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Our Agenda
Taxpayer Protection:
House Republicans have pledged to pass proposed constitutional property tax caps before addressing any other substantive measure. The constitutional amendment would cap homestead property taxes at 1 percent of a home’s assessed value. Other permanent caps would be 2 percent of assessed value for farm and rental properties and 3 percent for business property.
SJR 1 was approved in the last General Assembly session, so approval in this session would place the proposal on the November 2010 general election ballot, allowing Hoosiers to make the caps a permanent part of the Indiana Constitution.
Other taxpayer protection measures include adoption of an honestly balanced budget without deficits, tax increases or gimmicks, a strong state spending cap, continuation of the proposed limitations on local government spending and automatic taxpayer refunds in the form of income tax credits when the state’s reserves reach appropriate levels.
One mechanism for assuring continued state fiscal restraint is the adoption of a strict state spending cap. The proposed cap would be based on the average growth of personal income in Indiana over a six-year period, and a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature would be required to override the cap. Automatic taxpayer refunds would be required when state revenues exceed an agreed upon level, with taxpayers receiving the credit automatically on the income tax returns.
Better Paying Jobs/Building Energy Independence:
Hoosiers deserve higher-paying jobs, and the state has resources that can position us to lead the nation in energy independence. These two ideas are related, and House Republicans will help create a stable supply of renewable home-grown energy while attracting new business investment and job opportunities to the state.
Significant groundwork leading to Indiana’s economic recovery was enacted with a House Republican majority in 2005 and 2006. For example, new laws encouraged employers to move their businesses to Indiana or expand their Indiana businesses further; telecommunications reform brought hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and thousands of new jobs to the state; local governments were empowered with incentives to attract business to their areas; and Indiana became the only state in the nation to provide a mechanism for a fully funded 10-year road construction program.
Other plans for energizing the economy:
- Elimination of personal property tax on employers located in certified technology parks. The state has 19 certified technology parks throughout the state, where business ideas are grown and brought to life, providing thousands of high-wage jobs to 21st century workers. Removing this tax will spur business creation and job growth around the state.
- Businesses will be encouraged to invest in renewable and alternative energy technologies such as solar energy, solar thermal electric technologies, wind turbines, fuel cells and energy-efficient buildings.
- Individuals also will be encouraged to invest in renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind power as well as hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles.
- The General Assembly will call on the federal government to open federal land, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and the outer continental shelf.
Hope for Hoosier Students:
Indiana must concentrate on raising the education level of our work force if we are to attract new jobs in high growth industries. House Republicans believe Indiana must prepare all students to succeed in the 21st century by raising the expectation that every student should be prepared for post high-school education, and granting additional resources to make that education affordable for every Hoosier family. Indiana currently ranks 44th in the nation in the percentage of adults over 25 with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
The proposed Hoosier Hope Scholarship would provide a $3,000 grant per year for two years to every Hoosier student graduating with a “B” average or higher. The grant could be used at any Indiana institution. To remain eligible for the grant, which will increase to keep pace with annual tuition at Ivy Tech Community college, the student must maintain a “B” average in college as well.
The Hoosier Families First plan also raises the expectation that more of our education funding must reach Hoosier classrooms. Currently, about 61 percent of education spending makes its way to the classroom. House Republicans hope to increase that percentage to at least 65 percent. More dollars sent to the classroom means better-paid, more proficient teachers and smaller class sizes.
We must also take steps to assure that a qualified teacher is in every Hoosier classroom. Under the Hoosier Families First agenda, teachers who voluntarily take and pass competency tests in their teaching areas would receive a bonus of $1,000 per year for five years. Increased teacher competency corresponds to higher student achievement.