Here They Go Again
Friday, December 08, 2006
Our tax & spend liberal Republicans are at it again, raising taxes. This time, it's the Hamilton County Council who is raising the innkeepers' tax. They have raised the rate on hotel/motel uses (including convention or conference uses) from 3% to 5%, effective January 1, 2007.
There was a telling quote in the December 7 Noblesville Daily Times (link not available):
"Of the 65 tax-levying counties which collect an innkeepers tax, Hamilton County is in the bottom 10," said Brenda Myers of the Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau.Make that was. Now Hamilton County is in the upper 46.
But the notable item is Myers' explanation. Hamilton County Republicans love to state how we are, or were, in the lowest range of taxes for a particular tax relative to other locations. So what? That we have the tax at all shows that the conservative reputation Hamilton County has is not earned. Myers was in no hurry to point out that 36 other counties do not even have an inkeepers' tax.
I truly believe that a solid 40-50% corps of Hamilton County's elected officials would be Democrats if they ran for office in Marion County, but they stifle an honest exposition of their beliefs and run as Republicans because they believe that is the only way they can be elected. GOP officials don't vet their candidates at all. Just run on the elephant banner and win, baby. Ideology be damned! Maybe it's more like 83%, if the County Council vote is any signal.
The vote was 6-1 in favor, with Brad Beaver casting the sole dissent. Kudos and thanks to Mr. Beaver for being the only fiscal conservative on the County Council of tax & spend liberal Republicans.
posted by Mike Kole @ 9:09 AM,
