INDIANA'S TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE GETS A C MINUS
FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
CIVIL ENGINEERS, BUT YOU DON'T
HAVE TO BE AN ENGINEER TO
RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF THE
STATE'S ROADS AND BRIDGES HAVE
BECOME A REAL PAIN IN THE
ASPHALT.
MOST EVERYONE AGREES THAT
REPAIRS ARE BADLY NEEDED.
WHAT'S UP FOR DEBATE IS HOW TO
PAY FOR THE NECESSARY
IMPROVEMENTS.
HI, I'M JON SCHWANTES, AND ON
THIS EDITION OF "INDIANA
LAWMAKERS," WE'LL WE'LL FOCUS
ON INDIANA'S AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WHAT TO DO
ABOUT IT, WITH A PANEL OF
TRANSPORTATION POLICYMAKERS
AND STAKEHOLDERS.
FIRST UP, THOUGH, PAVING THE
WAY FOR THE DISCUSSION IS THIS
REPORT FROM CHRISTOPHER AYERS
OF WFYI PUBLIC MEDIA.
THE CONDITION OF INDIANA'S
ROADS AND BRIDGES TOOK CENTER
STAGE LAST SUMMER AFTER THE
SUPPORT PIER OF AN INTERSTATE
65 BRIDGE NORTH OF LAFAYETTE
WAS FOUND TO HAVE SUNK NINE
INCHES.
THAT DISCOVERY LED TO A MORE
THAN MONTH-LONG CLOSURE OF A
37-MILE STRETCH OF HEAVILY
TRAFFICKED HIGHWAY AND
PROMPTED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MIGHT DO
LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE
FUNDING SOLUTION.
GOVERNOR PENCE BROACHED THE
ISSUE FIRST WHEN HE ANNOUNCED
HIS OWN ROAD FUNDING PROPOSAL
IN OCTOBER.
IT WOULD SPEND A BILLION
DOLLARS ON ROAD AND BRIDGE
IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE NEXT
FOOR YYARS.
THE PLAN WOULD BE PAID FOR, IN
PART, BY PULLING FROM THE
STATE'S EXCESS RESERVES.
IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE
BORROWING ABOUT A QUARTER OF
THE PROPOSED FUNDING THROUGH A
240 MILLION-DOLLAR BOND ISSUE.
THE PLAN HAS BEEN TAKEN UP IN
THE SENATE.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS, HOWEVER,
HAVE PROPOSED A COMPETING
ROADS PLAN.
IT WOULD INCREASE THE STATE
GASOLINE TAX, WHICH HASN'T
BEEN RAISED IN OVER A DECADE,
AS WELL AS THE CIGARETTE TAX.
HOUSE SPEAKER BRIAN BOSMA HAS
CALLED THE PLAN "RESPONSIBLE,
COMPREHENSIVE AND
SUSTAINABLE," AND HE SAYS IT
WOULD FUND THE STATE'S
INFRASTRUCTURE BEYOND THE FOUR
YEARS PROPOSED BY THE
GOVERNOR.
IT'S UNCLEAR, THOUGH, WHETHER
THE GOVERNOR COULD STOMACH A
TAX INCREASE TO PAY FOR ROAD
FUNDING -- SOMETHING HE
MENTIONED EARLIER THIS YEAR
DURING THE STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
IN THE BANK AND YOU GOT THENEY%-
BEST CREDIT RATING IN AMERICA,
THE LAST PLACE YOU SHOULD LOOK
TO PAY FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES
IS THE WALLETS AND POCKETBOOKS
OF HARD-WORKING HOOSIERS.
LET'S INVEST IN OUR ROADS,
LET'S MAINTAIN THE CROSSROADS
AF AMERICA, AND LET'S DO IT
WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.
IT'S UNCLEAR AT THIS POINT
WHICH PLAN, IF EITHER, WILL
MAKE IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S
DESK, AND WHETHER OR NOT HE'D
SIGN IT ONCE IT GOT THERE, BUT
WITH BOTH PLANS POISED TO MAKE
IT UT OF COMMITTEE, IT IS
INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING HAS
ONLY JUST BEGIN.
