INDIANAPOLIS — As Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita prepares for his second term in office, the incumbent (who beat Democratic challenger Destiny Wells by double digits) revealed his top priorities Thursday.
”Look for a very active and aggressive office of the Attorney General,” Rokita said.
One of those priorities includes reforming the Indiana Disciplinary Commission, although Rokita did not specify whether he’s seeking a regulatory or a legislative change.
”You saw what I know to be frivolous complaints filed against me,” Rokita said. ”I want to ensure that Indiana’s legal professionals are safeguarded.”
In lockstep with Indiana’s incoming governor, Rokita said he also wants to tackle skyrocketing healthcare costs.
”Recently, the General Assembly…they have given this office the authority to inspect, to review hospital mergers,” Rokita said. “We’ve already started on that road…I can already tell that that authority needs to be broadened.”
Rokita also echoed sentiments from Governor-Elect Mike Braun regarding the state’s near-total abortion ban. During a press conference Wednesday, Braun said he did not expect the General Assembly to revisit the state’s near-total abortion ban any time soon.
”I’m not sensing a big appetite to address that any further, but that’s not to say that they’re not interested,” Rokita said about the General Assembly.
With the country preparing for President-Elect Donald Trump to return to the White House, Rokita said he hopes to work with the incoming Trump Administration to stop more immigrants granted Temporary Protected Status from entering Indiana.
”If President Trump implements a plan and there’s Indiana law that’s helpful to that plan, I will utilize it,” Rokita said.
This past week, Rokita’s office began investigating certain businesses and non-profits in Evansville, Seymour, and Logansport—entities Rokita said could be engaging in labor trafficking.
”That’s what we suspect,” Rokita said. “The questions we ask and other initiatives we may have to take based on the answers to those questions will determine if that’s the case.”
When asked if he would accept a position in Trump's administration, Rokita said he ultimately declined to be on a list of potential appointees.