As we sat among 150 residents at the "Taxing Time" event held inside the Indianapolis Statehouse chamber last Wednesday night, we tried to be a neutral observer.
Just to double check our reality that we was not in hell instead of Indiana. Yep, it was real.
Despite the outside freezing temperatures, the inside was simmering with irate property owners of homes, businesses, and farms; many who told horror stories of their past and present plight.
A veteran, Kent Morhan, sitting in front of us spoke of his fixed income and fear of loosing his home. To our left, David Hendricks from Hamilton County spoke of eviction from his seized home by a prosecutor over his failure to pay steep property taxes.
In fact, from the floor to the balcony, the panel of 4 lawmakers drew harsh criticism from citizens who had jeers for legislators and cheers for repeal. The crowd with frequent boos and outbursts wasn't buying the same status quo remarks heard for months.
For citizens already drowning, it was little comfort to be told our leaders were trying to design a life jacket. Residents shouting of repeal and stop spending periodically echoed, leaving no doubt that property owners are fed up with being taxed out of their homes and want action; not words!
As we emerged from the Chambers of Disbelief, disgusted business, farm, and homeowners, some like us who traveled miles for the event, were still boiling from lack of answers to valid questions, and their plight remains unsolved.
Who can blame them?
The lawmakers on the panel represented the cast of characters who have presided over an abusive system, and it will take more than tweaking to fix it. Few knew that only the night before, the Senate Rules Committee had killed the repeal bill.
It is now up to "We The People" of Indiana to demand change!
Paul Wheeler
Contributor
