Published: October 20, 2009 12:05 am      

Letters to the editor - Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009

Attend discussion on state tax caps

Citizens United for Tax Relief is hosting a “property tax caps discussion panel” on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Kokomo Event Center, 1500 N. Reed Road.

The purpose of the discussion panel is to better inform Howard County residents about the constitutional property tax caps in Senate Joint Resolution 1. The legal language of SJR 1 and a digest explaining the constitutional property tax caps are included in a handout that will be given to every discussion panel attendee.

The discussion panel will include opening and closing comments by state Sen. Jim Buck, state Rep. Jacque Clements and state Rep. Ron Herrell, with audience questions in between. There will be an even-handed and balanced presentation of facts on how the property tax caps will affect both those who pay and spend property taxes. The primary purpose of the discussion panel is to help attendees get the facts they need to decide for themselves if the constitutional property tax caps are a good thing.

SJR 1 must pass the state House of Representatives again next year so voters statewide can decide by referendum on Nov. 2, 2010, if the property tax caps are included in the state constitution. If the referendum passes, the property tax caps will become a permanent part of the Indiana Constitution where they cannot be changed by the General Assembly or court challenge.

It is hoped that many homeowners will attend the Kokomo discussion panel so the meeting will not be overwhelmed by the highly motivated single-interest groups that do not want the SJR 1 referendum to go before the voters next year.

Aaron Smith, Lebanon

Edison’s beliefs ring true today

In going through my deceased mother’s papers and other items belonging to her, I ran across this quote from one of our most famous citizens:

“There is far more danger in a public monopoly than there is in a private monopoly, for when a government goes into business it can always shift its losses to the taxpayer. The government never really goes into business, for it never makes ends meet, and that is the first requisite of business. It just mixes a little business with a lot of politics, and no one ever gets a chance to find out what is really going on.”

Thomas Edison said that. I thought to myself, how true this is today!

Dick Allen, Kokomo

Does Burton back residents or self?

On Oct. 17, the Indianapolis Star reported U.S. Rep. Dan Burton has raised just $89,893 for his re-election. And just $12,500 of that came from Hoosiers. That’s only 14 percent!

Where did the other 86 percent come from? Where did the other $77,393 come from? Who does Burton represent? Follow the money!

Vote for challenger Dr. John McGoff, the “Doctor-Man.” Fire incumbent Dan Burton, the “Dollar-Man.”

Patrick E. Harvey, Peru