FOR "INDIANA LAWMAKERS," I'M
CHRISTOPHER AYERS.
THANKS, CHRISTOPHER.
BACK IN A MOMENT WITH OUR
WEEKLY ROUND TABLE.
"INDIANA LAWMAKERS" -- FROM
IN A WAY, LAWMAKERS BEGAN
THE 2016 SESSION AT THE
POLITICAL EQUIVALENT OF A
CCOWDED ALL-WAY STOP.
EVERYONE WAS IN THE SAME
PLACE, MORE OR LESS, BECAUSE
OF THE NEAR-UNIVERSAL
RECOGNITION THAT SOMETHING HAD
TO BE DONE ABOUT THE STATE'S
AGING ROADS AND BRIDGES.
FROM THERE, HOWEVER, LAWMAKERS
HAVE ACCELERATED IN MULTIPLE
DIRECTIONS IN REGARD TO
FUNDING THE NECESSARY
IMPROVEMENTS.
SOME ARE STEERING TOWARD
BORROWING THE MONEY.
SOME ARE ON THE ROADDTO
RAISING TAXES.
AND OTHERS ARE HEADING
STRAIGHT TOWARD TAPPING THE
STATE'S BUDGET RESERVES.
THINK YOU NEED A GPS TO KEEP
TRACK OF IT ALL?
NAH, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING FAR
BETTER -- THE EXPERT PANEL
THAT JOINS ME TODAY.
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ED
SOLIDAY OF VALPARAISO,
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE ROADS
AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE DAN
FORESTAL OF INDIANAPOLIS,
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF
THAT AME PANEL.
FISHERS MAYOR SCOTT FADNESS,
CHAIRMAN OF THE INDIANA
ASSOCIATION OF CIIIES AND
TOWNS' LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
AND JUSTIN STEVENS, STATE
DIRECTOR OF AMERICANS FOR
PROSPERITY, A CONSERVATIVE,
ANTITAX ADVOCACY GROUP FOUNDED
BY BILLIONAIRE BROTHERS DAVID
AND CHARLES KOCH.
AND I THANK YOU ALL FOO
TRAVELING THE ROADWAYS TO GET
HERE FOR THIS TAPING.
ED SOLIDAY, WHAT IS THE
FLIPPANT, BUT WHAT'S MOREADS I%-
DANGEROUS POLITICAL POTHOLES
OR THE ACTUAL POTHOLES.
I WOULD RATHER DEAL WITH
POLIIICAL POTHOLES THAN ROAD
POTHOLES.
WE BEGAN FIVE YEARS TO THE
ASPECT QUESTION AND QUITE
FRANKLY, IN 2013 WE PASSED A
BILL THAT TOLD INDOT TO HIRE A
CONSULTANT AN AND TELL US, ONE,
AAL OF THE WAYS TO FUND ROADS
USING A METRIC THAT EVERYONE
COULD BE USED TO COMPARE TO
OTHER STAAES.
OOT OF THAT STUDY INDIANA WAS
IN THE LOWER THIRD OF THE
NATION.
AND LOOKING AT A REASONED
STUDY IN MANY AREAS, WE ARE
24th IN ROAD MILES AND WELL
BELOW 30th AND SOMETIMES
45th IN EACH OF THE METRICS,
SO WE ARE THE CROSSROADS OF
AMERICA, WE GET HUGE WEAA ON
OUR STATE HIGHWAYS FROM
18-WHEEL TRUCKS AND SO FORTH.
SO WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.
NOW, LAST YEAR, THOUGH, WAS
A BUDGET YEAR AND EARRY ON,
SAY LAST SPRING, I DON'T THINK
FOLKS NECESSARILY SAW THIS ON
THE RADAR.
IT HAS BEEN GROWING.
WE BEGAN FIVE YEARS AGO IN THE
COMMITTEE WITH A SUMMER STUDY
COMMITTEE.
CARL BROWNING, WHO WAS
COMMISSIONER, THEN, LAST YEAR,
TESTIFYING BEFORE OUR
COMMITTEE, OUR JOINT STUDY
COMMITTEE, BEFORE WAYS AND
MEANS, SAID THAT HE NEEDED
BETWEEN 250 AND $300 MILLION,
ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, EVERY YEAR
JUST TO STOP THE DECLINE IN
OUR ROADS.
