Planting seeds of tax reform

Give Indiana Farm Bureau credit. While some unhappy property taxpayers are harassing elected officials or staging protests with giant tea bags, the advocate for Indiana farm families has produced its own plan. It’s imperfect, but it adds to the much-needed debate over the state’s troubled property-tax system.

Farm Bureau recommends Indiana raise sales and income taxes to offset $2.1 billion that property taxes now generate. That would require boosting the sales-tax rate from 6 percent to 7 percent and the individual income-tax rate from 3.4 percent to 4.4 percent.

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070927/EDIT07/709270356/-1/EDIT

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group

Government Procurement/Contracts

The Third House principals assist our clients to identify and prepare responses to government agencies that require goods or services produced by our clients.  The Third House assists our clients during the procurement and contractual process to address specific needs and concerns to achieve success with the certain government agency.  Most importantly, The Third House listens to the needs of government and advises clients accordingly.

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group

Reform panel stops here

The co-chairman of the blue-ribbon panel looking at reforming and restructuring Indiana’s local government will seek input from Southwestern Indiana residents when he stops in Evansville today.

Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, co-chairman of the Local Government Reform Commission and an Evansville native, will host an “information-gathering session” today. The event begins at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers, Room 301, in Evansville’s Civic Center. The meeting will last about an hour. The public is invited.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/sep/26/reform-panelstops-here/

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group 

The Losing Game

Gambling brings the state hundreds of millions in taxes every year – from riverboat casinos to horse tracks to the lottery.  But what if we told you there were hundreds of millions more just waiting for the state to collect?  That’s what our 13 Investigates team found in an exclusive undercover look into Indiana’s thriving illegal gambling industry – millions and millions of untaxed dollars at virtual mini-casinos all over the state.

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=4469214&nav=menu188_6

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group

Reform is gamble for Ind. governor

The manner in which Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is handling the property tax issue reminds me of the movie “The Godfather Part II.”

In the movie, young Michael Corleone and the crime family he inherited in the late 1950s is pulling its assets out of New York and moving into Las Vegas. He also is negotiating a casino deal involving an aging gangster in Havana, Cuba, which has many of his family members upset.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/sep/26/reform-is-gamble-for-ind-governor/

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group

Interpretations vary on poll about governor’s race

Polls on big political races always produce plenty of takes on what the results mean.

Take a WISH-TV Indiana poll on the 2008 Indiana governor’s race released last week. Democrats said the numbers showed Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels was in danger, or at least vulnerable, in his quest to get re-elected next year.

The Daniels’ campaign said the results showed he was in fine shape. Daniels himself seemed unfazed one way or the other. Two political scientists had their own thoughts, agreeing on at least one: With the May 2008 primary months away and the general election that November even farther off, it’s early.

http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2007/09/25/opinion/times_editorial_columnists/doc4cb76b179a78d1d086257360004a8c22.txt

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group 

Cheri Daniels plugs women’s heart health at Purdue

When Indiana first lady Cheri Daniels visited Purdue University Monday to talk about heart health, the topic hit close to home for junior Jennifer Botelho.

“My family has a big problem with hearts,” Botelho said, adding many of the men on her father’s side of the family died of heart attacks before they hit age 50.

Because of her family history — and the fact that heart disease claims 485,000 women’s lives each year — Botelho tries to get regular exercise and to eat healthy.

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070925/NEWS/709250330/1141/NEWS

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group

Bipartisan interest in Micon’s seat

State Rep. Joe Micon’s announcement that he won’t run for a third term opens the door for local Republicans and Democrats who aspire for a seat in the Statehouse.

For Republicans, the open seat means a little better odds of gaining a majority in the House.

For Democrats, Micon’s decision — coupled with Democratic Rep. Dave Crooks’ announcement that won’t run again either — means the current 51-49 Democrat majority might be a little tougher to hold.

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070925/OPINION01/709250303/1144/OPINION

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group 

Farm Bureau idea to shift tax burden

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Farm Bureau offered a proposal Monday that it believes could result in permanent, substantial property tax relief for all Hoosiers.

One of the key attributes of the plan is that it treats all property taxpayers the same, from businesses to farmers to landlords to homeowners. Legislators often focus on just homeowners.

“This program gives relief to everyone,” said Don Villwock, president of the Farm Bureau.

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070925/NEWS07/709250322/1002/LOCAL

Sam Turpin

The Third House Advocacy Group

Bayh’s backing stirs talk of VP post

WASHINGTON – Sen. Hillary Clinton admires his smarts and his passion, but she sidestepped a question Monday about whether Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., has what it takes to be her running mate.

“It goes without saying that his record of public service is exemplary,” she said. But Clinton went no further when asked whether Bayh is vice-presidential material.

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070925/NEWS03/709250361/1002/LOCAL

Sam Turpin

The Third House Adovacy Group