“You Probably Deserved It”: How Indiana’s Conservative Wing Got Duped on Property Taxes

Indiana US Senator Jim Banks telling a Former Federal Worker “You probably deserve it.”

In a moment of brutal candor, Indiana’s newly minted U.S. Senator Jim Banks told a fired Health and Human Services employee, “You probably deserved it.” The quip, caught on viral video, was aimed at a federal worker lamenting mass layoffs. But if we turn the lens back on Indiana’s so-called Conservative wing—those loyal listeners of WIBC’s bombastic radio hosts—it’s hard not to echo Banks’ sentiment. For years, these self-proclaimed “real Conservatives” have clung to the economic gospel preached by WIBC’s talking heads, only to find themselves slammed with soaring property taxes and no relief in sight.

As Banks might say, “You probably deserved it.”

Let’s talk numbers. Indiana homeowners are reeling from back-to-back property tax hikes, with a 4.1% increase piling onto the state’s already hefty 3.3% income tax. For a state that prides itself on fiscal conservatism, this is a gut punch. The Conservative wing of the Indiana GOP, those who wave the flag of limited government and low taxes, thought they had allies in WIBC’s radio personalities—folks like Jason Hammer, Rob Kendall, and Casey Daniels—who’ve spent years railing against “government overreach” and “tax-and-spend liberals.”.

These hosts, with their call-and-response rallies and fiery rhetoric, positioned themselves as the voice of Hoosier values, promising to hold the line on taxes. Hundreds showed up to their property tax rally at the Statehouse on March 17, 2025, chanting for relief.

But where’s the relief? Nowhere. Instead, homeowners are staring down a 2025 tax bill that’s higher than last year’s, with projections of a $403 million revenue shortfall this year alone, ballooning to over $1 billion by 2027. The same GOP leaders these WIBC disciples cheered—Governor Mike Braun, House Speaker Todd Huston, and yes, Jim Banks—have delivered platitudes but no real solutions. Braun’s promise to make 2026 property tax bills lower than 2025’s sounds like a campaign slogan, not a plan. Meanwhile, the state’s budget is teetering, and Hoosiers are left holding the bag.

Here’s the kicker: these Conservatives, or as I call them, Conservatives In Name Only (CINOs), were warned. Real conservatives—those who prioritize data over dogma—have long cautioned against swallowing WIBC’s simplistic narratives. The station’s hosts peddle a brand of populism that’s heavy on outrage but light on substance. Their economic “policies” boil down to slashing government spending (cue DOGE chants) without addressing the structural realities of Indiana’s tax system. Property taxes fund essential local services—police, fire, schools—that even the most ardent libertarian knows we can’t just gut. Yet, WIBC’s faithful lapped it up, electing and re-electing leaders who leaned into this rhetoric while quietly letting taxes creep higher.

Jim Banks is a case study in this hypocrisy. The man who told a fired worker he “probably deserved it” has spent his career cozying up to the WIBC crowd, basking in their adulation while voting for policies that don’t exactly scream “Hoosier relief.” Take his support for the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which he called “a good day for the American dream.” Great for corporations, maybe, but for Indiana homeowners? Not so much. The bill’s benefits skewed toward the ultra-rich, while middle-class Hoosiers saw little trickle-down. Banks’ full-throated endorsement of Trump’s tariff policies hasn’t helped either, with economists warning they’re fueling economic instability that’s already costing Indiana billions in projected revenue.

And yet, the CINOs keep tuning in. They cheer when WIBC hosts call for slashing “woke spending” or when Banks dismisses federal workers as “clowns.” They nod along when Braun talks about “empowering Hoosiers” while sidestepping the fact that his administration hasn’t delivered on tax relief. It’s almost as if they’re addicted to the outrage, blind to the reality that their heroes are either clueless or complicit.

Real conservatives would’ve seen through this charade. They’d have demanded accountability, not just from Democrats but from their own party. They’d have questioned why Indiana’s GOP, despite controlling the governor’s mansion and both legislative chambers, can’t deliver on the low-tax promises they’ve campaigned on for decades. They’d have turned off WIBC’s noise and looked at the numbers: a state budget bleeding red, local governments strapped for cash, and homeowners footing the bill.

Instead, Indiana’s Conservative wing got played. They listened to radio hosts who sold them a fantasy of fiscal freedom while their leaders raised taxes and dodged debates. They backed Banks, who’d rather go viral for snark than fight for his constituents’ wallets. And now, as their property tax bills climb, they’re left with nothing but the cold comfort of Banks’ words: “You probably deserved it.”

It’s time for Hoosiers to wake up. Stop worshipping at the altar of WIBC. Demand leaders who deliver results, not soundbites. Because if you keep falling for the same old song and dance, don’t be surprised when the taxman comes knocking—and no one’s there to save you.

Gabe Whitley is the Editor-in-Chief of the Hoosier Enquirer, a publication dedicated to cutting through political noise and holding Indiana’s leaders accountable.

Editors note; If you ever listen to radio hosts for tax advice, economic policies, fiscal policies, you deserved to be laughed at.