Mike Sodrel stands up for The People and 100% homeownership!

Sodrel lives in New Albany and wants a seat in Congress. New Albany activists are coordinating an Indiana Tea Party on January 12, 2008. We are clear that we expect every pro-repeal politician to keep his word once elected or we will not stop until he or she is un-elected! --HFFT editor

SODREL: Property taxes need to be repealed
By MIKE SODREL

Local Guest Columnist, News and Tribune (Jeffersonville)
http://www.news-tribune.net/opinion/local_story_324104252.html?keyword=topstory

— So you think you own your home? Think again.

You are just renting your home from the government. As an Indiana home owner and fellow Hoosier, I’d like to comment on this issue of major importance to us — property taxes. The property tax issue is something that needs to be addressed by the state and local government, not the federal government.

It is an important issue for anyone who owns a home or who wants to own a home. It is important to both our farmers and to our small business owners as well. The current tax on property needs to be repealed, not reformed.

It is an expensive system to administer and to maintain. It is not fair to the taxpayer — it needs to be eliminated.

We have Hoosiers whose monthly property tax bill is now larger than their house payment. Some retired homeowners may have to sell their homes because they can no longer afford to pay their property taxes. The American dream of homeownership is turning into a nightmare for many Hoosiers. It is a budget buster for some, a hardship for many, and unfair to all.

Property taxes, in the first place, are based on “a guess.” An appraisal is an estimate of the price a home or farm might bring if it were sold. How would you like to pay income taxes based on what somebody thought you should make? An income tax appraiser could use the same system. He or she, for example, could take your age and educational level, consider any improvements made since graduation, look at the neighborhood you live in, and then guess how much income tax you should pay. That doesn’t sound like a very fair system, does it? It isn’t.

With the current property tax system, home ownership is a cruel joke. Everyone is renting their home from the government landlord. If you stop paying the government rent, you will be evicted like any other renter. Your right to continue living in your home is based on your ability to pay rent to the government. Many people find their government rent is rising faster than their income. Retirees, widows, widowers, and people living on social security and pensions, are the hardest hit. They are the people most likely to be evicted. Hoosiers on fixed incomes are already facing higher energy costs to heat their homes, and higher gasoline costs. Are we going to tax people out of their homes so we can tax someone else to build a place for them to live?

What is wrong with this picture? Taxes should not be established on a guess. And, no one should have to rent their home from the government for life. It is time to repeal the property tax.

Hoosier voters deserve a vote on the issue.

I believe the people will vote to eliminate property tax. It is the duty of our elected officials to give us that opportunity. Contact your State Senator and State Representative. Also, contact the Governor.

Tell them you want to axe the property tax and you want them to give you the right to vote on it.

Mike Sodrel is a former member of Congress as representative of Indiana’s District 9. He is currently campaining for election to that seat.

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