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.
Its 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.
I'm doing great despite the stupid restaurant smoking ban just passed here in dirty Jersey. Are you still in Limestone? There are some rumors starting to surface that Phish may reunite in the near future and do a festival there again possibly this summer.
Oh I could never plant tobacco. And our summers are so short and unpredictable it would be a touch and go at best.
I sure don't envy you all going through a smoking ban. We have had a total smoking ban in Maine since January 2003 and it's been the pits. I went once after the ban and was so miserable sitting there, twiddling my thumbs waiting for my meal, that I swore that would be the last time I paid for that personal abuse.
I do take out now or home delivery. Schwan's have wonderful food! :)
Phish? Coming back here? No kidding. Well, one thing for sure, they sure helped the economy up here! Thanks for the head's up. :)
Well I do care about them raising cigarette taxes. What I don't care about is anyone's opinion about another person smoking. It's really nobody's business except the person who smokes. Do you like to pay 6% sales taxes on a loaf of bread or milk. Doubt it! So, if they raise cig taxes again I hope they put extra taxes on bread and milk too. Then all the anti-smokers can bitch about the price of bread and milk. Sure I can quit, pay the extra 25 cents or roll my own. May even grow my own tobacco. As for bread won't bother me to bake my own. Make a good loaf of yeast bread. Maybe I'll just bake enough to last all week.
I'm most upset about the imminent domain suit the state has threatened in order to build that new stadium.
What an idiot.
AMEN! Should taxes be raised on high carb foods? Fast Food? It's unhealthy - it costs society $$ for health care... The only thing required for a new tax to come about is a politician who "cares" and wants to "help" people.
Although I'll not vote for either major party ever again, I have to admit it will be very entertaining to see Mitch lose the next time he runs. He is worse than a dem.
Enjoy your statist Mitch while he lasts. He won't win a second term.
To be fair, the states did sue the tobacco companies for making a deadly addictive product. So what do they do to the poor, innocent victims of big tobacco? Hose them.
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