Haggard talks session, redistricting and running for District 4 seat

The road to Washington through District 4 got a little more crowded recently, as Indiana Rep. Craig Haggard, R-Mooresville, announced his intentions to seek the seat currently held by Greencastle Republican Jim Baird. 

Baird has not publicly announced whether he will seek re-election or not, and the seat could very well change if Indiana Republicans chase redistricting.

Regardless of what happens, the retired Marine and Lt. Colonel in the Indiana Air National Guard, wants to serve. 

Haggard said he got into politics despite saying he would never be a "knucklehead politician."

"My kids are grown. I have four kids, and I thought it may be the perfect time to continue the fight. I felt like I wasn't contributing anymore. I wanted to serve again, and wound up running. I had four people in the race initially, and won that seat. I have been serving there ever since," Haggard told The Putnam County Post. 

After 22 years in the military and working with the National Rifle Association, Haggard admits he quickly learning things move different at the Statehouse. 

"You get into politics and think we are all Republicans, we are all on the same team and have each other's backs, and you quickly find out that politicians are not what I thought they would be. They are all great people on both sides. I took an oath to the Constitution and not a political party. I think more people need to realize we should be in this for what is best for Hoosiers and citizens of our country rather than party or the next election. Let's battle it out during the campaign, but when it's done, let's shake hands and get to work. We don't see that anymore," Haggard said. 

Haggard said this past general assembly one was that is still being talked about, especially when it comes to property tax reform.

"Senate Bill 1 was the big bill, and that is where it started. In the Governor's race, there was a lot of talk and promises and the Governor won. He put forward his plan and the Senate took it up, and very soon after, there was a big amendment to change a lot of things. That made people upset, and we heard things like veto, special session and people got angry. It came to the House and the Ways and Means put a large of amendment on it, and we are talking hundreds of pages of changes," Haggard said. 

Haggard voted against the bill and said people have issues with assessments on their homes. 

"There is no cap on assessed values, and that is a problem. I, personally, think we should have dealt with that problem and then talked to municipalities and schools, whoever, to come up with a plan. To do something this huge -- I am not going to disparage anyone in the House or the Senate -- but, I still don't think it was enough time. When I have been talking to people about my race for Congress, SB 1 is a huge thing. I think this confused things even more. A tremendous amount of councils have to hire someone now to explain what it means. I think if you need to hire an expert to explain what a law means, it probably isn't a great law," Haggard admitted.

Haggard said he, along with J.D. Prescott, authored a bill that would have eliminated all property taxes and replaced them with a different mechanism. 

"You still have to have a funding source for roads, police, sidewalks and all those kinds of things. I think it is very viable and simple, it would have gotten rid of hundreds and hundreds of pages of tax code. It is more of a usage tax, but the one thing you wouldn't fear is an older couple who paid off their house could lose their homes under new assessments. That plan I like, and J.D. is still moving forward on it," Haggard noted, adding he believed Senate Bill 1 was rushed. 

In addition to property taxes, there has been a lot of talk about redistricting as of late, something Haggard has spoken on. 

The Indiana Republican initially said he did not believe there was an "appetite for redistricting in our communities." However, he has since changed his mind.

"I still believe that statement. Indiana is an example of how the lines should be drawn. I think we are a fair state that others should look up to. There were people who asked why are we doing this and we did it the right way, but the problem is the more and more you look into it, you realize two things are true. Two things can be true, but the problem is nobody else cares what Indiana does or looks up to us and says, "We are a blue state and we should do it the way that they did it in Indiana." They don't do that. I look back at the French-Indian War, and back in the day there was a certain way to do war. All the fancy people and the generals were having tea in the back and the people they didn't care about got on the hills, stood 20 yards apart and just blasted each other and whoever had the most powerful and largest army won. I look at this as this is how everyone did this forever, but when you look at, you say let's win this war. Politics is ugly, and if we truly believe from a world view that our party is correct, that we like the momentum we have in D.C., and if we didn't have the current administration in there, we would be driving full speed off a cliff, if I believe all that, then we need to win by all legal and Constitutional means available. I did change my mind because I didn't think it was something that would be coming down. I was commenting on how we did as a state. Once again, I think the state it the right way, and I believe two things can be true. We need to try to win this game. War, politics, all of it is ugly, but we need to do what is necessary to do to win in a legal and Constitutional way," he said.

Haggard said it is his wish there is a Constitutional amendment to how districts are redrawn.

"I am a supporter of the Commission of States for term limits, balanced budget amendment, and I think we should add how to draw federal lines and let it be in the Constitution. We wouldn't have to worry about it and there is no argument anymore and we can go to how it should be. If we are going to win a war now, I think we should look at fighting this on the same battlefield on the same battlefield they are fighting on," he said.

Asked how committed he is to adding an amendment to the Constitution, Haggard said he would promote it and push it forward.

"If we could ever get the Convention of States, which we need 34 to go, I think the balanced budget is huge. We need a balanced budget amendment, we just do. Of course, term limits. I think you have to be there a certain amount of time, but I also think this is something if people want to be fairly represented, then it needs to be federal law or the Constitution. It just puts it to bed and says this is the way. I also think our Census needs to be fixed, too. That is in the spotlight and you should count everyone, but not everyone should count for representation if you aren't a citizen," Haggard said. 

Redistricting was one avenue that came up during a recent trip to Washington, D.C., where Haggard and others from Indiana met with Vice President J.D. Vance and others in the Trump administration.

"There had been a lot of state legislators invited by the White House to discuss policy decisions by this administration with different cabinet secretaries. The majority of what we spoke about was policy from energy production to Medicaid to education and to border security and what we can do as a state. They always told us at the end of the day it was our choice, and there was never any hardcore pressure," Haggard said. 

Haggard said eventually Vance got around to talking about redistricting in Indiana, and that there was no threat from the White House that it must be done. 

"There was no do this or else, but rather he said why the administration thought we should do this, and there were a lot of hard questions where we discussed a lot of things," Haggard said. 

Haggard's desire to run for District 4 can be traced back to being asked about two years ago by a group of Washington, D.C. that asked him to run for what he believed would be an open seat in the Congressional District. 

"A couple years ago, I started an exploratory committee and put out a letter saying this is what I am interested in doing, I think it is important to do it in advance, but I was not challenging the incumbent. I told people if he ran, I wouldn't and I didn't. I ran for my seat again, and I decided after the last primary if that seat were up in the air again, I would go ahead and run, and I have been doing that ever since," he said.

He said he is interested in going to going to Washington for the same reason first responders run to a crime or fire.

"I could stay here and probably get re-elected every time and it would be easy, but I want to continue to fight. I have been serving my entire life in one way or another, and, yes, it is a mess there. If I think I am going to do anything there on my own, I am either stupid or a liar, and I don't believe I am either. I want to be part of the solution and help the states put the right people into office and not be a placeholder. I want to do like I have done in the Statehouse and push back when I need to and vote for what I believe is the right thing to do," Haggard said. 

He admits as he has traveled around the district he hears a constant theme from constituents. 

"I am not naive, it is an uphill battle, but I believe there is a certain time to retire. I respect the Congressman's service and what he has done, but I think from talking to people is they want someone to show up. They want someone to govern, fight and champion things in D.C., and I think I will do that. At the end of the day, I get it, but it is my Constitutional right to run, and I am going to continue until May 5, 2026, the day of the primary, to fight for the people and the state, and I am going to work my tail off. I want to help the people of this district, Indiana and this country," Haggard said.