Legislators Studying Blood Alcohol, Reassessment
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Editor's note: This is the second of three parts.
The amount of federal highway funds received by a state will soon depend on a state's willingness to lower alcohol concentrations to .08 percent (Senate Bill 08 and House Bill 1618).
State Senator Kent Adams (R-Warsaw) and State Representatives David Wolkins (R-Dist 18) and Bill Ruppel (R-Dist. 22) visited with guests of the Kosciusko County Farm Bureau Saturday, giving a legislative update.
The lowering of blood and breath alcohol concentrations was discussed by Wolkins and Ruppel. No one in attendance argued with its reasonableness.
Ruppel co-authored this bill and tucked on a forgiving amendment for first-time offenders.
"I realize there will be people who don't know how much they can drink before they're at .08," he said.
"If you receive a DWI at .08 or .09 and you've never had any other alcohol-related arrests, we'll allow you to pay a fee and complete other requirements."
After six months, if the fee is paid and the requirements met, the offender has a "star" driving record with no points against it.
"A star record means you received your one chance," Ruppel said. "If you get another alcohol-related arrest, you get the full extent of the law."
The bill passed the full House, 89 to 6.
All three lawmakers discussed reassessment.
Reassessment is the process of determining the value of real estate and improvements for taxing purposes.
"We've not reassessed for six years," Sen. Adams said. "Potentially it could go two more years."
Reassessment is expected to "hurt" property owners and Wolkins said safeguards would be built in to protect individual homeowners.
"There are three processes which could be used (to reassess)," Wolkins said. "I'm not sure which the state will use."
The lawmakers were asked why there was such a stalemate on property tax reassessment.
"We're heading for a deadline," a citizen said. "I don't think good laws come together at a deadline."
Ruppel agreed.
He said, "For the last eight years," Ruppel said. "Every summer, there has been a study commission on what to do with reassessment tax. We've probably spent $200 million on studies.
"Four years ago the commission came out with a proposal and the Governor's office said 'no, we'll wait until the next election.' That was done to get some body elected.
"Now there is no surplus. The things said during the election were true but no one was paying attention. This state is being run by greed right now. People want to get something for nothing. Sooner or later you have to pay."
Legislators have been kicking around the idea of raising their pay from $11,600 to $18,000 or $19,000 per year. They've received no pay increase since 1985.
During sessions the representatives receive from $100 to $112 per day for expenses. When not in session their per diem rate is $25.
Four or five representatives share a legislative assistant who receives telephone calls and coordinates correspondence. An administrative secretary works for four or five offices.
House Bill 1899 raises the per diem rate to the federal maximum allowed, at least $40 per day when not in session, with increases allowed each time there is a change in the maximum daily amount.
The changes apply to legislators who live more than 50 miles from Indianapolis.
Ruppel was especially vocal about the proposed pay increase.
"There is a big discrepancy for those of us in the north," he said. "We have to pay for hotel rooms while in Indianapolis and that can cost $1,800 per month."
Ruppel said he shares an apartment and expenses with three other men now and his costs have gone down to about $800 per month.
"I lost $28,000 last year," he said. Ruppel is a school teacher at the top of the scale and "loses" $280 for every day he isn't teaching.
He said he wasn't making excuses, however, just a point.
"I knew that's how it was when I ran for office. I want to make a difference," he said. "Maybe I have, maybe I haven't."
"A lot of people can't afford to go down there. You're going to end up with people who are political junkies or retired," Wolkins said. "There are people who are really hurting financially. Professionals don't get paid back home when they aren't working."
The proposed pay increase wouldn't be effective until after the next election.
"We can't give ourselves a raise," the five-term legislator said.
They touched on a daylight savings time bill (HB 1413), which Ruppel said was dead in committee.
The legislators' discussion on other issues continues in part 3. [[In-content Ad]]
Editor's note: This is the second of three parts.
The amount of federal highway funds received by a state will soon depend on a state's willingness to lower alcohol concentrations to .08 percent (Senate Bill 08 and House Bill 1618).
State Senator Kent Adams (R-Warsaw) and State Representatives David Wolkins (R-Dist 18) and Bill Ruppel (R-Dist. 22) visited with guests of the Kosciusko County Farm Bureau Saturday, giving a legislative update.
The lowering of blood and breath alcohol concentrations was discussed by Wolkins and Ruppel. No one in attendance argued with its reasonableness.
Ruppel co-authored this bill and tucked on a forgiving amendment for first-time offenders.
"I realize there will be people who don't know how much they can drink before they're at .08," he said.
"If you receive a DWI at .08 or .09 and you've never had any other alcohol-related arrests, we'll allow you to pay a fee and complete other requirements."
After six months, if the fee is paid and the requirements met, the offender has a "star" driving record with no points against it.
"A star record means you received your one chance," Ruppel said. "If you get another alcohol-related arrest, you get the full extent of the law."
The bill passed the full House, 89 to 6.
All three lawmakers discussed reassessment.
Reassessment is the process of determining the value of real estate and improvements for taxing purposes.
"We've not reassessed for six years," Sen. Adams said. "Potentially it could go two more years."
Reassessment is expected to "hurt" property owners and Wolkins said safeguards would be built in to protect individual homeowners.
"There are three processes which could be used (to reassess)," Wolkins said. "I'm not sure which the state will use."
The lawmakers were asked why there was such a stalemate on property tax reassessment.
"We're heading for a deadline," a citizen said. "I don't think good laws come together at a deadline."
Ruppel agreed.
He said, "For the last eight years," Ruppel said. "Every summer, there has been a study commission on what to do with reassessment tax. We've probably spent $200 million on studies.
"Four years ago the commission came out with a proposal and the Governor's office said 'no, we'll wait until the next election.' That was done to get some body elected.
"Now there is no surplus. The things said during the election were true but no one was paying attention. This state is being run by greed right now. People want to get something for nothing. Sooner or later you have to pay."
Legislators have been kicking around the idea of raising their pay from $11,600 to $18,000 or $19,000 per year. They've received no pay increase since 1985.
During sessions the representatives receive from $100 to $112 per day for expenses. When not in session their per diem rate is $25.
Four or five representatives share a legislative assistant who receives telephone calls and coordinates correspondence. An administrative secretary works for four or five offices.
House Bill 1899 raises the per diem rate to the federal maximum allowed, at least $40 per day when not in session, with increases allowed each time there is a change in the maximum daily amount.
The changes apply to legislators who live more than 50 miles from Indianapolis.
Ruppel was especially vocal about the proposed pay increase.
"There is a big discrepancy for those of us in the north," he said. "We have to pay for hotel rooms while in Indianapolis and that can cost $1,800 per month."
Ruppel said he shares an apartment and expenses with three other men now and his costs have gone down to about $800 per month.
"I lost $28,000 last year," he said. Ruppel is a school teacher at the top of the scale and "loses" $280 for every day he isn't teaching.
He said he wasn't making excuses, however, just a point.
"I knew that's how it was when I ran for office. I want to make a difference," he said. "Maybe I have, maybe I haven't."
"A lot of people can't afford to go down there. You're going to end up with people who are political junkies or retired," Wolkins said. "There are people who are really hurting financially. Professionals don't get paid back home when they aren't working."
The proposed pay increase wouldn't be effective until after the next election.
"We can't give ourselves a raise," the five-term legislator said.
They touched on a daylight savings time bill (HB 1413), which Ruppel said was dead in committee.
The legislators' discussion on other issues continues in part 3. [[In-content Ad]]