Governor Mitch Daniels will be making a town hall appearance on March 6th, 12:00 Noon at the Griffith High School Auditorium. He will visit with members of Team Hammond Taxpayers' Group and Griffith citizens on the issues of Property Tax Relief and Government Reform. He wants to hear from Lake County residents who support local government reform.
The event is co-hosted by George T. Janiec of Team Hammond Taxpayers Group and the Griffith Town Council.
We encourage all Lake County taxpayers and voters that are concerned about Property Tax Relief and Government Reform to attend.There will be an opportunity to ask Governor Daniels questions about the pending legislation.
For additional information or questions call George T. Janiec - 678.6761 or Rick Ryfa – 924-7500 or visit http://www.griffith.in.gov/ and http://www.teamhammondtaxpayersgroup.org/
Friday, February 27, 2009
TALK ABOUT AN END-AROUND PLAY!
Here's another example of taxpayer unfriendly legislation currently making its way through the Indiana house:
HOUSE BILL 1730
Green project public approval exception. Indicates that a project for the reconstruction, repair, alteration or retrofitting of a public building or structure to bring it into compliance with certain energy and environmental design standards is not subject to petition and remonstrance or referenda procedures.
What this bill does is to exempt public works projects from remonstrance or referendum under the guise of "being a green" or environmentally friendly project.
So this is how school boards (new Hammond high school) and elected officials are going to get around the taxpayers by claiming their "pork barrel" projects are environmentally friendly! Taxpayers will have no voice in these projects.
All the more reason for taxpayers to go down to Indianapolis on Wednesday, March 25 and make their themselves heard to our state legislators.
HOUSE BILL 1730
Green project public approval exception. Indicates that a project for the reconstruction, repair, alteration or retrofitting of a public building or structure to bring it into compliance with certain energy and environmental design standards is not subject to petition and remonstrance or referenda procedures.
What this bill does is to exempt public works projects from remonstrance or referendum under the guise of "being a green" or environmentally friendly project.
So this is how school boards (new Hammond high school) and elected officials are going to get around the taxpayers by claiming their "pork barrel" projects are environmentally friendly! Taxpayers will have no voice in these projects.
All the more reason for taxpayers to go down to Indianapolis on Wednesday, March 25 and make their themselves heard to our state legislators.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
MEDIA ADVISORY: REVOLT AT THE STATE HOUSE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Paul K. Ogden
February 25, 2009
http:revoltatthestatehouse.blogspot.com
Indianapolis – Attorney Paul Ogden, 47, today announced plans to hold a taxpayer rally at the Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The rally, which is called “Revolt at the State House,” is supported by several local political blogs including “Ogden on Politics” and “Hoosiers for Fair Taxation” and various taxpayer groups not only in Indianapolis but all across the state.The rally will focus chiefly on issues relating to corporate welfare, Indiana style “pay to play” politics, property tax reform, and the need for transparency and ethics reform. Particular topics are likely to include: “The Colts, Pacers & the Capital Improvement Board, “Pay to Play Politics, Indiana Style: Campaign Contributions & Government Contracts,” “The Executive and Legislative Revolving Door,” “Corporate Welfare – How Politicians Have Used Our Tax Money to Make the Rich Richer.”
Speakers, which will include Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians, will be announced at a later date.
Ogden stated: “One of the primary goals of the rally is to bring to the attention the issue of our taxpayer money being taken from hardworking men and women to make the rich richer. The situation with the Colts and Pacers is a perfect example, albeit just one example. The Mayor’s Office, the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana General Assembly need to be asking the Colts and Pacers for concessions rather than asking average taxpayers to shell out more of their hard-earned money to make the Irsays and Simons wealthier.”
Ogden noted the tremendous work blogger Gary Welsh of Advance Indiana had done on this issue of corporate welfare in Indianapolis and that part of the purpose of the rally was to take these types of issues from the pages of the political blogs directly to the General Assembly.
Melyssa Donaghy of Hoosiers for Fair Taxation also noted that the rally will include the need for ethics reform. “Part of this rally will include a call for transparency, that the average person needs to be able to know what is going on in government,” Donaghy said. “The conflicts of interest many of these politicians have need to be exposed and ended. We should not have our elected officials using their positions to make themselves and their friends richer.”
More details on the “Revolt at the Statehouse” will be provided at a later date.
