Comments on: A SIMPLE QUESTION http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html Indiana Barrister is the source for local Indianapolis and Indiana news, politics and commentary. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:17:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: melyssa http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html/comment-page-1#comment-7694 melyssa Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:05:09 +0000 http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html#comment-7694 Over the Whine... I'm not whining. I DID something about it. . I figure it cost the city about the same amount it would cost to buy us another cop on the streets to sue me. . A decision to buy the cop instead would have cost us all a whole lot less drama. Over the Whine…
I’m not whining. I DID something about it.
.
I figure it cost the city about the same amount it would cost to buy us another cop on the streets to sue me.
.
A decision to buy the cop instead would have cost us all a whole lot less drama.

]]> By: Over the Whine http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html/comment-page-1#comment-7689 Over the Whine Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:40:29 +0000 http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html#comment-7689 Like we needed more proof that everything you do, you do for you Melyssa. - Why don't YOU find out how much it cost the city to sue you? Probably not much more than the salaries of the people involved, frankly. It was hardly a major undertaking or a burning issue. Like we needed more proof that everything you do, you do for you Melyssa.

-

Why don’t YOU find out how much it cost the city to sue you? Probably not much more than the salaries of the people involved, frankly. It was hardly a major undertaking or a burning issue.

]]> By: melyssa http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html/comment-page-1#comment-7688 melyssa Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:50:48 +0000 http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html#comment-7688 Proud Indy...thanks for the great information. I never said Bart didn't do some things right! I did vote for him TWICE, afterall. I liked it that he helped to clean up the area between downtown and my neighborhood that I used to call "the ring of fire". But then he decided my life was worth nothing, used me for his own political purposes, and refused to give me access to my own city government. Our politicians should never beat up on citizens for small things. In the end, he could never even prove I broke a zoning law. And the burden of proof was on them, wasn't it? You should try to find out how much of our money he wasted on that stunt to sue me. Proud Indy…thanks for the great information. I never said Bart didn’t do some things right! I did vote for him TWICE, afterall. I liked it that he helped to clean up the area between downtown and my neighborhood that I used to call “the ring of fire”. But then he decided my life was worth nothing, used me for his own political purposes, and refused to give me access to my own city government.

Our politicians should never beat up on citizens for small things. In the end, he could never even prove I broke a zoning law. And the burden of proof was on them, wasn’t it?

You should try to find out how much of our money he wasted on that stunt to sue me.

]]> By: huh? http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html/comment-page-1#comment-7670 huh? Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:35:04 +0000 http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html#comment-7670 "And we’re really tired of your “File a lawsuit” responses." But... he's a lawyer! Isn't that natural reaction #1 for someone with a law degree?? You might as well be asking a dog not to sniff rear ends. ;) Love ya Abdul! “And we’re really tired of your “File a lawsuit” responses.”

But… he’s a lawyer! Isn’t that natural reaction #1 for someone with a law degree?? You might as well be asking a dog not to sniff rear ends.

;) Love ya Abdul!

