Indiana

12 DAYS AND COUNTING

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

There are 12 days left before lawmakers are set to adjourn.  I’m going to try to have daily updates from the legislature for your reading enjoyment.

The conference committee met today on HB 1001 and of course nothing was decided.  There was some information distributed on how local governments could use local option income taxes to mitigate the impact of property tax caps.  I thought it was interesting that according to Senator Luke Kenley, 70-percent of the impact on tax caps would be felt in three counties; Marion, St. Joseph and Lake.  Go figure.

Kenley was adamant about caps put into the Indiana Constitution in order ensure permanent relief, something House Democrats oppose vehemently.

Also at the Statehouse, Jill Long Thompson, the Democratic candidate for Governor left the door open to terminating the lease of the Indiana Toll Road.  Thompson, who is skeptical of privatization, says she would reexamine the   $3.8 billion deal and do what was “in the best interests of Hoosiers.”  She did not outline where she would find the replacement revenue from the lease if it were revoked.  However she did say the state might be able to cut a better deal. Thompson made her comments while outlining her plan for Indiana’s economy.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on March 03, 2008 (boomark / email).