Comments on: A FRIENDLY DISAGREEMENT

By: Really

Really — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:53:45 +0000

Abbie,

Regarding Mitch’s “I solved all of Indiana problems” political commercial.

I was at Giest Reservoir this past weekend. And guess who I saw walking across the water…Gov. Mitch Daniels. It was incredible. Then when he was done, he fed the masses with a few fish and a few loaves of bread. I wonder why he did not put this in his commercial?

By: Jon G

Jon G — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:54:03 +0000

This “property tax relief” is just history repeating itself. For decades our politicians have raised taxes with the promise of lowering the property tax. And as history has shown property taxes go right back up in a few years. Bottom line…we’re screwed. Same thing is going to happen again this time. The 1% percent cap is not a cap when your property values are inflated to make you pay more taxes. Proof positive is the Meridian-Kesslar neighborhod. My assessment has doubled since 2005, and this is in a down market. Point is they are going to get our money one way or another while calling it “relief.” Bill Styring’s solution is the real answer. It is the only way to keep government from telling us one thing (relief) and doing another (making us pay MORE taxes). And lets not forget that we are paying taxes on an unrealized gain. Do any of you pay taxes on stocks you own? Than why do we pay taxes on a value that is not realized and one that is arbitrary at best?

By: Think Again

Think Again — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:07:42 +0000

My. Myers:

Your rewriting of history is convenient, but allowable, I suppose…partisanship is rampant this time of year, and it’s to be expected.

But nowhere–not even on the thin-air of McCainville–can you escape this fact: our sales tax was increased from 6 cents to 7 cents per dollar.

That is a huge blow to anyone buying big-ticket items: appliances, cars…

It is a devastating blow to the economy. Every sales tax increase in Indiana history–every single stinking one–has not helped the economy, and was not ever repealed.

I do give Mitch credit for trying to cut the state bureaucracy.

But this myth of no new taxes is just insane. I might even agree that as taxes go–a pure consumption tax (sales), with food and drugs exempted, is probablky the least harmful short-term.

But it IS a tax increase.

By: David Myers

David Myers — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:38:31 +0000

With the new ads you see on TV from Mitch Danials campaign there is some disagreement with the ditch Mitch crowd about taxes.

Yes we did have some tax raises:

Increase of the cigarette tax: To provide health care to children. Now I don’t know why they are blasting Mitch for this. I personally did not like this tax increase.

His advocacy of local income tax increases: Bart Peterson spend $300,000 to get this tax passed. As far as Danials backing it, it would take more pressure off the state to bail cities out. Of course none of use were for this tax increase.

Raising of the sales tax by 17% : It was my belief that most citizens was for this tax raise to level off property taxes. It will take sometime, about three years, to see what effect this will have on your property tax relief. But in the end, by 2011, you will see property taxes go down to the 1% cap. That is if the property tax bill stands as it is today.

By: Really

Really — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:18:43 +0000

What does the Indiana State Constitution say about the responsiblilities of the the executive branch (govenor)? Just curious.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:49:00 +0000

i’m a long time democrat and i will be voting for governor daniels. is his personality and style easy to like? no. do i think he is as folksy as he wants us to believe with the ballcaps and all? no.

does he have the state squarely in the black while allthose bordering us are broke? yes. even though he was one of the many reasons for the fiasco, did he step up on property taxes? yes. are services better than they had been in years? absolutely.

i have no idea what change jlt wants that would improve the state right now. the nation is in a recession but mitch is keeping indiana stable.

i suppose if you really, really hate daylight savings time, that’s a problem. on the other hand, i was walking with my children through the neighborhood at 8:00 pm tonight watching my neighbors be productive in their yards. love it. thanks governor.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:17:20 +0000

Mitchie the Kid has done a fabulous job and deserves another four years. If leasing the toll road was so bad WHY are other states looking at doing the same thing?
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The first comment from captain obvious says it all.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 13 May 2008 23:40:14 +0000

In November we will see what a great job Mitch is doing. His ad is B.S. just my opinion

By: Concerned Taxpayer & Citizen

Concerned Taxpayer & Citizen — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:59:41 +0000

BrianK
May 13th, 2008 at 11:52 am Which put the state in the red until Mitch took over.
Except for, you know, when it was running a surplus under Evan Bayh, and when it was running the largest budget surplus in state history under O’Bannon.
_________________________________
Think Again
May 13th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
The Purdue budget figures do not take into account some basic economic facts:
The state delayed or sped-up some payments, particularly to school corporations, to balance books. Regularly. Over about nine years.
And, income from the Federal Highway Trust Fund is not considered in that reconciliation, but, the expenditures are. And they were huge.
But then, Purdue folks never were budget geniuses.

What world do you liberals live in?

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:28:27 +0000

Yes, the state was delaying significantly payments to the schools.
.
Do you have a link to more accurate numbers? The key number seems to be the bottom line which was (for all intents and purposes) cash on hand. My recollection was that those number, if not exactly right, were trending in the right direction.