Dear Fellow Hoosiers:
The only bold, major moves solution to Indiana's property tax crisis, is the complete elimination of property tax, and replacement with a transparent, blended method of revenue collection that doesn't require a handbook, public official and court to understand. We know clarity when we see it, and current proposals to keep the property tax system don't make the grade.
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Several polls, including a recent poll by Advance America , show that a majority of Hoosiers favor the elimination of property tax, which REQUIRES open discussion and debate on the floor of the respective chambers of the PEOPLE'S HOUSE! An open discussion and exploration of this issue will add to this informed majority, so what are legislators afraid of and who does their fear represent? Is the legislative "process" the lesser of that which is the legislators' fears, or greater of that which is the citizens' hopes?
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A King Herod Act is likely brewing behind the scenes, where members of the Senate Rules Committee are planning to kill the hope for a meaningful solution to Indiana's property tax crisis. While the committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, January 8th; as of this writing, they're keeping the time and location a secret, which is hardly transparent or good government.
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Does "reform" exclude an open discussion of the elimination of property tax? Make certain that Senator David Long and his cohorts don't shirk their responsibility by leaving property tax elimination off the very table that belongs to YOU THE PEOPLE.
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The word is that there's a move afoot to kill SJR8 (Senate Joint Resolution 8 to eliminate property tax: ) in the rules committee, giving Senators Long, et al, the future excuse that they've "already voted on that," to dismiss the genuine interests of citizens and their inquiries about property tax elimination, for the entire session. How, if that's the case, is that a recipe for progress? Hint: back room butchering of the people's interests to feed special interests isn't progress.
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If citizens lose representation and the opportunity to have an open debate on the property tax issue, it's logistically a two year setback for true reform and economic progress. Members of the legislature who deny Hoosiers an open debate or referenda on the elimination of property tax, should be voted out of office for dereliction of duty. If members of the legislature are secure in their knowledge and beliefs, they'll have no trouble exposing them to the light of open debate where they can exercise the courage of their convictions.
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If Senator Long and Representative Crawford choose to limit open debate and kill by committee, the citizens option to eliminate property tax; Hoosiers will find themselves living Chavez style, in a place more like Venezuela than Indiana.
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Get the word out and take action! It's time to once again, write and call the people who are supposed to represent us, and insist on open debate of the property tax issue, on the floor of both houses! Stay tuned for updates and mark Tuesday, January 8th on your calendar, to visit the state house and voice your concern.
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“One of the difficult lessons we have learned is that you cannot depend on American institutions to function without pressure. Any real change in the status quo depends on continued creative action to sharpen the conscience of the nation.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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