X-Tra Rant

So I’v ebeen neglecting this horribly, but a couple things from election day. First off, some shadyness from my polling place in Washington Township.

This sign was plastered to the outside of the doors going into the school:

It was paid for by the Marion County Republican Central Comittee. First off, the “19 times” thing is sure to be largely bogus. And what do you know, the Star actually did some real reporting and fact checking!

19 TAX INCREASES?
In mailers and news releases, Marion County Republican candidates have repeatedly said the Democrat-controlled council increased taxes 19 different times in recent years. It’s a central issue in the election, but is it accurate?

An Indianapolis Star analysis found:

• Two of the 19 are 2005 user fees: Sewer rates and storm water fees were increased to pay for a sewer overhaul. Democrats and all 14 Republicans voted for the sewer rate change. Three Republicans voted against the storm water fee increase.

• Four were hospitality taxes for the new Colts stadium and Convention Center expansion. The state created the financing plan and the council approved it in ‘05, with nine Republicans joining 14 Democrats. Five Republicans opposed.

• One was not a tax but the expansion of a tax-increment financing district to include the new Colts stadium. The vote in ‘05 by the council was unanimous.

• Three (library, fire and police district budgets in 2006) were not tax increases at all. Spending increased, but the tax rates did not. The fire district vote was unanimous, while Republican Scott Keller joined the Democrats on the library and police district votes.

• Four were county income tax increases. In 2005, the council increased the income tax from 0.7 percent to 1 percent over three years. Seven Republicans voted against the plan, designed to fund public safety programs. In July, the council voted 15-13 to increase the rate to 1.65 percent for Mayor Bart Peterson’s public safety plan. Two Republicans (Keller and Lance Langsford) joined Democrats in voting for it, while two Democrats (Dane Mahern and Sherron Franklin) opposed it.

• Three were related to debts the state ordered the city to pay. The state runs child welfare and justice programs and bills the county, which refused to pay the full amount until so ordered in 2005. The votes, in ‘05 and ‘06, were unanimous or opposed by a single Republican.

• Two were related to the ‘06 city budget and the IndyGo budget. Keller joined all 15 Democrats in passing the city budget, while two Republicans and a Democrat opposed the IndyGo budget.

So let’s see. Rough math.. 13 of the 19 either were state mandated payments, not taxes at all, or the “hospitality tax” that barely if at all effects Marion County residents. Nice lies, MCRCC!!! You can sum up the MCRCC’s governing philosophy like this (stealing liberally from CJ but it’s too right not to use): Ignore the police and fire pensions, ignore the sewers, ignore jail crowding, ignore infrastructure. Then blame the Democrats when they take power and actually try to fix the problems.

But what bugs me is I thought that only candidate signs were allowed at polling places, not blatantly political messages such as this. I’m not compeltely sure on this, but I went ahead and called the Marion County Democratic Party and the Election Inspector Hotline about it just in case.

MCRCC: Living up to their national party.

Drinking Liberally will be tonight at Spencer’s. 802 S. West St. Election night party. We’ll try to get the returns on at least one TV. So come on down and celebrate with some fellow liberals and progressives.