SNAFU City

Mayor Bart Peterson is in a bit of a pickle. Late last year, he announced that the Colts would stay for 30 years with a new stadium that won't raise income, sales, or property taxes. HOORAY!! A new casino would be built downtown to pay for the stadium. Faster than you could say interception, new House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) shot that idea down, saying he wouldn't allow a new casino in Indy. Alternative ideas pitched by other GOP legislators involving gambling were also shot down. Instead, Sen. Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville) suggested a 1% tax on all services in Marion County. Taxation without representation indeed! Now, the governor has weighed in on how to finance the stadium/convention center expansion. Raise taxes!!

The governor has pitched the idea of a 1% food and beverage tax for seven of the eight surrounding counties to fund the stadium. When the current RCA Dome was built, a "temporary" 1% tax was enacted on restaurants to pay for the dome, with the tax to be eliminated when the dome was paid off. The interest rate must be horrible on the loan, because that tax is still here, over 20 years later.

Point is, nothing's changed that Republicans are in control. Citizens' tax dollars are still wasted, and the Libertarians are the still the only ones looking out for your life and your wallet.