Bills, Bills, Bills
I’ve been glancing at some of the proposals being introduced in the Indiana General Assembly. Here are some of the more interesting ones.
SB 18 – Ban sending a text message while driving, says nothing about reading them.
SB 25 – Bans property owners from prohibiting firearms on their land if the weapon is locked in a vehicle. So much for private property rights.
SB 31 – Puts limits on the height of motorcycle handlebars; born to be mild.
SB 59 – Allows great-grandparents to visitation rights with great-grandchildren under certain circumstances. Great.
SB 68 – Allows Sunday motorcycle sales. Now if only I could get that for alcohol.
SB 95 – Bans smoking in public places. Haven’t we gone down this road already?
SB 111 – Not only bans texting while driving, but qualifies you for the habitual traffic violator status.
SB 118 – Allows Election Day alcohol sales. Now let’s see if drunk Hoosiers get better results than sober ones.
SB 163 – Confiscates the gaming winnings of individuals who owe back child support. The bright side of this is that you can get out of arrears in one slot machine pull if you’re lucky.
Having followed legislative bodies for more than 15 years I wonder sometimes what went down to make some these bills necessary, and then I realize I really don’t want to know.
January 4th, 2010 at 10:52 am
I like SB 4:
Homestead assessed value growth cap. Limits the annual increase in assessed value of a homestead to 5% unless: (1) ownership of the homestead changes during the year; or (2) the increase results from physical changes to the homestead.
And, SB 28:
Limit on property tax assessed value increases. Limits the annual increase in the gross assessed value of real property to 10% unless the increase results from a factor that would have increased the assessed value even if neither an annual assessment adjustment nor a general assessment applied.
Or, maybe HJR 1:
Circuit breakers and other property tax matters. Requires, for property taxes first due and payable in 2012 and thereafter, the general assembly to limit a taxpayer's property tax liability as follows: (1) A taxpayer's property tax liability on homestead property may not exceed 1% of the gross assessed value of the homestead property. (2) A taxpayer's property tax liability on other residential property may not exceed 2% of the gross assessed value of the other residential property. (3) A taxpayer's property tax liability on agricultural land may not exceed 2% of the gross assessed value of the property that is the basis for the determination of the agricultural land. (4) A taxpayer's property tax liability on other real property may not exceed 3% of the gross assessed value of the other real property. (5) A taxpayer's property tax liability on personal property may not exceed 3% of the gross assessed value of the taxpayer's personal property that is the basis for the determination of property taxes within a particular taxing district. Specifies that property taxes imposed after being approved by the voters in a referendum shall not be considered for purposes of calculating the limits to property tax liability under these provisions. Provides that in the case of a county for which the general assembly determines in 2008 that limits to property tax liability are expected to reduce in 2010 the aggregate property tax revenue that would otherwise be collected by all units and school corporations in the county by at least 20%, the general assembly may provide that property taxes imposed in the county to pay debt service or make lease payments for bonds or leases issued or entered into before July 1, 2008, shall not be considered for purposes of calculating the limits to property tax.
Any one of them would be a great way to HALT any possibility of economic growth! 6-8-11-14% increases–Yeah, that’s the ticket!
But, I love SJR 10:
Exempts homesteads from property taxation. This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly. (Yes it has. In 2006, when they unanimously voted to repeal property taxes on homesteads.)
January 4th, 2010 at 11:05 am
They needed a barn burner issue to take the place of sugar cream pie. Property tax reform, ethics reform, and redistricting aren't cutting it.
.
Speaking of barn burners, next time you have your liberal friends on for an early morning segment, book them for later segment. I need my blood pressure medicine fully absorbed to hear things like (paraphasing), “…thousands of white guys in D.C. protesting a black President…” The gentleman making that statement knew how to endear himself and his ideology to the statistical middle of our demographics about as tenderly as Rush Limbaugh. He'll get a few, but I would think it tough to get lots of additional followers with simplistic, venemous, racist trite – for any and all ideologies.
January 4th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Perhaps his quote should have been “…….thousands of freedom-loving Americans protesting their government-loving, socialist President…”
Re SB118: Don't liberals prefer drunk voters? Hell, without alcohol a Carson would never be elected.
January 4th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Your take on these bills was hilarious, Abdul. But your Tweet re: Kathy Davis is wayyyyyyy off base.
Not the part about her running or not. The part about her being our best chance. Precinct folks aren't in love with Melina, or Brian Williams, but good Lord they're so far ahead of anywhere Ballard is, the sunlight from his political planet won't hit them for a decade.
You're funny, Rico. Seriously. Drunk voters, and candidates, know no political boundaries. I still chuckle every time I see the video of Cottey going into the car lot, when his illegally-parked Camaro got towed. “You tell that c—sucker (owner of lot), he'd better call me in the morning, I'm Jack Cottey, the f—ing sheriff of this f—ing county.” All the while swerving while standing. And he's the one who advised the lot owner to install cameras in the common area.
Or Dennie Oxley Jr. being so drunk he tried to abnandon his, uh, young “friend” in the middle of the night, and later claiming he had legislative immunity from arrest.
Stupid is the flavor of the month in politics. Both sides. Add in some alcohol, and it's bingo-bango-bongo.
January 4th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Want to see something really funny? Watch Sen. Max Baucus, who's spearheading the government takeover of healthcare, on the Chamber floor last week drunk as hell. I guess someone needed to fill Teddy's shoes.