Contact: Paul K. Ogden
February 25, 2009
http:revoltatthestatehouse.blogspot.com
Indianapolis – Attorney Paul Ogden, 47, today announced plans to hold a taxpayer rally at the Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The rally, which is called “Revolt at the State House,” is supported by several local political blogs including “Ogden on Politics” and “Hoosiers for Fair Taxation” and various taxpayer groups not only in Indianapolis but all across the state.The rally will focus chiefly on issues relating to corporate welfare, Indiana style “pay to play” politics, property tax reform, and the need for transparency and ethics reform. Particular topics are likely to include: “The Colts, Pacers & the Capital Improvement Board, “Pay to Play Politics, Indiana Style: Campaign Contributions & Government Contracts,” “The Executive and Legislative Revolving Door,” “Corporate Welfare – How Politicians Have Used Our Tax Money to Make the Rich Richer.”
Speakers, which will include Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians, will be announced at a later date.
Ogden stated: “One of the primary goals of the rally is to bring to the attention the issue of our taxpayer money being taken from hardworking men and women to make the rich richer. The situation with the Colts and Pacers is a perfect example, albeit just one example. The Mayor’s Office, the Capital Improvement Board and the Indiana General Assembly need to be asking the Colts and Pacers for concessions rather than asking average taxpayers to shell out more of their hard-earned money to make the Irsays and Simons wealthier.”
Ogden noted the tremendous work blogger Gary Welsh of Advance Indiana had done on this issue of corporate welfare in Indianapolis and that part of the purpose of the rally was to take these types of issues from the pages of the political blogs directly to the General Assembly.
Melyssa Donaghy of Hoosiers for Fair Taxation also noted that the rally will include the need for ethics reform. “Part of this rally will include a call for transparency, that the average person needs to be able to know what is going on in government,” Donaghy said. “The conflicts of interest many of these politicians have need to be exposed and ended. We should not have our elected officials using their positions to make themselves and their friends richer.”
More details on the “Revolt at the Statehouse” will be provided at a later date.
RECAP OF TEAM HAMMOND MEETING
A decent turnout attended the Team Hammond general meeting at the Galaxy Hall in Hessville on Tuesday night.
George Janiec opened the meeting with an update on the February county council meeting. Most of the county council meeting centered around a hobby farm in unincorporated Lake County; how many roosters are too many and how many roosters are not enough? After much spirited debate, a compromise was finally reached.
He also talked about the county option income tax. The issue is not dead and can be resurrected at any time. County Commissioners Scheub and DuPey are still adamant about vetoing the income tax. Pressure needs to continue on our county council members to vote against an income tax.
George also touched on the food and beverage tax as a funding mechanism for the RBA and the elimination of bus service not only in Hammond but in Gary and East Chicago too. House Bill 1660 will create regional transportation districts in each of Indiana's 92 counties. These districts will have the power to enact a county option income tax, a county economic development tax, a food and beverage tax, and fees on vehicles. The RTD boards will be made up of local elected officials. House Bill 1660 likely will not pass the General Assembly this year but will most likely be resurrected in the 2010 legislative session. Taxpayers need to urge their legislators to vote against this taxpayer unfriendly legislation.
The single most important legislation in the 2009 General Assembly is Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would make the property tax caps permanent. It needs to be voted on and approved in this legislative session in order for a voter referendum to take place in 2010. House Speaker Pat Bauer is dragging his feet on SJR1 because he feels the ramnifications of the tax caps on city and county governments are not fully known. However, every year they delay in approving SJR1 only makes permanent tax relief harder to achieve.
Monday night's Hammond city council meeting was covered next. Councilman Kalwinski introduced a resolution rescinding Councilman Bob Markovich's appointment to the Port Authority Board. Attorney Berger said Markovich could only be removed if there was malfeasance in office. After much discussion, appeals and tabling of motions, the council voted 5-4 to rescind Markovich's appointment. Larry Rapchak reported that at the premeeting of the Port Authority, Councilman Markovich had not been allowed to take his place on the Port Authority Board. The matter will most likely end up in court.
Larry Rapchak next gave an update on the E-verify legislation (Senate Bill 580) pending in the General Assembly. E-verify legislation was eliminated from the federal stimulus package so it is very important that Indiana approve Senate Bill 580. E-verify is a simple process employers can use to verify if new employees are legal citizens. Senate Bill 580 is taxpayer friendly.
JoAnn Palko covered two more bills in the General Assembly. Senate Bill 452 would move municipal elections to even numbered years, move school board elections to the fall elections, consolidate precinct polling places in centralized voting centers, and ban public employees from running for office in the same entity in which they work. Senate Bill 232 which would have given the judges the right to fine public entities for violating open-door and public records laws. This legislative has been voted down but hopefully, can be revived before the legislative session ends in April.
