As a senior citizen who usually votes for the Republican candidate, I am now particularly alarmed at what I see happening in our state legislature. Most alarming is the cavalier attitude towards the voters by the Republican majority and specifically William Ruppel of District 22 in regards to disregarding district constituents on issues, like increasing the sales tax to 7 percent, selling the toll road, and going to daylight-saving time.
Let's look at the sales tax increase to 7 percent. We were sold this on the offset strategy of reduced property taxes. Hello! This sounds like the typical "bait and switch" tactics of a dishonest used car salesman. I am still waiting for my property tax reduction, and now we hear we may lose the homestead exemption. Dear friends, remember that even if your property taxes go down temporarily, they then can go up later with other increases or reassessment. But have you ever heard of a sales tax coming down?
The toll road has been sold. Are you telling us, the voters of Indiana, that we cannot run the toll road as good as foreign interests? Hello again! The rates have already increased. And now we learn that part of the deal with the foreign interest toll road buyers is that our state of Indiana cannot make any capital improvements on U.S. 20, U.S. 30 or U.S. 6, and now get this, as that might compete unfairly with the toll road. Surprise and ouch! Now what's next? We hear the Hoosier Lottery, the state park system, and the state prisons are up for bid and sale to outside contractors. Are you concerned yet?
Daylight-saving time has been a bust. Read some of the articles regarding the costs just to keep changing the clocks in schools and public buildings. Indiana for years and years got along just fine without daylight-saving time. You, the Indiana voters, told your representatives "no" and then they still voted for it, with even some promising they never would. But they did. My grandchildren had to wait until 10:10 for the fireworks this year. They usually are in bed by 9 p.m. at the latest and it is still light out. Daylight-saving time is a joke and most Indiana folks know it, having fun changing those clocks. Before DST, Indiana was uniquely positioned in Middle America and we didn't change those clocks and we didn't care what the rest of the country thought. Not anymore.
What you have in Indianapolis is a state legislature run amok, with arrogant, long-term, incumbent politicians, most with PAC money flowing to them from outside their home districts that have lost touch with Indiana voters. Most get lucrative per diems, and additional money for special committee meetings. Bill Ruppel, District 22, looked some of us in the face and told us he would never vote for daylight-saving time. Hello again and again. To borrow an old phrase, "When the head nods in Indianapolis, the tail wags in Wabash and Koscuisko counties." Governor Daniels is on a mission, and saying, "We know better than you and you voters be darned." And all the tails wag, even in District 22.
We have a choice in November, regardless of party. Hey, Indiana voters, don't be afraid to split that ballot. Send a message regardless of party affiliation to these "rubber stampers," that we as Indiana citizens still have a voice. As Will Rogers use to say, "Vote the bums out."
Don Walker
Syracuse, via e-mail
Editor's Note: The Indiana toll road was not sold, it was leased. Indiana still owns it. The rate increases were scheduled before the lease and became part of the lease agreement.
