Property-tax reform missing in GOP plan

By Lesley Stedman Weidenbener
lstedman@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

INDIANAPOLIS -- House Republicans wrapped up their series of 12 pledges to voters yesterday without dealing with the issue of looming increases in property taxes.

Yesterday's pledge was a promise to approve a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

But nowhere in the GOP set of pledges -- which House Speaker Brian Bosma calls the most aggressive caucus agenda in his memory -- are there any ideas for holding the line on property-tax bills.

In fact, neither Republicans nor Democrats, who are battling to win back the majority in the Indiana House, have given voters any specific plan to lessen or eliminate a projected 15 percent to 19 percent increase in property taxes next year.

"It's a real crisis," House Minority Leader Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, said yesterday.

But it's not one for which his caucus has offered a solution either. Instead, Bauer proposes a series of hearings around the state to gather public input on the problem.

"We'll be open-minded about a solution," he said.

Republicans have just finished a series of so-called town hall meetings about a variety of issues, which Bosma said his caucus used to develop their series of pledges. But property taxes didn't make the list.

Read more on the property tax debate through the Louisville Courier-Journal.