County Council Votes Complete - One Surprise!

Let's hear it for the Morgan County Council, whose members listened to their constituents and consciences, and voted accordingly, defeating the food & beverage tax by a 4-3 vote. Indy Star story.

Predictably, the tax passed today in Hendricks and Hamilton Counties, by wider margins.

Here's my bullet point summation:

• Taxes are a drag on the economy, no matter what they are for.
• Public policy enacted by the County Council should always serve to make the home County more competitive, not less.
• Good representative government responds to the will of the people. The majority of suburban County residents are opposed to any tax increases, for any purpose. Affected business owners and employees were not consulted as to the impact they would feel. The County Councils arrogantly rejected the will of the people in order to placate the Governor, on the basis of party politics.
• Food & beverage taxes for Marion County stadium projects have a history of outliving the buildings they pay for. History will repeat itself.
• Contrary to the rhetoric issued by the Council, conventioneers in downtown Indianapolis will not be visiting eateries in Sheridan, Cicero, Noblesville, Carmel, or Fishers... or Avon, Zionsville, Greenwood, or Greenfield. Most conventions are catered, and most conventioneers walk to nearby attractions.
• Contrary to the small government Republicans spout at election time, their track record is increasingly tax & spend liberal policy.
• The regionalism touted by Republican officials should set off warning signals to suburban county residents, who chose to live outside Marion County. Regionalism ensures that the dominant population center sets policy direction at the expense of the satellites. This vote shows the result, which reads like textbook Karl Marx- from those according to their ability, to each according to his need. This is only the first blow. Just wait until the bill comes for the regional transit plans.

The Libertarian Party mounted the only organized opposition to these taxes, and provided the only organized support for the affected business owners, workers, and patrons. As the Republican Party continues to drift ever leftward, the Libertarian Party remains as the only true home for fiscal conservatives who believe in limited government, lower taxes, home rule, and most importantly- responsive government.

The Libertarian Party is eager to run candidates against those Councilors who voted in favor of the taxes, in all of the counties. I encourage people who share our views to get involved with us, to help build county parties that best represents the views of suburban county residents. Go to the Libertarian Party of Indiana's web site for contact info on the various county affiliates: www.lpin.org

Here's what Hamilton County Chair Rob Place had to say about the tax & spend Republicans, per the Star:

"We're going to remind people that these are the guys that raise taxes, and there is an alternative for those people who don't want to send their money down to Marion County," Place said.