]]> By: Robert-NW Side http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html/comment-page-1#comment-7669 Robert-NW Side Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:41:49 +0000 http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html#comment-7669 Abdul, surely you’re not surprised by the clear deference given to business, are you? Let’s take a stroll down memory lane. - Back in 2002, the General ASSembly (GA) began ‘phasing out’ the so-called inventory tax. This was clearly unconstitutional. There are also Indiana court cases that say so. For example, see State Board of Tax Comm. v Key Motor Corp., 404 N.E.2d 52, (1980). Quoting from that Appellate decision: - “Thus, the Legislature does not have the authority at all to exempt so-called inventory personal property.” - Another decision, authored by your buddy Randall Shepard, had this to say: - “Rather than overturning the Lutz determination that the tax was an excise tax, the Wright court simply agreed with the Lutz Dissenters' approach in finding that the legislature could not exempt any property from uniform and equal general property taxation under article 10, section 1 except property used for a municipal, educational, literary, scientific, religious, or charitable purpose.” – Ind Dept of Revenue v Felix, et al, 571 N.E.2d 287, 1991 - I brought this issue to your attention in the past. If you’ve done anything with it, I’m unaware of it. - I wrote to various officials in State government about this. Generally, I was ignored. Ralph Foley did respond. He said that abolishing the ‘inventory tax’ would NOT cause a shift in taxation towards residential property owners. Foley also said that there was an amendment on the ballot to “remove the constitutional question.” - Thus, the media and the legislature sold this amendment to the public as a means to exempt their residential property tax. Not many people actually READ the language, which, while positively abolishing ‘inventory taxes’, gave the GA leeway with the word ‘may’ concerning exempting residential property taxes. - In other words, our government was in direct violation of our (then) Constitution for at least 2 years BEFORE the amendment was ratified in November 2004. - Back in July 2007, I wrote to you about an article authored by Kevin M. Brinegar, Pres, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and Patrick J. Kiely, Pres, Indiana Mfg Assoc, titled “Setting therecord straight on businesses and property taxes”. LINK: http://www.tribstar.com/opinion/local_story_209220831.html - In this article, these two gentleman made this remark in the 5th paragraph, "Further, the business community accepted other taxes in 2002 in return for the repeal of the inventory tax, which now comprises only 4 percent of the statewide property tax levy." - I wrote to these gentleman, but never received a response. I also sent this to you on 30 July 2007. I suppose this wasn’t worthy of investigation, as I never heard anything from you, nor heard anything on your show. - I’m certain that your listeners would like to know what taxes the business community “accepted” in return for the repeal of the inventory tax. Sure sounds like back-door deal making to me. - I’ve also informed you that there are those in our GA who wish to amend Article 8 (Education), and REPEAL the only listing of property taxation for the support of the common schools. Yep, you guessed it, “Taxes on the property of corporations…” – Art 8, Section 2. - There is ample evidence that there is a movement to grant all manner of exemptions and repeals of taxation in the favor of business, while shifting these taxes to residential homeowners. “Business” is a creature of the State. “Business” has no inherent rights, as do real, living, breathing human beings. Yet our government goes out of its way to give all manner of deferential treatment to these “creatures of the State”, and shaft the human beings (aka residential property owners). - But, HEY! It’s only our Constitution we’re talking about, right. And your listeners all know how you feel about the Constitution. - Abdul, I approve that you dig into these issues. However, you really need to stop going into attack mode when your callers mention our Constitution. And we’re really tired of your “File a lawsuit” responses. Why should We The People have to file lawsuits to get our elected lawbreakers to follow their oath to support and defend our Constitution? Yet they sit around and dream up methods to perform end-runs around the language and intent of our Constitution. - As your buddy Randall Shepard says, “The words of the Constitution are presumed to have been carefully chosen so that each word has a meaning.” -- 571 N.E.2d 287, 1991 - Robert Cole (Robert-NW Side Abdul, surely you’re not surprised by the clear deference given to business, are you? Let’s take a stroll down memory lane.
-
Back in 2002, the General ASSembly (GA) began ‘phasing out’ the so-called inventory tax. This was clearly unconstitutional. There are also Indiana court cases that say so. For example, see State Board of Tax Comm. v Key Motor Corp., 404 N.E.2d 52, (1980). Quoting from that Appellate decision:
-
“Thus, the Legislature does not have the authority at all to exempt so-called inventory personal property.”
-
Another decision, authored by your buddy Randall Shepard, had this to say:
-
“Rather than overturning the Lutz determination that the tax was an excise tax, the Wright court simply agreed with the Lutz Dissenters’ approach in finding that the legislature could not exempt any property from uniform and equal general property taxation under article 10, section 1 except property used for a municipal, educational, literary, scientific, religious, or charitable purpose.” – Ind Dept of Revenue v Felix, et al, 571 N.E.2d 287, 1991
-
I brought this issue to your attention in the past. If you’ve done anything with it, I’m unaware of it.
-
I wrote to various officials in State government about this. Generally, I was ignored. Ralph Foley did respond. He said that abolishing the ‘inventory tax’ would NOT cause a shift in taxation towards residential property owners. Foley also said that there was an amendment on the ballot to “remove the constitutional question.”
-
Thus, the media and the legislature sold this amendment to the public as a means to exempt their residential property tax. Not many people actually READ the language, which, while positively abolishing ‘inventory taxes’, gave the GA leeway with the word ‘may’ concerning exempting residential property taxes.
-
In other words, our government was in direct violation of our (then) Constitution for at least 2 years BEFORE the amendment was ratified in November 2004.
-
Back in July 2007, I wrote to you about an article authored by Kevin M. Brinegar, Pres, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and Patrick J. Kiely, Pres, Indiana Mfg Assoc, titled “Setting therecord straight on businesses and property taxes”.
LINK: http://www.tribstar.com/opinion/local_story_209220831.html
-
In this article, these two gentleman made this remark in the 5th paragraph, “Further, the business community accepted other taxes in 2002 in return for the repeal of the inventory tax, which now comprises only 4 percent of the statewide property tax levy.”
-
I wrote to these gentleman, but never received a response. I also sent this to you on 30 July 2007. I suppose this wasn’t worthy of investigation, as I never heard anything from you, nor heard anything on your show.
-
I’m certain that your listeners would like to know what taxes the business community “accepted” in return for the repeal of the inventory tax. Sure sounds like back-door deal making to me.
-
I’ve also informed you that there are those in our GA who wish to amend Article 8 (Education), and REPEAL the only listing of property taxation for the support of the common schools. Yep, you guessed it, “Taxes on the property of corporations…” – Art 8, Section 2.
-
There is ample evidence that there is a movement to grant all manner of exemptions and repeals of taxation in the favor of business, while shifting these taxes to residential homeowners. “Business” is a creature of the State. “Business” has no inherent rights, as do real, living, breathing human beings. Yet our government goes out of its way to give all manner of deferential treatment to these “creatures of the State”, and shaft the human beings (aka residential property owners).
-
But, HEY! It’s only our Constitution we’re talking about, right. And your listeners all know how you feel about the Constitution.
-
Abdul, I approve that you dig into these issues. However, you really need to stop going into attack mode when your callers mention our Constitution. And we’re really tired of your “File a lawsuit” responses. Why should We The People have to file lawsuits to get our elected lawbreakers to follow their oath to support and defend our Constitution? Yet they sit around and dream up methods to perform end-runs around the language and intent of our Constitution.
-
As your buddy Randall Shepard says, “The words of the Constitution are presumed to have been carefully
chosen so that each word has a meaning.” — 571 N.E.2d 287, 1991
-
Robert Cole (Robert-NW Side

