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Governor Daniels confident he can pull Indiana out of budget deficit(Rino barf alert)
wndu.com ^ | 1 10 06 | wndu.com

Posted on 01/12/2006 1:05:34 PM PST by freepatriot32

Governor Daniels says cost-cutting steps will have Indiana poised to eliminate a $600 million deficit by June.

During his Wednesday night State of the State Address, Daniels said, "The first steps of any race are critical. Our first steps have been fast ones."

Governor Daniels' first year in office brought dramatic change and this year is shaping up to be the same.

As expected, Daniels sought support for his plan to raise money for highway construction by selling or leasing the Indiana Toll Road.

“If big private firms are willing to offer Indiana a very large sum of money today, for the right to operate our northern toll road over time, we would be foolish not to seize that opportunity and make the dreams of decades a reality in our time," said Daniels.

Daniels also urged lawmakers to give local governments power to consolidate and use new ways of raising money. That plan includes transferring the state's township tax assessment system to county assessors.

According to Daniels, “If the machinery of state government needs an overhaul, then our local government needs an extreme makeover."

Scoring big points with educators, Daniels pledged to shift more money to the classroom, and find other places to cut costs in schools.

Daniels said, “It's time to make sure more of our school dollars are available to teachers and the purposes that matter most. Let's catch up and pass other states in the efficiency of school spending."

Perhaps the biggest surprise in Wednesday night's speech: an increased tax on cigarettes. Daniels urged the legislature to raise the cigarette tax by $.25 a pack.

“It’s no accident that we have some of the highest health care costs anywhere, a barrier in the way of new jobs we seek. No single step we could take would matter more than reducing the number of Hoosiers, particularly young Hoosiers, who smoke cigarettes," said Daniels.

He added, "All the evidence shows that the most effective way to deter young smokers is at the cash register."

The Daniels administration says a cigarette tax increase of $.25 per pack would raise about $120 million a year.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Indiana
KEYWORDS: barfalert; budget; confident; daniels; deficit; democratlite; governor; govwatch; indiana; libertarians; possmokingnazi; pufflist; pull; republicrat; rinowatch
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To: SheLion
I have been rolling my own for over 4 years.

Then why are you complaining about a voluntary tax on other smokers?

You remind me of a guy with a still in his back yard bellyaching about liquor taxes.

21 posted on 01/13/2006 9:08:55 AM PST by sinkspur (Trust, but vilify.)
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To: sinkspur
Then why are you complaining about a voluntary tax on other smokers?

You remind me of a guy with a still in his back yard bellyaching about liquor taxes.

Because I have had a dog in this fight for 15 years.  It's not just about me.  It's about all my FReeper smoking friends and business owners and whatever  I can do to help them out.

22 posted on 01/13/2006 9:12:17 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: SheLion
Because I have had a dog in this fight for 15 years. It's not just about me. It's about all my FReeper smoking friends and business owners and whatever I can do to help them out.

Whatever you're doing doesn't appear to be working.

23 posted on 01/13/2006 9:17:56 AM PST by sinkspur (Trust, but vilify.)
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To: hispanichoosier
I don't give a fig about smokers paying more per pack. It's a consumption-based tax and totally voluntary.

I'm having a hard time understanding your comment, unless it's sarcasm.

Would you say that property taxes are voluntary, since we could choose to live in less expensive houses, or rent, or move out of state?

Would you say that income taxes are largely voluntary, since we could choose to work at lower-paying jobs if we want?

In a sense, ALL taxes are voluntary -- that doesn't make them right.

24 posted on 01/13/2006 9:25:09 AM PST by 68skylark
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To: sinkspur
Whatever you're doing doesn't appear to be working.

(Get up on the wrong side of the bed did we?)

Some day soon they will come after something you care about and no one will be around to stand up for you.

And evidentially our fight IS working.  When California and Maine forced a smoking ban on the whole state, everyone else waited to see the outcome.

The loss of revenue has been devastating and now other business owners in other states are standing up and fighting for the freedoms to run their business the way they see fit.  They don't want happen to them what has happened to others from business closures to lay-offs of employees

Smoking bans are choking the economy!

25 posted on 01/13/2006 9:25:24 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: 68skylark
I'm having a hard time understanding your comment, unless it's sarcasm.

Would you say that property taxes are voluntary, since we could choose to live in less expensive houses, or rent, or move out of state?

Would you say that income taxes are largely voluntary, since we could choose to work at lower-paying jobs if we want?

In a sense, ALL taxes are voluntary -- that doesn't make them right.

I like the way you put this in context.  Thank you!  And you are SO right!

26 posted on 01/13/2006 9:27:47 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: SheLion
Smoking bans are choking the economy!

At a 4% annual growth rate for the economy, I hadn't noticed.

27 posted on 01/13/2006 9:29:45 AM PST by sinkspur (Trust, but vilify.)
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To: sinkspur
At a 4% annual growth rate for the economy, I hadn't noticed.

Of course not.  Since you hate smokers so much, you don't notice how many businesses have closed and how many lay-offs there have been because of them.

When a business loses 70% of their revenue from a smoking ban, I would say that the ban HAS choked the economy.  At least to the business owners that is forced to suffer through these bans.

28 posted on 01/13/2006 9:35:29 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: SheLion
Thanks for your kind words.

Actually, I think smoking is a repulsive habit -- it's expensive for taxpayers and consumers, and a drag on job creation here.

I've really got no problem with a tobacco tax increase IF the governor would also support some kind of income tax cut at the same time, so the end result was revenue-neutral.

But if he doesn't want to cut other taxes, he's really just a tax-and-spend RINO, and a big disappointment as governor.

