To combat their failures, Fry said he will file legislation seeking an end to all corporate welfare in Indiana that will be considered when the Indiana General Assembly resumes its 2004 session in January.
"Starting today, you will hear legislators in both parties and the governor of this state tout the passage of Senate Bill 1 as the next step in providing the property tax relief that Indiana homeowners deserve," Fry said. "If you believe any of what they say, it is my sad duty to tell you that you are being hoodwinked.
"Senate Bill 1 will give the people of Indiana a chance to replay the nightmare that came to us in the form of the 2002 tax restructuring," the lawmaker continued. "Just as many Hoosiers have come to realize that tax restructuring was nothing more than a cover to benefit corporate Indiana, the people of this state will find out that Senate Bill 1 is nothing more of the same corporate welfare we've seen for years."
In both instances, Fry said tax relief that was advertised as benefitting homes, farms and businesses equally will turn out only to help corporations that respond by cutting jobs and relocating operations offshore in foreign countries.
"I will never believe that the Indiana General Assembly is serious about tax reform until we do something about the billions of dollars we provide in corporate welfare in this state," Fry said.
"We do little or nothing to help those who are less fortunate in our society, but state government bends over backward to give businesses and corporations every kind of break: tax abatements on their land, free access to infrastructure, training assistance and the right to pay virtually nothing in taxes," he noted. "All of these breaks add to the burden of the rest of us who pay property taxes.
"Even after the well runs dry and these companies are forced to face up to paying their fair share of the freight for local services like police and fire protection and schools, what do they do? Start looking elsewhere to locate their operations," Fry said. "Where does that leave our state and our communities? With empty buildings, people looking for work and a greater demand for public services that creates an even greater drain on state funds and generates higher property taxes."
Fry said his efforts to eliminate corporate welfare will give Hoosiers a clear opportunity to see which legislators favor the needs of homeowners and families in Indiana, adding, "This will provide them with the chance to see who really does care about cutting property taxes for homeowners, rather than hiding behind a sham like Senate Bill 1."