GROWN FOLKS ARE TALKING
For those of you who may not be familiar with the above title, it is likely because you are low on melanin. “Grown folks are talking” is a euphemism from the Black lexicon usually directed at small children who try to butt into adult conversations and the parents have to tell them to go somewhere and sit down before they get hurt. Someone needs to direct that statement to the critics of the Governor Mitch Daniels’ property tax reform plan who have yet to bring one of their own to the table.
The Governor’s plan has four main components. Provide immediate relief, cap assessments, get local spending and borrowing under control and create a uniform system of assessments. Also he’d like to consolidate or eliminate some of the 2,600 units of local government in this state. The Governor has also made it clear that raising income taxes to property tax relief is basically a non-starter.
The Governor’s plan may not be perfect, but I have yet to see a better one. And I laugh at the critics who point out examples of how schools will be hurt and local governments will suffer, but haven’t unveiled a plan to that provides Hoosiers with permanent property tax relief while at the same time reduces the size and scope of the government that’s responsible for the tax increase in the first place.
They snipe and snicker, but bring nothing to the table but empty rhetoric and empty ideas. If you want to criticize, fine. A healthy debate and discussion about the largest issue facing this state is welcome and necessary. But if you have nothing to contribute to the dialogue, do everyone a favor and go somewhere and sit down. Grown folks are talking.
