Our Government at Work?

This week in MY FRIDAY COLUMN I take a look at some of the stuff that is going on with our state legislature.

OUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK


It seems like every week I see another list of things that the Indiana State Legislature is doing for us...


...Whether they are touting a smoking ban, that doesn’t ban smoking or creating a new taxing district that won’t raise taxes, our representatives have been very busy.  Especially if you consider patting themselves on the back as keeping busy.


The smoking ban that has been working its way through the halls of the Capitol Building has more holes in it than the filter of a Marlboro Light.  


If the health of our citizens was the concern when considering the smoking ban, then absolutely NO EXEMPTIONS  should be allowed.

Anything less than a comprehensive ban is a waste of time and of tax payer money.

When Louisville first tried to ban smoking, they tried to exempt Churchill Downs a judge overturned it and they were forced to pass a bill that banned smoking everywhere.

Another bill that has gotten some publicity is the creation of a new taxing district for the New Albany Floyd County Parks Department


I have no idea where this bill came from and why it is exclusive to Floyd County.

The problem with our City/County parks department is neither group thinks the other is paying its fair share.   There is no cooperation between the two different government bodies.  


I believe that New Albany and Floyd County could have tremendous parks facilities if their was at least a little cooperation between the city and the county.  I do not believe it the plan for a consolidated city/county government but if there was any reason for it this would be it

Another new taxing district that is being planned is a new “Regional Airport Authority” being proposed by Clark County’s own Ron Grooms, who reportedly represents Floyd County also

I know no one that uses Clark County's airport.  I cannot understand under what circumstances that Floyd County would benefit from being a part of a Regional Airport Authority.

Taxing the citizens of Floyd County so that the citizens of Clark County don’t have to pay as much seems unfair to most of the citizens that Mr. Grooms is suppose to represent

MYMANMITCH is on record as saying “…And you know, Those who use the facility paying for it is a pretty fair and time-tested policy.”  Of course he was talking about the Ohio River Bridges Project at the time, but wouldn't the same philosophy apply...

...So the “fiscally conservative” representatives that we sent to Indianapolis last November, aren’t actually raising taxes, they are just finding new ways to tax us.  They say the are all about smaller government but have found several new ways to make our government bigger.  Republicans control the entire Statehouse and have vowed to change the way government is run.  If these “changes’’ so far are indicative of what we can expect we are all in a heap of trouble.