JUST TT STOP THE DECLINE.
SO WE KNEW IT WAS THEREE
THE ISSUE WAS LAST YEAR THERE
WERE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS ON
THE AGENDA.
WE WANTED TO GET EDUCATION
TAKEN CARE OF.
AND THE SPEAKER WAS SAYING
EVEN LAST YEAR THIS WOULD BE
THE YEAR OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
WWLL, AND FORESTAL YOU AND
OTHER DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN
-ABANGING THE DRUMS ABOUT THE
CONDITION OF ROADWAYS
ESPECIALLY LAST SUMMER WITH
THE SNARLING IN WEST LAFAYETTE
WITH THE SINKING BRIDGE AND
RESULTANT DETOURS.
DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR CAUCUS
HAS BROUGHT TO BRING ABOUT
MORE MEDIA FOCUSSON THIS
ISSUE?
I WOULD SAY THAT.
AND DEMOCRATS REALLY ARE THE
REASON THIS ISSUE IS PROBABLY
NUMBER ONE IN TERMS OF WHAT
THE LEGISLATURE'S LOOKING AT
RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, I THINK FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, WE WOULD HAVE
LIKED TO SEE SOMETHING BE
ADDRESSED IN THE BUDGET OR IN
THE BUDGET SESSION.
INDIANA'S -- INDIANA'S KNOWN
FOR ITS ROADS AND RIGHT NOW
WE'RE NOT LIVINGGUP TO THE
RESPONSIBILITY.
THE ROADS ARE NOT IN GREAT
CONDITION, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
GENERALLY IS NOT IN GREAT
CONDITION AND IT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE ARE GOING TO AVE TO
ADDRESS.
IT'S GOOD THAT WE ALL AGREE ON
THAT PORTION OF IT.
THE QUESTIIN IS HOW DO WE GO
FORWARD WITH IT.
MAYOR, HOW IMPORTANT IS
ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND ROAD
REPAIRS IN MAYORS ANN CITIES
THAT ARE SMALL.
SSRE, MONDAY
ACROSS-THE-BOARD NUMBER ONE
PRRORITY IS IMPROVEMENT IN
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND SO WE'RE WATCHING
MR. SOLIDAY'S BBLL VERY
CLOSELY IN THE HOUSE, WE'RE
LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN
TO ALL OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES-
ABOUT WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO
FIND A SUSTAINABLE PLAN FOR
THE FUTURE OF OUR
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
DO YOU THINK MOST MAYORS
ARE SAYING THAT THEY SEE THE
PROBLEMS NOW OR IS THIS MORE
OF A PRECAUTION THAT, THE
RECOGNITION THAT MANY OF THE
BRIDGES, MANY OF THE ROADS
ARE, IN FACT, AGING AND THAT
THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGE IN
THE YEARS TO COME?
YEAH, WE TEND NOT TO BE
ALARMIST ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT
WE DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE AA%
THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION ABOUT
THE LONG--ERM VIABILITY ABOUT
OUR FUNDINGGISSUES.
MAYOR AT THE CURRENT FUNDING%-
LEVEL WE WOULD REPAVE OUR
ROADS ONCE EVERY 72 YEARS
WHICH IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE
MODEL.
OUR ROADS MAY BE IN DECENT
CONDITION TTDAY BUT THE
LIKELIHOOD THEY WILL BE IN THE
15, 25 YEARS UNDER CURRENT
FUNDING LEVELS IS UNLIKELY.
WE NEED TO HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION TOAD.
JUSTIN, YOUR ORGANIZATION,
YOU WOULD JUST AS SOON NOT TO
HAVE A GOT OF GOVERNMENTAL
INTRUSION, BIG SPENDING, BUT
WOULD E ACKNOWLEDGE A
INFRASTRUCTURE ESPECIALLY
WHAT'' TOUTED AS THE
CROSSROADS OF AMERICA IS
IMPORTANT?
