With all the news on property taxes at the legislature and the upcoming transfer of power from Frank Anderson to Greg Ballard regarding IMPD as well as all the other things going on around town and trying to balance a very active personal life, I’ve been pretty busy as of late.  So I have to […]

It looks like Congress and the White House have worked out a deal to help stimulate the economy by being considerate enough to give you back your hard-earned money.  But before you get too excited over this economic “stimulus” package you should realize that it isn’t all that much.  Individuals who pay income taxes get $600, […]

For the past few weeks Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson and Mayor Greg Ballard have been in “talks” over who should control the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. A hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday on an ordinance that transfers control. The Mayor and Sheriff have maintained a very civil public front, even going so far […]

My anti-property tax friends are on the warpath these days over a lack of a repeal of property taxes.  They’ve listed a litany of complaints about the current system, but one minor point of constitutional law I submit to you they are somewhat misguided.  They argue that Article One,  Section 22 of the Indiana Constitution forbids […]

Indiana lawmakers spent a lot of time dealing with property taxes on Tuesday. In the House, lawmakers dealt with dozens of amendments to Governor Mitch Daniels’ plan for tax relief. The Governor has always said he’s accept amendments as long as they achieve his goals of short-term relief, long-term reform, changing the assessment system. Lawmakers […]

There’s an old saying that two things you don’t want to see made are laws and sausage.  Today the Indiana House of Representatives are going to meet as a “committee of the whole” (that means all 100 members will be in the same room)  and offer up amendments to Governor Mitch Daniels’ property tax reform […]

(I originally wrote this piece 12 years ago. I always feel a need to reprint it as we mark Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Thanks for indulging me.) Recently I had a conversation with a black friend of mine and she told me something I found was a bit disturbing. We were arguing over […]

For my friends who were hoping Senate Joint Resolution 8 would be their last best hope for the repeal of property taxes, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, it ain’t gonna happen. The Senate Republican Caucus voted 2-to-1 Thursday against moving SJR-8 to the floor for a full vote. The problem most […]

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 […]

The President is going to speak at about noon today on the state of the economy.   He’ll likely call for tax cuts and an economic stimulus package to help the faltering economy avoid recession.  I honestly don’t think recessions and slowdowns are all that bad.  They have a way of eliminating waste and inefficiencies.  Somebody […]