Sen. Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville) may be planning to shove a backroom-negotiated tax plan through his Senate Appropriations Committee this week, which he chairs, to take millions of your tax dollars and give them to the Marion County Capital Improvement Board. The CIB, in turn, will give away the money to the billionaire Irsays and Simons. It's probably a waste of time to contact Kenley because he knows more than us and doesn't need our advice. There are other committee members you may want to contact; however, I will caution that you typically don't get appointed to the Appropriations Committee unless you tow the leadership line on these kinds of issues. Note that Indianapolis' Pat Miller and Teresa Lubbers, both of whom are on the Commitee, were asked to commit to opposing a CIB bailout during last year's election and both declined to do so. You can bet the Senate leadership has assured the Simons and Irsays they'll get what they want. Don't be fooled by the fancy footwork Kenley will put on for the public to make you believe the Simons and Irsays are actually sharing in any of the costs. You'll pay. You always pay. And you will always pay as long as people like Sen. Kenley are making the decision. Other members include:
Sen. Gary Dillon (R-Pierceton)
Sen. Phil Boots (R-Crawfordsville)
Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Monticello)
Sen. Teresa Lubbers (R-Indianapolis)
Sen. Pat Miller (R-Indianapolis)
Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen)
Sen. Thomas Wyss (R-Ft. Wayne)
Sen. John Broden (D-South Bend)
Sen. Lindel Hume (D-Princeton)
Sen. Earline Rogers (D-Gary)
Sen. Karen Tallian (D-Portage)
4 comments:
Do you know off hand how many of them get campaign contributions from Simon and or the Pacers?
Kenley has taken a few thousand dollars from Irsay over the years. The Senate Democratic leadership is completely on board with the bailout. People who don't follow politics closely are unaware of how much influence the Simons have over the Indiana Democratic Party. They have essentially purchased it. Nobody can speak out against the Simons within that party without being banished. The Senate Democratic Leader, Vi Simpson, has relied heavily on the Simons for fundraising cash over the years. The Republicans, in effect, have a pass on this issue because they know they won't get beat up by the Democrats for voting for what would otherwise be a deal-breaker with voters. Over in the House, Brian Bosma won't buck the CIB bailout because his law firm will be punished and lose legal work if he stands in its way. Because Bosma won't make it a partisan issue to preserve his law firm's billings, the Democrats come out the big winner. The issue will only be effectively used to beat House Republicans. I think that any Republican in a competitive district in Marion County can be beaten on this issue alone next year. Bosma won't see it that way to the delight of Bauer, who will hold on to control of the House again because Bosma can't win districts a Republican can and must win.
Mitch Daniels and the state caused the problem...they should be responsible for fixing it...Kenley knows that!!
Spoken like a true apologist for the discredited Peterson administration, art.
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