State representatives Dave Wolkins (R-Winona Lake, Dist. 18) and Bill Ruppel (R-North Manchester, Dist. 22) were guests of the Kosciusko County Farm Bureau Saturday, and the men discussed the 2002 session of the Indiana General Assembly.

New, old and restructured taxes served as the main topic of discussion, with Ruppel saying there is no need to raise taxes.

"We should live within our means and make cuts we can live with," said Ruppel, on medical leave from the House following cardiac bypass surgery.

HB 1004, a tax restructuring bill (see boxed story, page 2A) has been sent to the Senate floor. The legislation shifts tax burdens around and is designed to make Indiana less reliant on property taxes. The bill was crafted and is supported by State Sen. Larry Borst (R-Greenwood).

A Democratic option raises taxes, which will result in a $1.2 billion surplus, Ruppel said, "and we don't need it. It raises more money than we're giving back."

Both representatives supported the Borst plan, which provides significant tax relief to manufacturers.

"It is very bold," Wolkins said. "And now is the time. More than 48,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in two years. Stopping taxes on machinery and inventory makes them big winners. The 'dot.coms,' insurance companies, businesses that just hire people will be penalized."

Ruppel and Wolkins were in favor of delaying reassessment one year (SB 0502), for pay in 2004 because actual cash values will come down and the budget-makers wouldn't have to guess about income.

"Now is not the time to raise a gas tax, either," Wolkins said, "but we had to."

Wolkins voted for HB 1317, raising the gas tax to 16 cents per gallon from 15 cents per gallon by Jan. 1, 2003; and by another penny effective Jan. 1, 2004.

The gasoline tax has been set at 15 cents per gallon since 1988. The $1 billion bond for road repairs established in 1988 is over and the state faces a $150 million reduction in federal road funds.

Ruppel also cited a 10 percent loss in revenue from vehicles that get better mileage.

A 1-cent increase on gasoline equals $136 million.

Rep. Bill Friend joined the discussion just as the group was about to leave. Friend covers the western part of Kosciusko County, known as District 23 following redistricting. From Macy, he was introduced as an expert on agricultural and farming matters.

Friend talked about legislation geared to increase ethanol use (SB 381 and HB 1338) and bills dealing with farmers' rights and commercial seed in Indiana.

Other topics included:

• New gambling regulations: Ruppel said Michigan City is allowing a gambling barge and French Lick will put in another "land-locked" casino. Slot machines will be limited to 750. Ruppel is in favor of flexible boarding - allowing people to get off the boat when they want to.

On a tour of a gambling boat in southern Indiana, Ruppel heard one woman comment she'd lost most of her paycheck and wanted to leave the boat. Since she couldn't, she gambled away the rest of her money.

The story garnered little sympathy from the Farm Bureau audience.

One woman said she worked as an undercover journalist on a gambling boat in Illinois a few years back.

"What you have is a vagrant population that works and lives on the boats. They work for low wages. Crimes increase in those areas," she said. "Addictions increase. You'll soon have a whole new set of criminal and social problems."

• Wolkins recently introduced a bill (HB 1306) stopping the Indiana Department of Environmental Management from making regulations regarding wetlands prior to a complete review of the state's wetlands policy.

Isolated wetlands are no longer federal waters, Wolkins said, and IDEM "has gone too far, too fast."

He cited a case where IDEM refused to allow bridge repairs because the structure was in a wetlands area.

"We (legislators) really have no business in their affairs but they're not answering to anyone, either," he said.

• Mentioned that the red light camera and speed limit bills probably were dead.

• One man asked when the Build Indiana funds would be released because the Etna Green fire department was promised money for a fire truck.

He was advised to contact State Sen. Kent Adams.

• "A few years ago the lottery was supposed to take care of all our problems," one man said. "Now gambling is the problem-solver, yet taxes keep going up and up."

Another man wanted to know why cigarettes were being taxed and not alcohol.

Ruppel said "We're not supposed to mention taxing alcohol. Tobacco is not socially acceptable, drinking is."

• On Gov. Frank O'Bannon's spending plan, the representatives said his "new" $109 million in cuts is the same as his November proposal and most of the items were cut for the wrong reasons.

"No one is cutting education at this point," Wolkins said.

• DNR fees: There are 10 to 12 little fees going up for hunting and fishing licenses.

People 65 years old and older will now pay $2.75 for a fishing license and, along with the increases in gas, cigarettes and everything else, a day on the lake could become an expensive outing, Wolkins said.

• When asked why the Rainy Day Fund hadn't been tapped, the men had no answer. "Wasn't it designed for budget problems like we have now?" one man asked.

Ruppel said he'd love to have anyone visit him in Indianapolis and spend the whole day at his side.

"I'd be glad to have you," he said.

On the Net: www.IN.gov/legislative/session.html or www.accessindiana.com and follow the links to either the representatives' home pages or the General Assembly. The representatives can be e-mailed at: Ruppel: [email protected]; Wolkins - [email protected]; and Friend - [email protected]

The representatives can be contacted by calling 800-382-9841. [[In-content Ad]]