Indiana ballots questions - discuss

[bloom]

Constitutional questions on the ballot
• Public question No. 1: Shall Article 10, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to allow the General Assembly to make certain property exempt from property taxes, including (1) a homeowner's primary residence; (2) personal property used to produce income; and (3) inventory?
• Public question No. 2: Shall Article 6, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to allow the General Assembly to establish a uniform date for the beginning of the terms of the county offices of clerk of the circuit court, auditor, recorder, treasurer, sheriff, coroner, and surveyor?
• Public question No. 3: Shall Article 5, Section 10 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to specify: (1) which state official acts as governor when the office of governor and the office of lieutenant governor are both vacant; and (2) the deadline for the General Assembly to meet when either the House or the Senate cannot assemble a quorum within forty-eight (48) hours after both offices become vacant?

http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/188092-6283-098.html

[Felix Mala]

1. 'Certain Property' is the key

What bugs me about this question is that I have a pretty good idea who will get the exemptions. As a Harrison Ullman used to say, most of the goodies in Indiana are parceled out to Hoosiers with names like Inc. and Co.

[salin]

2. looks to open up even more regressive taxation in the future

remember the increase in the sales tax? Look to more of that if we let the barn yard open on this one - the "tax cut" (but hike elsewhere because we like to spend more than the dems) happy GOP will use this to get rid of some taxes requiring more taxes elsewhere... who will get hit the most disproportionately? Those who can afford the least.

I see sharks behind that first initiative/proposition.

[Johnny 99]

3. OPPOSE NUMBER ONE

The school system in this state will be even more decimated without property taxes - this is a bullshit feel-good Republican measure to eliminate property taxes, period.

Number 2 - this would cut down on off-year elections. Eh, who gives a fuck.

Number 3 - Probably a good idea, but it needs to be done right, and, frankly, I like something that tells our legislature when to get off of their asses and meet.

[Piltdown13]

4. Just got back from moderating a voter info forum

And, surprisingly, all three party reps (Dem, Repub, Libertarian) were in favor of the first question. Although he didn't say it in exactly these words, I got the impression that the reason that at least the local Democratic party is supporting it is because they'd like to open up some flexibility in terms of how taxes are assessed. I'm guessing that they're confident that they would be able to prevent the really damaging stuff like abolishing all property tax completely in the General Assembly (after all, this measure doesn't abolish the taxes, it just gives the Assembly leave to try). It *does* make me nervous, though; I don't trust the motives of the Republicans on this issue.