GOP briefly OK’ed IEDC probe earlier than calling it an error

• A Democratic lawmaker’s decision to research the IEDC was listed as “adopted” on the Indiana General Assembly’s web site for over 24 hours earlier this week.
• Now, House Republicans are saying the decision was adopted by mistake and will not mechanically go ahead.
• Most House Republicans on Jan. 29 voted in opposition to the same modification to research the IEDC, although 10 had been in help.

For a second, it seemed just like the Indiana Economic Development Corp. would face an investigation by the Indiana House of Representatives — or so thought Rep. Ed. DeLaney.

The Indianapolis Democratic lawmaker’s resolution to research the embattled financial improvement company was listed as “adopted” on the Indiana General Assembly’s web site for over 24 hours earlier this week.

House employees had even delivered DeLaney an ornately printed doc that includes the state seal stating it was “adopted by voice vote on January 27, 2026, during the Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly.”

Now, House Republicans are saying that the decision was adopted by mistake and will not mechanically go ahead.

“I was shocked,” DeLaney stated. “They gave me the fancy printed up resolution. We thought for a brief moment the majority would be interested in governing rather than playing games.”

The web site has now been modified, as a substitute stating the decision has been assigned to a committee the place DeLaney says it will doubtless languish with out being heard. DeLaney stated he personally requested Republican House Speaker Todd Huston to signal the decision after it was printed and the speaker declined.

“There was a technical error on the website,” stated Molly Gillaspie, communications director for the Indiana House Republicans, in an e mail to IndyStar. “The resolution was not adopted by the House. It was referred to the House Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform.”

Gillaspie said incorrect data was up to date on a part of the web site nevertheless it was right elsewhere.

More: Indiana lawmaker proposes formal investigation into the IEDC. Republicans may kill it

Huston stated final week he had a excessive diploma of confidence within the IEDC and that the state wants “to move forward” as a substitute of scrutinize the company extra.

The requires additional investigation into the company adopted intensive media scrutiny of the company in 2025, together with an investigation from IndyStar that exposed a trio of IEDC insiders benefited from $180 million value of no-bid contracts, and an audit launched by Gov. Mike Braun’s administration into the spending that discovered a “lack of transparency and accountability within the administration of state funds.”

IndyStar also reported on $77 million in no-bid contracts flowing to a company with close ties to former IEDC chief and unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial candidate Brad Chambers.

There is some bipartisan agreement that the IEDC needs a closer look: DeLaney later on Jan. 29 tried to push an amendment through on a Republican bill to establish the committee, getting 10 Republicans to sign off on it. But the amendment ultimately failed 36-55 lacking the majority of Republicans’ support.

“Somehow my decision was adopted after which unadopted,” DeLaney told House members before that vote. “This is about us: Do we wish to have a look at what occurred to a billion {dollars} or extra? I’m attempting to stop fraud, waste and abuse.”

Rep. Steve Bartels, R-Eckerty, who authored the underlying bill, House Bill 1003, that DeLaney tried to amend, said he agreed in principle that there needed to be “some oversight” over the IEDC but said there’s already mechanisms in place to do that. He asked the rest of the caucus to defeat the amendment.

Now, the prospect of a House investigation is likely altogether dead: Democrats needed Republicans to sign off on the investigation in some way since they hold a supermajority in the chamber.

DeLaney said economic development in the state will ultimately be harmed if the IEDC isn’t reformed.

“They do not wish to have a look at this corpse they usually do not wish to say it’s a corpse,” DeLaney said of how Republicans are now viewing the IEDC. “There’s two interrelated issues: there have been huge alternatives for misbehavior and self-dealing (and) as a result of we cannot have a look at it, it is change into an orphan.”

Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com or follow her on X @hayleighcolombo.

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