Casting Indiana's Progress

The 2008 legislative session came to a close Friday with the passage of the property tax reform plan. The House passed HB 1001 with a vote of 82-17 and SJR 1 with a vote of 79-20. House Republicans stood firm with Senate colleagues and accomplished the main pillars of the House Republicans’ “Standards for Success:” Immediate Relief, Local Spending Controls, 1%, 2%, 3% caps, and state takeover of levies. House Minority Leader Brian Bosma discusses the details of the plan and more.

House and Senate Republicans joined yesterday to emphasize their support for permanent property tax reform, contained within House Bill 1001 and Senate Joint Resolution 1. Rep. Jeff Espich discusses the agreement, announced at a joint gathering of the two General Assembly Republican caucuses. The plan gives taxpayers statewide an immediate 30-percent cut in their homestead property taxes, and it phases in circuit-breakers over the next two years. It also endorses the permanent constitutional caps called for in Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Rep. Bill Friend, House Minority Floor Leader, wishes former Governor Dr. Otis R. Bowen Birthday. Governor Bowen, the father of property tax reform in Indiana, celebrated his 90th birthday on Tuesday. Rep. Friend also discusses the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 1, which contains the proposed constitutional property tax caps. House Republicans supported the measure despite the addition of an ill-conceived income tax-based cap, due to the fact that it is the sole remaining chance to enact permanent property tax reform this session. House Republicans have pledged to work to remove the income-based cap in the final two weeks of session.

Rep. Jerry Torr reviews the heated developments that dominated the discussion of Senate Bill 345, the illegal immigration bill. House Republicans were disappointed because the majority Democrats unreasonably denied them the opportunity to add amendments to the bill, which contained measures dealing with incorrect classification of employees. House Democrats refused Republicans the opportunity to offer amendments to toughen sanctions against employers who hire illegal immigrants and to prohibit most state benefits to illegal immigrants.

Rep. Matt Bell discusses his bill to create a youth advisory council for the General Assembly. The bill also establishes youth advisory councils for municipalities. Rep. Eric Koch discusses the implementation of a courthouse preservation initiative.

The House Recognizes Tony Stewart for his Outstanding Accomplishments in Racing as he receives the Brickyard Championship Ring for winning the 2007 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Former Rep. Richard Mangus died Monday at age 77, and is remembered by his colleagues. He served District 21 from 1972 to 2004.

Permanent property tax caps, contained in House Joint Resolution 1, are knocked down after House Democrats refuse to hear the bill. House Republicans remain committed to these caps as bills come over from the Senate. Tackling illegal immigration begins to take center stage in the form of Senate Bill 335.

Gov. Daniels’ amended property tax reform bill passes out of the House in a 93-1 vote. House Republicans discuss the importance of the bill, and express optimism that the bill can provide true property tax relief despite a few concerns over some amended portions of the proposal.

House Republicans react to the governor’s State of the State address and the unprecedented path the property tax reform bill took later in the week. The bill includes the full content of the governor’s property tax plan and will be debated in the House starting on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Indiana House Republicans have formulated a comprehensive plan to tackle Indiana’s current property tax crisis. The caucus is the first in the state to declare an ultimate goal of ending the homestead property tax.

House Republicans renew their call for immediate relief for Hoosier property taxpayers, proposing a $200 million relief plan they hope will serve as a basis for agreement and action in a special session of the General Assembly.

The House Republican Caucus closed the 2007 legislative session standing firm for Hoosier property taxpayers and voting against the flawed biennial budget bill. Although they were not able to pass their ideal version of the budget, they were still successful on a number of issues included in their 2007 legislative agenda.

House Republican Leader Brian Bosma and his colleagues are concerned that the Indiana Legislature has not reached conclusions on a number of imperative issues, including property tax relief, a balanced budget, and health care for the uninsured. Meanwhile, job creation grows across the state as Rep. Bill Davis breaks ground on a new Tomasco auto supply parts plant in Winchester

House Republicans are disappointed that the House Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee defeated the Marriage Protection Amendment, setting back the constitutional amendment process. The amendment was written to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Representative Jeff Espich, the Ranking Minority Member of the Ways and Means Committee, unveils the Local Government Finance Reform Plan to provide immediate property tax relief for Hoosiers. House Republicans call on their Democrat counterparts in the House to work with a greater sense of urgency for Hoosier taxpayers and pass key legislation before April’s deadline.