Let's see. We'll create a tax-friendly environment that will lure companies to Indiana, which will create jobs for Hoosiers, and everybody will live happily ever after. But Pat Bauer is having none of that:
But House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, brushed off such complaints as "greedy." Bauer co-authored HB 1007, which was unveiled Tuesday."They've had tremendous breaks (recently) and not participated in the relief," Bauer said of businesses. Corporations have benefited from the phaseout of Indiana's inventory tax, a 2 percent cap on local property taxes, and a Supreme Court mandate to reform Indiana's property tax assessments, he said, all of which occurred in the last decade."If any corporate citizens don't want to participate (in property tax relief)," Bauer said, "then they're really not good citizens."
Bauer probably wouldn't even be moved by the spokesman for a company that did move here, creating 260 jobs, quoted in the story as saying another state might have been looked at if he had known increases in corporate taxes would be considered here. But perhaps Gov. Daniels would be. He says he won't rule the idea out, but surely he has more sense than that.
Bauer must not have heard, or must not believe, that companies don't really pay taxes. They look to the bottom line, and will find ways to make others pay to make up the difference. Call it greed if you like. I think the state is better off with that than with stupidity.
Comments
Obviously Bauer had his hair screwed on too tightly that day.
I dunno...the state does well at BOTH (greed AND stupidity)...
(very hard choice, if you had to decide.)
B.G.