Indiana

WHAT GOVERNMENT REFORM?

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I knew it was too good to be true. There it was, a property tax crisis of near Biblical proportion. Citizens were mad; politicians were scared, real change was a possibility.  And then, my world of reform started to turn into dust.

Over in the Indiana State Senate, the new policy has become protecting fellow elected officials rather than look out for the taxpayers. Amendments to government reform legislation will leave the township assessors intact in Marion County, as well as the small claims courts and would only allow a referendum to decide whether a County Executive should replace County Commissioners.

To add insult to injury, on the House side of the Capitol building there?s talk that any effort to eliminate township trustees is dead as well as fire consolidation in Marion County.

This is ridiculous! The taxpayers have demanded lawmakers get their act in gear and deliver real reform. You cannot have real meaningful reform unless you eliminate the government that raises the taxes. The culprits behind all this are Conservative Republican Senator Mike Young and Liberal Democrat Representative Bill Crawford. Young wants to protect the Assessor and Crawford the Trustees.

The funny thing is neither of these guys agrees on much of anything because of their respective political philosophies, but I guess when it comes to protecting your friends and ignoring the property taxpayers, both walk arm in arm.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on January 29, 2008 (boomark / email).