29 posted on 01/13/2006 9:41:33 AM PST by 68skylark
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To: 68skylark
and a drag on job creation here.

What do you mean?

30 posted on 01/13/2006 9:44:42 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: freepatriot32
I've never been able to follow the logic that preventing smoking is going to save the taxpayers mega dollars. Actually what will happen, if all smoking stops, is that people will live a good deal longer and will end up by being paid much more Social Security due to the longevity. And will also consume much more in medical costs. [The elder use much more health services than younger.]

If we're gong to be logical we ought to urge everybody to start smoking. [On a personal note I'm a few months short of my 75th birthday and I don't think that I'll go back to my pipe smoking.]

31 posted on 01/13/2006 9:56:40 AM PST by curmudgeonII (One man...and the Lord...are a majority.)
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To: SheLion
What do you mean [that smoking is "a drag on job creation here"]?

Well, on this topic I'm taking the governor at his word. He says:

“It’s no accident that we have some of the highest health care costs anywhere, a barrier in the way of new jobs we seek. No single step we could take would matter more than reducing the number of Hoosiers, particularly young Hoosiers, who smoke cigarettes," said Daniels.

It seems reasonable to me that anyone seeking in build a business might go where health costs are relatively low -- that helps control their costs of doing business, AND helps control their state tax burden.

32 posted on 01/13/2006 10:10:54 AM PST by 68skylark
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To: curmudgeonII
It's true that smokers are a real blessing to social security, by dying at younger ages than they otherwise would without smoking.

But overall, it's better for if people are healthy.

From an economic point of view, they can work (and pay taxes) longer, and defer the amount of health care they need.

Also non-smokers are better for the military, police, fire and ambulance services, and they set a better example for young people.

33 posted on 01/13/2006 10:15:20 AM PST by 68skylark
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To: 68skylark
It seems reasonable to me that anyone seeking in build a business might go where health costs are relatively low -- that helps control their costs of doing business, AND helps control their state tax burden.

Check post #8.  Read how much Indiana smokers are paying into the state economy.  Do you actually still believe that smokers aren't paying their fair share?

Or do you prefer to still believe the tired and worn out lies for uninformed people by the lying anti's?

34 posted on 01/13/2006 10:16:49 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: SheLion
Well if you're a smoker I guess you're pretty unhappy about the proposed tax increase. I know I'd feel unhappy and persecuted if Indiana tried to raise the taxes on my vices, like coffee or martinis.

Nevertheless, I'm all in favor of doing whatever we can to discourage smoking, including tax increases. We have way too many smokers in this state, and anything we can do to reduce the numbers -- especially among young people -- is okay with me.

35 posted on 01/13/2006 10:30:34 AM PST by 68skylark
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To: 68skylark
Well if you're a smoker I guess you're pretty unhappy about the proposed tax increase. I know I'd feel unhappy and persecuted if Indiana tried to raise the taxes on my vices, like coffee or martinis.

See?  The lawmakers say they want a "smoke free everything," yet they can't balance a state budget without cigarette tax increases.  Putting the burden squarely on the backs of 25-30% of the state smokers.

And the non smokers are all for it, because it leaves their wallets alone.  But guess what.  If the smokers did quit, the state would be in a world of hurt for revenue.  Guess who they will go after to make the money up?  YOU.  Do you really want the smokers to stop?

Nevertheless, I'm all in favor of doing whatever we can to discourage smoking, including tax increases. We have way too many smokers in this state, and anything we can do to reduce the numbers -- especially among young people -- is okay with me.

Way too many smokers. Why is that a concern to you?  People smoke.  Most smokers really enjoy it and it's still LEGAL.  

Why don't you go after young people who drink?  I just read where Maine had more drug over doses this past year then we had vehicle deaths.  But oh my!  Just as long as the young people don't smoke!  I never could understand this logic.

Smoking is a personal decision.  We all start smoking knowing full well that it isn't good for us.  But what is really good for us in this day and age?  Not much.


36 posted on 01/13/2006 10:36:44 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: 68skylark
Well if you're a smoker I guess you're pretty unhappy about the proposed tax increase. I know I'd feel unhappy and persecuted if Indiana tried to raise the taxes on my vices, like coffee or martinis.

Oh I forgot to add that I live in Maine where they just doubled the cigarette taxes from $1 dollar to $2 on one pack of cigarettes.

But I have been rolling my own for over 4 years and I am saving over $300 dollars a month.  So, any cigarette tax increase doesn't affect me.  But I worry about my smoking friends that haven't started rolling yet.

37 posted on 01/13/2006 10:38:51 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: sinkspur; SheLion
Whatever you're doing doesn't appear to be working.

Fighters don't quit when things are not going their way. They continue to fight for what they believe is the right thing. I've seen you express similar sentiments about conservatives who wish for smaller government. It must be depressing to be so pessimistic.

SheLion, I hope all is well with you.

38 posted on 01/13/2006 11:01:44 AM PST by jmc813 (People who use the term "liberaltarian" are gay)
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To: jmc813
Fighters don't quit when things are not going their way. They continue to fight for what they believe is the right thing. I've seen you express similar sentiments about conservatives who wish for smaller government. It must be depressing to be so pessimistic.

Unfortunately, we have several in Free Republic that feel the way this one does.

SheLion, I hope all is well with you.

I am really good until I come in here and start getting bashed and trashed and some telling me how I stink just because I smoke.  I've never seen the likes!

I hope you are well.  Happy New Year btw! :)

39 posted on 01/13/2006 11:05:27 AM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: SheLion

I had an elderly neighbor who raised his own in his garden.


40 posted on 01/13/2006 11:21:17 AM PST by wordsofearnest (Bring Back Torre)
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