Palko also stressed it is important to continue to contact your state representatives and state senators about pending legislation in the General Assembly especially SJR1, House Bill 1660, Senate Bill 580, and Senate Bill 452. Handouts were given with contact information on our area state legislators.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2009, there will be a rally at 5:00 p.m. against the proposed 15% NIPSCO rate increase at Savannah Hall at Indiana University Northwest. The event is hosted by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), and it is important to give the IURC your input as to why this rate increase should not be granted.
On Friday, March 6, 2009, Team Hammond Taxpayers' Group and other taxpayer advocates will be meeting with Governor Daniels to discuss government reform. The meeting will take place in the Griffith High School auditorium. The time of meeting will be forthcoming as soon as details are firmed up with the governor's staff.
On Wednesday, March 25, 2009, there will be a taxpayer rally at the Indiana State House for Hoosiers who are fed up with their government. The rally begins at 11:30 a.m. (10:30 our time).
Taxpayer groups from around the state will be in attendance, and there will be press coverage of the event. Carpooling will be available for those who would like to attend. This is the time to make your voice heard.
Team Hammond's next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 31 at the Woodmar United Methodist Church. On the agenda is public safety (with info on gangs in Hammond) and crime statistics. Guest speakers for the evening include Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
George Janiec opened the meeting with an update on the February county council meeting. Most of the county council meeting centered around a hobby farm in unincorporated Lake County; how many roosters are too many and how many roosters are not enough? After much spirited debate, a compromise was finally reached.
He also talked about the county option income tax. The issue is not dead and can be resurrected at any time. County Commissioners Scheub and DuPey are still adamant about vetoing the income tax. Pressure needs to continue on our county council members to vote against an income tax.
George also touched on the food and beverage tax as a funding mechanism for the RBA and the elimination of bus service not only in Hammond but in Gary and East Chicago too. House Bill 1660 will create regional transportation districts in each of Indiana's 92 counties. These districts will have the power to enact a county option income tax, a county economic development tax, a food and beverage tax, and fees on vehicles. The RTD boards will be made up of local elected officials. House Bill 1660 likely will not pass the General Assembly this year but will most likely be resurrected in the 2010 legislative session. Taxpayers need to urge their legislators to vote against this taxpayer unfriendly legislation.
The single most important legislation in the 2009 General Assembly is Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would make the property tax caps permanent. It needs to be voted on and approved in this legislative session in order for a voter referendum to take place in 2010. House Speaker Pat Bauer is dragging his feet on SJR1 because he feels the ramnifications of the tax caps on city and county governments are not fully known. However, every year they delay in approving SJR1 only makes permanent tax relief harder to achieve.
Monday night's Hammond city council meeting was covered next. Councilman Kalwinski introduced a resolution rescinding Councilman Bob Markovich's appointment to the Port Authority Board. Attorney Berger said Markovich could only be removed if there was malfeasance in office. After much discussion, appeals and tabling of motions, the council voted 5-4 to rescind Markovich's appointment. Larry Rapchak reported that at the premeeting of the Port Authority, Councilman Markovich had not been allowed to take his place on the Port Authority Board. The matter will most likely end up in court.
Larry Rapchak next gave an update on the E-verify legislation (Senate Bill 580) pending in the General Assembly. E-verify legislation was eliminated from the federal stimulus package so it is very important that Indiana approve Senate Bill 580. E-verify is a simple process employers can use to verify if new employees are legal citizens. Senate Bill 580 is taxpayer friendly.
JoAnn Palko covered two more bills in the General Assembly. Senate Bill 452 would move municipal elections to even numbered years, move school board elections to the fall elections, consolidate precinct polling places in centralized voting centers, and ban public employees from running for office in the same entity in which they work. Senate Bill 232 which would have given the judges the right to fine public entities for violating open-door and public records laws. This legislative has been voted down but hopefully, can be revived before the legislative session ends in April.
Palko also stressed it is important to continue to contact your state representatives and state senators about pending legislation in the General Assembly especially SJR1, House Bill 1660, Senate Bill 580, and Senate Bill 452. Handouts were given with contact information on our area state legislators.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2009, there will be a rally at 5:00 p.m. against the proposed 15% NIPSCO rate increase at Savannah Hall at Indiana University Northwest. The event is hosted by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), and it is important to give the IURC your input as to why this rate increase should not be granted.