CERTAINLY, I THINK ANYONE
WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
WE THINK THAT PROVIDING THE
APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE IS
A BASIC CORE FUNCTION OF
GOVERNMENT.
WE DO THINK THAT SHOUUD BE
TAKEN CARE OF.
WHAT WE MAY DIFFER IS HOW
SHOULD WE DO THAT AND WHAT ARE
OUR PRIORITIES.
THAT IS A CORE FUNCTION OF
GOVERNMENT.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAA
MAYBE AREN'T AND HOW DO WE
NNED TO PRIORITIZE OUR STATE
BUDGET FOR THAT.
THE GOVERNOR JUMPED INTO
THE FRAY, TAPPING THE RESERVES
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT AND ALSO
BORROWING OR BONDING, I GUESS
AS IT'S MORE PLEASANT TO SAY,
WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THAT BILL?
WELL, FIRST OF ALL --
I SHOULD OT SPEAK ABOUT IT
IN PAST TENSE, INCIDENTALLEY,
IT'S STILL ALIVE AND WELL.
FIRST, WE'RE GLAD HE
RECOGNIZES IT'S A PROBLEM.
YEAR CREATES $400 MILLION.RST
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN OVERFUNDING
MEDICAID FOR A WHILE.
IN THE SECOND YEAR, IT ONLY
CREATES MONEY IF THHRE IS MORE
REVENUE THAN THE BUDGET AND
THE RESERVES ARE OVER 11 1/2%.
SO F YOU LOOK AT THE FISSAL
DELIVERED BY LEGISLATIVE
SERVICES, THEY'RE ALL ZEROS,
NO MONEY, IT'S UNPREDICTABLE.
BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A RECESSION
OF ANY KIND OR A DIP IN THE
ECONOMY AND WE FUND THOSE
BASICS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR
BUDGET, HOW LEAN IT'S BEEN
AINCE GOVERNOR DANIELS WAS
HERE AND HOW WELL MANAGED IT'S
BEEN 54% OF IT OR SO IS K-12
EDUCATION, ANOTHER 11% IS
HIGHER ED.
SO YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY
MONEY FOR A GROWING PROBLEM
AFTER THEEFIRST YEAR.
SECOND OF ALL, A NUMBER OF US
DO NOT WANT TO PASS THE DEBT
FOR THAT INFRASTRUCTURE ON TO
OUR CHILDREN SO WE DON'T WANT
A BOND.
TODAY, ON A BONDING THAT WAS
DONE IN 1998, WE'RE PAYIIG
$100 MILLION A YEAR.
AND THOSE DEDICATED SOURCES
NOW DON'T PAY THAT
100 MILLION, SO WE'RE HAVING
TO DIP INTO OUR GENNRAL
REVENUES TO PAY THROUGH 2029
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S
COMING APART.
WE DON'T AGGEE.
IT'S LIKE BUYING A HOME AND
MORTGAGING THE CARPEE FOR 30
YEARS WHEN IT LASTS 15.
DAN FORESTAL, YOUR CAUCUS
MAY NOT LIKE NECCSSARILY THE
BORROWINN BUT I THINK IT'S
CLEAR YOU DO LIKE THE NOTION
OF TAPPING THE RESERVES.
THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN TO PUT,
YOU KNOW, A PORTION OF OUR
ROADS ON A CREDIT CARD IS JUST
FISCALLY NOT RESPONSIBLE, IT'S
NOT SMART PUBLIC POLICY, I
THINK WE'LL BE PAYING IT OFF
LONG AFTER THE ROADS HAVE
DETERIORATED AND GONE.
WE'LL STILL BE PAYING THE
BONDS OFF.
IN FACT, UR CHILDRRN WILL BE
PAYING THOSE BONDS OFF.
BUT WHERE WE DO AGREE WITH THE
GOVERNOR IS THAT NNW IS NOT
THE TIME TO RAISE TAXES ON
HOOSIERS, I MEAN, WE -- THEE%
INDIANA HAS LAGGED BEHIND IN
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLDDINCOME PER
CAPITA INCOME IN TERMS OF THE
REST OF THE NATION, WE ARE
BEHIND.
