Indiana

HE SAID, HE SAID

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Indiana House Democrats and Republicans are blaming each other over the death of a bill that would have codified Governor Mitch Daniels? property tax assessment caps into the state Constitution. House Joint Resolution 1 would have capped resident property tax assessments at 1 percent of a home?s value, 2 percent for rental property and 3 percent for commercial property.

However, HJR-1 was pulled when Republicans offered a number of amendments to it.  Democrats say the amendment that killed the deal was one that would have eliminated residential property taxes. They argue that the elimination of residential property taxes was not part of the Governor?s plan and such a formula was unworkable. And they had to protect the integrity of the process and stop Republicans from destroying the Governor?s plan.

Meanwhile Republicans say the elimination of residential property taxes was part of their 10-point property tax reform plan. And they argue the Governor said the elimination of residential property taxes was a fine idea if they could make it work. And the GOP said their plan would have reduced property taxes by 75 percent in four years. They say House Speaker Pat Bauer does not want a Constitutional amendment on property taxes.

Despite these two stark contrasts, there are two things both sides agree on.  First, the Senate has a version of the same bill. Second, both sides the proposed amendment banning same sex marriage also had nothing to do with the death of HJR-1, contrary to what has written in the blogosphere.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on January 31, 2008 (boomark / email).