Senate GOP: Daniels’ speech should help ‘build
public, political support’ for major tax reforms
Caucus committed to cutting, capping property taxes,
letting voters decide Constitutional amendment
(STATEHOUSE) -- Senate Republican leaders say Gov. Mitch Daniels’ State of the State address should help them continue to build “strong public and political support” needed this session for major property tax reforms to be enacted.
“We are committed to substantially cutting property taxes, capping them and letting the citizens vote on Constitutional safeguards for taxpayers,” Senate President Pro Tempore David Long (R-Ft. Wayne) said following Daniels’ speech Tuesday night. “We will move swiftly to reduce the cost of local government and fix the broken assessment system. At the same time, we will continue discussing and debating ways of eliminating property taxes on homes now or in the future.”
State Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette), Tax and Fiscal Policy committee member said, “I think that the governor’s speech tonight was right on track in asking legislators to continue to focus on working hard and working together and accomplishing the largest property tax reform in the history of Indiana,” Alting said. “The people have said to all of us that they want permanent property tax reductions and like the governor, I believe we will accomplish it this session.”
Long said Daniels’ reforms mirror those authored by GOP senators. “The governor has offered an excellent framework and articulated a willingness to build on this as a foundation. Republican senators will continue to work with the administration and colleagues from both chambers and both sides of the aisle to provide lasting relief and reform for Hoosiers.”
Senators are quickly advancing a series of bills that include:
- Requiring public referendums on costly government projects;
- Developing and sharing standardized school construction plans;
- Controlling local government spending and debt;
- Shifting remaining K-12 and child welfare costs from property taxpayers to the state budget; and
- Streamlining and modernizing assessments at the county level.
“The governor laid out a bold vision for Indiana tonight. He highlighted our many successes -- leading the Midwest in areas including job growth, tax reform, and telecommunications reform. By challenging us to change, the Governor has helped to create one of the most attractive climates for business investment and job growth in the United States,” said State Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield). “Indiana has become a leader and the governor laid out a vision tonight to encourage us to become a leader in property tax reform.”
“Gov. Daniels laid out a bipartisan challenge that it’s time to change the way we tax in the state of Indiana; not only to make our tax system more fair and more responsive, but also to ensure that it never again grows at a rate which threatens Hoosiers ability to own and enjoy their homes,” Hershman, a Tax and Fiscal Policy committee member, said.
Long said lawmakers will continue to work diligently on other issues important to Hoosiers, including the economy and jobs, healthcare, education, illegal immigration and crime.
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Sen. Alting represents Senate District 22, which includes a portion of Tippecanoe County.
Sen. Hershman represents Senate District 7, which includes Carroll, Clinton, Howard Jasper, Tippecanoe and White counties.
Senator Hershman Audio Clip
Senator Alting Audio Clip
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