![Gov. Eric Holcomb will deliver his State of the State address from the House Chamber. - Brandon Smith/IPB News](/files/wfyi/articles/current/1_house-chamber-1024x683.jpg)
Gov. Eric Holcomb will deliver his State of the State address from the House Chamber.
Brandon Smith/IPB NewsIndiana legislative leaders anticipate Gov. Eric Holcomb will address recent controversy at the Department of Child Services in his 2018 State of the State address.
Former DCS Director Mary Beth Bonaventura warned current funding and policies would lead to child deaths. Holcomb directed an independent consultant to examine the agency.
House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) and Minority Leader Terry Goodin (D-Austin) both say they expect to hear about that process when the governor addresses a joint session of the General Assembly.
Goodin says he also hopes Holcomb speaks about a need for redistricting reform. The House Democrat says it’s what Hoosiers are talking about.
“There’s been large crowds here and all those folks from those large crowds seem to have one thing on their mind and on their t-shirt – and that’s fix the election system,” Goodin says.
Bosma says he expects Holcomb will address the so-called “five pillars” of his agenda, including workforce development and the opioid crisis. The speaker says there’s also typically a surprise in the speech.
“Every governor hopes to have some unexpected item that they pull out of their hat to share with us at the State of the State,” Bosma says. “I don’t know that Governor Holcomb will do that – he’s been pretty transparent on what is important to him.”
Holcomb will deliver his State of the State at 7 p.m. from the House Chamber.