AND UNTIL THOSE KINDS OF
TRENDS TURN, HOW DEMOCRATS
FEEL TTAT WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS
ROLL UP OUR SLEEVEE AND LOOK
IN THE EXISTIIG BUDGET AND THE
SURPLUU, THE MONEY WE'VE
ALREADY COLLECTED FROM
TAXPAYERS TO FUND OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEN MAYBE WE MMVE ON AND TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER, YOU
SOME OF THE REALLY LONG-TERM,
LONG-LOOKING THINGS.
BUT BEFORE WE'VE, YOU KNOW,
-ACHECK THE COUCH CUSHIONS AND
REALLY SHAKEN THE TREESSAND
MADE SURE WE'VE EXHAUSTED
EVERY OTHER OPTION WE FEEL NNW
IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO RAISE
TAXES.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
AAXES, BELIEVE E, THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THE
DISCUSSION BUT I GUESS, MAYOR,
YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS
THE STATE PROBABLY WERE ALSO
TROUBLED INITIALLY BY THE
NOTION THAT INITIAL
LEGISLATION THAT WAS PUT FORTH
BY THE GOVERNOR DEALT ONLY
WITH STATE-CONTROLLED ROADWAYS
NOT THOSE CONTROLLED BY
COUNTIES OR MUNICIPALITIES AND
THAT'S THE VAST MAJORITY OF
ROADWAYS N THE STATE, IS IT
NOT?
THE GOVERNOR SUPPORTED
HERSHMAN'S BILL,,$30 BACK TO
LOCAL SO I THINK THERE IS SOME
RECOGNITION BY THH GOVERNOR
AND THE SENATE THAT THERE IS A
NEED TO GET MONNY BACK TO THE
LOCALS TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
FOCUSING ON THE STATE WOULD
HAVE BEEN A NONSTARTER.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
DIFFICULT FOR US.
THERE ARE CHALLENGES AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL THAT ENEED TO DEAL
WITH AND THAT $430 MILLION IS
A SIGNIFICANT ONE-TIME TO GIVE
BACK TO THE LOCALS IN TERMS OF
THE LOCAL INCOME TAXES.
I THINK THERE'S A RECOONITION
BY THE GOVERNOR THERE'S A NEED
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL, IT
JUST WASN'T II THE INITIAL
CONCEPT OF THE BILL.
THAT'S GIVEN BBCK THE LOCAL
INCOME TAXES TAXES THAT THE
STATE IS HOLDING FROM THE
LOCALS.
IT ISN'T A HARD SELL.
WHEN WE TALK TO HOOSIERS AND
WE'VE ADE TENSE OF THOUSANDS
OF PHONE CALLS, I THINK IT'S A
HARD SELLLTO TELL HOOSIERS
AHAT WE HAVE $2 BILLION IN
RESERVE, THAT OUR REVENUE
INCREASED BY $750 MILLION LAST
FISCAL YEAR ALONE, 600 MILLION
OF THAT WAS IN INDIVIDUAL
INCOME TAXES AND SALES TAX
REVENUE, O THEN ASK THEM TO
PAY MORE.
I THINK IT'S A HARD SELL.
SO THEY HAVE THEIR WORK CUT
OUT FOR THEM AS FAR AS SELLING
THAT TO THE PUBLIC AND WE'RE
GOING TO KEEP IN EFFECT PEOPLE
OF OUR VIEW ON IT.
SELL JUSTIN STEVENS ON IT
AND SOLIDAY ON IT.
I TRY NOT TO WORRY ABOUT
HIM TOO MUCH.
C'MON.
WE ---THIS IS NOT NEW TO
US.
FIVE YEARS.WORKING ON IT FOR
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF POLLS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN IT LIKE THIS.
ACROSS AMERICA THERE'S
65% OF AMERICANS AND ABOUT THE
SAME AMOUNT OF HOOSIERS SAY
SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.
UP UNTIL THE LAST YEAR AND A
HALF, ONNY 30% WERE WILLING TO
PAY FOR IT IN ANY WAY.
