Council President Monroe Gray (D) is using and abusing his "juice." Instead of being transparent (like a higher-profile politician should be), he's hiding behind administrative and bureaucratic BS designed to keep his sorry patoot in office, and unaccountable. Republicans introduced a proposal for an inquiry into his business dealings, and if there was a conflict of interest. The problem was the R's are the minority, and the vote failed on party lines. The matter was furthered on to an Ethics Board, which is stacked with Democrats.
Enter a new variable: Gray's personal attorney is also the Council's counsel, further intertwining the two.
Solution: Stealing a page from Abdul, there should be an inquiry board comprised of one or two of each party (R and D), and then a mutually agreed upon member (Mark Rutherford, where are you?). The board could come to a conclusion and then make recommendations to the Council as to how to proceed.
28 March 2007
Truth or Consequences??
A lot of hullabaloo is over SJR-7, and the voices are getting louder on both sides of the issue. Eric Miller, former Republican gubernatorial candidate and executive director of Advance America, led a rally in support of the amendment. On the other hand, businesses like Cummins and Lilly, two of Indiana's more prominent employers, are against the amendment because of the potential loss of employees due to the amendment.
The business aspect is that Cummins and Lilly both offer domestic partner benefits to gay couples, like married couples. If SJR-7 passes, those benefits could end, and those employees may choose to work somewhere else out of state with friendlier legislatures. Neither Cummins or Lilly want to lose their employees because of an unfriendly or "closed-minded" government.
Now that the private sector is voicing its opinion, the government should re-examine what the potential loss of revenue (ie: taxes) from people moving out of state because of SJR-7. The more Lillys that speak out about the amendment, citing loss of employees and taxes, the harder it would be for a smart goverment to pass it.
The business aspect is that Cummins and Lilly both offer domestic partner benefits to gay couples, like married couples. If SJR-7 passes, those benefits could end, and those employees may choose to work somewhere else out of state with friendlier legislatures. Neither Cummins or Lilly want to lose their employees because of an unfriendly or "closed-minded" government.
Now that the private sector is voicing its opinion, the government should re-examine what the potential loss of revenue (ie: taxes) from people moving out of state because of SJR-7. The more Lillys that speak out about the amendment, citing loss of employees and taxes, the harder it would be for a smart goverment to pass it.
27 March 2007
Flip-Flops Are for More Than Feet
They're for governors, too. Not My Man has done it again. He now states that there may not be enough money to pay for the I69 extension from Crane Naval Warfare Center south of Bloomington to Indianapolis. He says there may be tolls on it to cover costs. Only a year ago he stated that I69 would be toll-free from Indianapolis to Evansville due to the cash influx courtesy of Major Moves.
My friends, is this what you want to hear from your "conservative, smaller government" Republican governor??
My friends, is this what you want to hear from your "conservative, smaller government" Republican governor??
22 March 2007
A Touch of This, A Dash of That
Sorry for not posting that often, work has had me pick up some extra slack this past month. Here's what I've been able to see since then.
Driving While Entitled
Proof again that a little bit of celebrity will get you a lenient sentence. Citing "lack of evidence" (They forgot the .09 Breathalyzer), former Colt running back Dominic Rhodes got a suspended sentence and no probation on a plea deal from DUI to reckless driving. People I know who were pulled over on DUI for .09 are still doing probation four years later.
SJR-7 Update
Yesterday, Libertarian Mike Kole, along with City-County Councillors Scott Keller and JoAnne Sanders (R and D, respectively), held a press conference on the Statehouse steps protesting SJR-7, the gay marriage amendment. The General Assembly held hearings for several hours yesterday regarding the potential amendment that selectively removes individual choice for certain Hoosiers.
Dungy's Folly??
Recently, Colts coach Tony Dungy has been King Midas. However, he might have a little bit of tarnish on his hands after comments made at an Indiana Family Institute supporting SJR-7. Dungy risks being known as a hypocritical bigot, embracing being the first African American coach to lift the Lombardi Trophy, yet deny another minority their right to happiness. It is similar to the ban on interracial marriages because it's not "the Lord's will" (those are Dungy's words in support of SJR-7.)
Dungy's statements, Rhodes' pseudo-DUI, and an unpopular stadium plan at the expense of much-needed public safety might derail the city's hopes of hosting Super Bowl XLV.
Driving While Entitled
Proof again that a little bit of celebrity will get you a lenient sentence. Citing "lack of evidence" (They forgot the .09 Breathalyzer), former Colt running back Dominic Rhodes got a suspended sentence and no probation on a plea deal from DUI to reckless driving. People I know who were pulled over on DUI for .09 are still doing probation four years later.
SJR-7 Update
Yesterday, Libertarian Mike Kole, along with City-County Councillors Scott Keller and JoAnne Sanders (R and D, respectively), held a press conference on the Statehouse steps protesting SJR-7, the gay marriage amendment. The General Assembly held hearings for several hours yesterday regarding the potential amendment that selectively removes individual choice for certain Hoosiers.
Dungy's Folly??
Recently, Colts coach Tony Dungy has been King Midas. However, he might have a little bit of tarnish on his hands after comments made at an Indiana Family Institute supporting SJR-7. Dungy risks being known as a hypocritical bigot, embracing being the first African American coach to lift the Lombardi Trophy, yet deny another minority their right to happiness. It is similar to the ban on interracial marriages because it's not "the Lord's will" (those are Dungy's words in support of SJR-7.)
Dungy's statements, Rhodes' pseudo-DUI, and an unpopular stadium plan at the expense of much-needed public safety might derail the city's hopes of hosting Super Bowl XLV.
05 March 2007
Did You Know??
That was the way ESPN used to end their SportsCenter, comparing an athletic feat from the night before to something equally impressive, if not relatively obscure. My brother-in-law sent me an email today, and here is the meat and potatoes of it:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries, then
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him some more,
Tax him tillHe's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me
To my doom..."
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest expense
Inventory tax
Revenue Canada Interest Charges Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road usage taxes
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
Provincial Income Tax
Prov. Unemployment Tax
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone Prov. and local tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Utility TaxesVehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago!And our nation was the most prosperous in the world.We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world,and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.What happened?
Point is, government has grown that much in the past century and no one really noticed. How much more money can government take from its citizenry??
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries, then
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him some more,
Tax him tillHe's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me
To my doom..."
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest expense
Inventory tax
Revenue Canada Interest Charges Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road usage taxes
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
Provincial Income Tax
Prov. Unemployment Tax
Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone Prov. and local tax
Telephone usage charge tax
Utility TaxesVehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago!And our nation was the most prosperous in the world.We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world,and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.What happened?
Point is, government has grown that much in the past century and no one really noticed. How much more money can government take from its citizenry??
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