January 4th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
I wonder if Baucus assented to Teddy's stool at the Capital Bar upon Ted's death?
January 4th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Hmmm….about 131 bills for the Senate, and 4 from the House.
The Senators have way too much free time on their hands.
January 4th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
You're right, Rico. Baucus is a national disgrace. For the reason you cited, and for his whorish shepherding of the health care bill whilst cashing over $400K in health care campaign checks in the last three years.
Other Senate whores on this and other subjects: flip-flopping Sen. Lieberman, Sen. DeMint, Sen. Coburn, and any senator who's holding up one of the Senate-record 81 nomination holds or filibusters. That's right–regardless whether you agree with PRESIDENT Obama's nominations or other bills he favors, the Senate has set a record this year. Eighty-one filibusters or Senate “holds.” Shameful.
These tactics will be remembered.
January 5th, 2010 at 5:08 am
I agree TA. Anyone, and I mean anyone, the D's put up is going to have a huge advantage over Ballard. If there is a way Ballard can restore his image, I don't know how. He is so tained he's DOA for re-election.
January 5th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Yikes! Does that list of bills or “priorities,” best represent the deliberative credentials & resume's of our elected?
Jack's right about SJR10. In 2006, the GA voted unanimously to repeal property taxes on homes. It's good that SJR10 is back on the docket, but where are it's full cast of reliable sponsors?
New caps, what caps? So, citizens can depend on the same level of “oversight” & “compliance” with existing caps, like Article 13?
Farm Bureau had a booth at the 2007 IN State Fair, promoting the ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAXES. What happened to their once clear position on that issue?!? Perhaps they've been renamed as well & no one's noticed; something like Farmed Bureau.
January 5th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Sure, they'll be remembered–and appreciated. I'm sure your head's not still so deep in the sand to think President Obama's agenda is popular with the American public. If it wasn't for radical socialists, the profoundly-ignorant, and the chronically-dependent, this guy's approval would be in the low 30s. The last thing they want is for Obama to give his radical friends lifetime appointments to the bench.
You'll realize just who remembers, and what they remember, in November. I only hope and pray that the damage your friends Nancy and Harry have done can be reversed.
January 5th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Abdul is against SB 25? And you claim to be a Republican? I've even heard you describe yourself as conservative, but I just ain't gettin' that. You are to the left of every Republican in the Senate, and some Demoxcrats too. Your left of the overwhelming majority of Republicans in the House, and some Democrats too, but you still think of yourself as a Republican?
C'mon, you're only fooling yourself cuz nobody else is buyin' it. You don't have to be a Democrat, but you aren't even close to a Republican. Even Stevie Wonder can see that you're not a Republican. Is this like how you are a Muslim?
Its kinda hard to take your opinions on politics seriously when you don't even know what to call yourself. You don't also think you're white or tall do you? I know you think you're funny, but hey, looks aren't everything (in my case they are nothing, but still…a Republican?)
I'm a liberal and I have no problem with a gun locked in a car. What is the problem, it is locked in a car after all. Have you ever even seen or touched a real gun? It seems like you have a phobia. Were you afraid of Clarence Harmon's son sitting near you with a hi-capacity pistol? He had one on him every night in class. Others did too, but his was usually in the open. A Republican, you're not. Not even if you were standing next to Ted Kennedy with that goofy cigar of yours.
Sorry to razz ya, but when you open yourself up for public ridicule, you will be ridiculed.
Still love ya tho.
January 6th, 2010 at 12:26 am
Sure, they'll be remembered–and appreciated. I'm sure your head's not still so deep in the sand to think President Obama's agenda is popular with the American public. If it wasn't for radical socialists, the profoundly-ignorant, and the chronically-dependent, this guy's approval would be in the low 30s. The last thing they want is for Obama to give his radical friends lifetime appointments to the bench.
You'll realize just who remembers, and what they remember, in November. I only hope and pray that the damage your friends Nancy and Harry have done can be reversed.
January 6th, 2010 at 3:13 am
Abdul is against SB 25? And you claim to be a Republican? I've even heard you describe yourself as conservative, but I just ain't gettin' that. You are to the left of every Republican in the Senate, and some Demoxcrats too. Your left of the overwhelming majority of Republicans in the House, and some Democrats too, but you still think of yourself as a Republican?
C'mon, you're only fooling yourself cuz nobody else is buyin' it. You don't have to be a Democrat, but you aren't even close to a Republican. Even Stevie Wonder can see that you're not a Republican. Is this like how you are a Muslim?
Its kinda hard to take your opinions on politics seriously when you don't even know what to call yourself. You don't also think you're white or tall do you? I know you think you're funny, but hey, looks aren't everything (in my case they are nothing, but still…a Republican?)
I'm a liberal and I have no problem with a gun locked in a car. What is the problem, it is locked in a car after all. Have you ever even seen or touched a real gun? It seems like you have a phobia. Were you afraid of Clarence Harmon's son sitting near you with a hi-capacity pistol? He had one on him every night in class. Others did too, but his was usually in the open. A Republican, you're not. Not even if you were standing next to Ted Kennedy with that goofy cigar of yours.
Sorry to razz ya, but when you open yourself up for public ridicule, you will be ridiculed.
Still love ya tho.