I would like to express my response to Bill Ruppel's letter to the editor in which he announces his support for the Kernan-Shepherd bill.If put into law, parts of this study will, beyond any doubt, take us to state control of local government. The study will eliminate not certain government actions, or jurisdictions, but whole government structures, so when the new is worse than the old, there will not be any way to go back. It will be a one-way trip.
The state legislature has already shown its rabid desire to control local government. Look at the number of bills that have passes each session that are applicable to towns of a certain population, or in a certain place, or of a certain type.
It is true that there will be parts of the bill that will not take this kind of drastic action: There will be an introduction part, a definitions part and a signature part. The meat of the report is highly suspect. Remember when we had the best school system in the world? Now we have big schools, and this report wants to make them bigger. Large schools are making a good education impossible for many of our children. We need to revert back to the schools in every town and village. This is but one example of what must be stopped.
I also understand that there are some who thought that township assessors were no longer necessary. Look beyond that. The township assessor question was never addressed as a stand-alone issue. It was then and now remains the turning of the back door's knob. Indianapolis is in our county courthouse and Daniels and his crew only want more control of our counties and towns.
Ruppel remains a Daniels' minion. He is saying he will continue to do Daniels bidding by supporting the Kernan-Shepherd bill. Look at the history of the last four years: Ruppel proves he is unfit to serve our District 22.
One last thought: The problem is in our state government, not our local government. These problems have been created by our state government. Remember the people in your township will answer their own phone. Except for during an election year, have Daniels or Ruppel listened to us? Believe me, if they are re-elected, they will not listen to us after the election.