]]> By: Proud Indy Resident http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html/comment-page-1#comment-7662 Proud Indy Resident Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:41:13 +0000 http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html#comment-7662 JON G- By the way, when you say "Remember November" you're referring to the election where you voted out the person who proposed getting rid of the township assessors 4 years ago. So exactly what are you trying to remember? JON G-

By the way, when you say “Remember November” you’re referring to the election where you voted out the person who proposed getting rid of the township assessors 4 years ago.

So exactly what are you trying to remember?

]]> By: Proud Indy Resident http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html/comment-page-1#comment-7661 Proud Indy Resident Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:39:49 +0000 http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html#comment-7661 As I wrote a few days ago, but went unacknowledged by Abdul-Melyssa-Bart Lies-Indy U and the anti-everything crowd... Q: How much did the township assessors cost us? A: $4 billion. Q: Who was the first person to recommend getting rid of the township assessors - both Democrats and Republicans - 4 years ago? A: Bart Peterson. Q: Who blocked the elimination of the township assessors in the state legislature in 2005, 2006 and 2007? A: Mike Young, Phil Hinkle, Brian Bosma, Mike Delph, Pat Miller and Jim Merritt. Q: Who went out of his way to go to the mat for township assessors in the 2007 session? A: One person and one person only: Jim Merritt, campaign chairman of Ballard for Mayor. Q: How much did the township trustees (which Bill Crawford did try to protect) cost us? A: Probably tens of millions, but not $4 billion. Comments??? As I wrote a few days ago, but went unacknowledged by Abdul-Melyssa-Bart Lies-Indy U and the anti-everything crowd…

Q: How much did the township assessors cost us?
A: $4 billion.

Q: Who was the first person to recommend getting rid of the township assessors – both Democrats and Republicans – 4 years ago?
A: Bart Peterson.

Q: Who blocked the elimination of the township assessors in the state legislature in 2005, 2006 and 2007?
A: Mike Young, Phil Hinkle, Brian Bosma, Mike Delph, Pat Miller and Jim Merritt.

Q: Who went out of his way to go to the mat for township assessors in the 2007 session?
A: One person and one person only: Jim Merritt, campaign chairman of Ballard for Mayor.

Q: How much did the township trustees (which Bill Crawford did try to protect) cost us?
A: Probably tens of millions, but not $4 billion.

Comments???

]]> By: Jon G http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html/comment-page-1#comment-7647 Jon G Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:12:29 +0000 http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html#comment-7647 WHAT!! The games must stop. These people are idiots messing with OUR money and they aren't even smart enough to know when to shut up. - REMEMBER NOVEMBER WHAT!! The games must stop. These people are idiots messing with OUR money and they aren’t even smart enough to know when to shut up.
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REMEMBER NOVEMBER

]]> By: Red Headed Step-Child http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html/comment-page-1#comment-7642 Red Headed Step-Child Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:00:20 +0000 http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html#comment-7642 PS: Sen. Young says that the new-found $4 BILLION windfall will only result in @ 6% reductions to SOME residential bills. PS:
Sen. Young says that the new-found $4 BILLION windfall will only result in @ 6% reductions to SOME residential bills.

]]> By: Red Headed Step-Child http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html/comment-page-1#comment-7641 Red Headed Step-Child Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:53:23 +0000 http://www.indianabarrister.com/archives/2008/03/a_simple_question.html#comment-7641 If I were to make a mistake involving a fraction of that amount, certain parts of my anatomy would be served to me on toast. If I were to make a mistake involving a fraction of that amount, certain parts of my anatomy would be served to me on toast.

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