On Friday, March 6, 2009, Team Hammond Taxpayers' Group and other taxpayer advocates will be meeting with Governor Daniels to discuss government reform. The meeting will take place in the Griffith High School auditorium. The time of meeting will be forthcoming as soon as details are firmed up with the governor's staff.
On Wednesday, March 25, 2009, there will be a taxpayer rally at the Indiana State House for Hoosiers who are fed up with their government. The rally begins at 11:30 a.m. (10:30 our time).
Taxpayer groups from around the state will be in attendance, and there will be press coverage of the event. Carpooling will be available for those who would like to attend. This is the time to make your voice heard.
Team Hammond's next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 31 at the Woodmar United Methodist Church. On the agenda is public safety (with info on gangs in Hammond) and crime statistics. Guest speakers for the evening include Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
THERE IS NO DEMOCRACY IN HAMMOND CITY GOVERNMENT
After attending the Hammond City Council Monday night, it has become more than apparent that there is no democracy in our city government.
The purpose of the city council is to provide checks and balances for a fair and equal system of city government.
Not so in Hammond.
It's disgusting we have city council members (Dan Repay, Al Salinas, Kathy Pucalik, Joanne Matanovich, and Mark Kalwinski) who continue to be a rubber stamp for the mayor. They are not representing the best interests of their constituents. They are representing the best interests of the mayor. That is not democracy; that is a dictatorship.
And it's really a shame that when during the course of the city council meeting, the mayor and his sidekick lawyer, Kevin Smith, pull certain city council members out of the meeting to meet with them privately. What kind of secret deals and agreements were being hashed out to get these city council members to vote a certain, we mean the mayor's, way?
McDermott is nothing more than a vindictive bully in the schoolyard. The only way is his way! To hell with the taxpayers and citizens of Hammond! Compromise and being a gracious loser are not in his vocabulary. And he aspires to be governor of Indiana?
The mayor has it perfectly clear he does not like Councilman Markovich. Why is that? Because Bob looks out for the Hammond taxpayers and doesn't rubber stamp the mayor's pet projects?
Why is the mayor so against Bob being on the Port Authority? It's not a simple case of the mayor not liking Bob. Is it because McDermott doesn't want Bob poking his nose in the Port Authority's finances? Is it because Markovich might find out where all the money is actually going and blow the whistle?
We say shame on Repay, Salinas, Matanovich, Pucalik, and Kalwinski for what they pulled on Bob Markovich on Monday night. If Councilman Markovich seeks legal action, there is no one to blame but yourselves.
What happened at the city council meeting Monday night was a disgrace to the citizens of Hammond. It was city government at its worst. It's too bad citizens don't have the option of recalling their elected officials in Hammond. Because we know five city councilpersons and one mayor who need to be recalled.
The purpose of the city council is to provide checks and balances for a fair and equal system of city government.
Not so in Hammond.
It's disgusting we have city council members (Dan Repay, Al Salinas, Kathy Pucalik, Joanne Matanovich, and Mark Kalwinski) who continue to be a rubber stamp for the mayor. They are not representing the best interests of their constituents. They are representing the best interests of the mayor. That is not democracy; that is a dictatorship.
And it's really a shame that when during the course of the city council meeting, the mayor and his sidekick lawyer, Kevin Smith, pull certain city council members out of the meeting to meet with them privately. What kind of secret deals and agreements were being hashed out to get these city council members to vote a certain, we mean the mayor's, way?
McDermott is nothing more than a vindictive bully in the schoolyard. The only way is his way! To hell with the taxpayers and citizens of Hammond! Compromise and being a gracious loser are not in his vocabulary. And he aspires to be governor of Indiana?
The mayor has it perfectly clear he does not like Councilman Markovich. Why is that? Because Bob looks out for the Hammond taxpayers and doesn't rubber stamp the mayor's pet projects?
Why is the mayor so against Bob being on the Port Authority? It's not a simple case of the mayor not liking Bob. Is it because McDermott doesn't want Bob poking his nose in the Port Authority's finances? Is it because Markovich might find out where all the money is actually going and blow the whistle?
We say shame on Repay, Salinas, Matanovich, Pucalik, and Kalwinski for what they pulled on Bob Markovich on Monday night. If Councilman Markovich seeks legal action, there is no one to blame but yourselves.
What happened at the city council meeting Monday night was a disgrace to the citizens of Hammond. It was city government at its worst. It's too bad citizens don't have the option of recalling their elected officials in Hammond. Because we know five city councilpersons and one mayor who need to be recalled.