.

That's Indiana Week in Review for this week.

Our panel has been ... Democrat, Kip Tew Republican, Chris Mitchem Oseye Boyd, editor in chief at Mirror Indy Ben Thorp, government reporter at WFYI You can find Indiana Week In Reviews podcast and episodes at wfyi.org - slash IWIR or on the PBS App.

I'm Jill Sheridan, managing editor at WFYI Join us next time because a lot can happen in an Indiana Week The views expressed are solely those of the panelists.

Indiana Week in Review is produced by Wfyi in association with Indiana Public Broadcasting stations.

Additional support is provided by PA Ritchey.