TODAY WELL OVER 50% OF
HOOSIERS AND AT LEAST THREE
POLLS HAVE SAID WE ARE WILLING
TO PAY MORE.
WHAA'S THE DIIFERENCE, CANN%
YOU PINPOINT ONEETHING?
SURE.
PARTICULARLY IN YOUR AREA --
WELL, EXACTLY..%
BUT ON THE DAY I SPOKE AT A
CONFERENCE,,WE HAD ANOTHHR
BRIDGE IN SOUTHERN INDIANA
HAVE PROBLEMS.
PEOPLE ARE -- CHIP AND SEALING
A LOT OF ROADS INSTEAD OF
PAVING THEM SO WE'RE SEEING
WINDSHIELDS BROKEN.
RIGHT NOW TODAY HOOSIERS SPEND
ABOUT $366 PER YEAR N
MAANTAIIIIG THEIR VEHHCLES
FROM DAAAGG FROM ROADS.
SO THEY'RE FEELING IT.
SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVERY
PLACE I HAVE SPOKEN -- AND
I'VE SPOKEN A LOT OF PLACES --
WHEN I SAY HOW MANY OF YOU ARE
WILLING TO PAY A NICKEL MORE
GALLON, THAT'S $25 PER YEAR, PE-
IT'S ABOUT 5% THAT SAY NO.
WELL, YOU SPECULATED
UPFRONT YOU CAN'' CONVINCE
JUSTIN SSEVENS TO CHANGE HIS
HOW ABOUT YOURS, JUSTIN
FORESTALLDOES THAT RING TRUE?
SOLIDAY HAS WORKED ON A
BILL THAT HAVE A LOT OF GOOD
PROVISIONS BUT --
YEAH.NEW THAT WAS COMING.%-
HE DID A NNCE JOB OF REALLY
TRYING TO SELL IT BUT, YOU
KNOW, LOOK, THE CORPORATE
INCOME TAX IS SET TO DECLLNE
ALMOST TO HALF OF WHAT IT IS
RIGHT NOW OVER THE NEXT COUPLE
OF YEARS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK -- I
AGREE WITH JUSTIN IT IS RARE,
I WOULD HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY AND
DEMOCRATS AGREE THAT IT'S
NICE.
TRYING TO GET US TO AGREE.
THERE ARE SOMEEKOCH
BROTHERS FUNDING IN YOUR
CAMPAIGN.
YEAH, AND IT'S NICE TO
AGREE N SOME OO THESE PIECES.
BUT FOR AS LONG AS THE
CORPORATE INCOME TAX IS SET TO
GG TO ALMOST HALF OF WHAT IT
IS RIGHT NOW IT'S GOING TO BE
VERY HARD TO GO BACK AND TELL
AY CONSTITUENTS, BUT WE WANT
TO RAISE YOUR TAXES.
YOU KNOW, CORPORATIONS HAVE
HAD IT VERY, VERY WELL FOR A
VERY LONG TIME AND I LIKE
HAVING LOW TAXES FOR EVERYONE,
BUT, YYU KNOW, HAVING
CORPORATIONS' TAXES GO DOWN
WHILE HOOSIERS GO UP IT'S JUST
A NONSTARTTR FOR US.
THERE ARE ARIOUS
MECHANISMS THATTWOULD
INCREASE, SOLIDAY, INCREASE ON
GAS TAX, OFFSET DECLINE ON
MEDDCAID SPENDING, DOLLAR TAX
ON CIGARETTES.
BUT THERE'S MORE LATITUDE FOR
MUNICIPALITIES.
GOOD IDEA??%
IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GGVE US
TOOLS TO MAKE A DECISION T
THE LOCAL LEVEL WHETHER OR NOO
WE WANT TO INCREASE RESOURCES
AND WHHEHER OR NOT WE WANT TO
SAD THAT FEE OR TAX AT A LOCAL
LEVELS.
IT'S IMPEEATIVE FOR THE
LONG-TERMMVIABILITY OF OUR
APPLAUD IT FOR SOLIDAY TO GET
THAT DONE.
DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE THE
STOMACH TO HAVE IT.
-ATHEE'RE CLOSEST TO THE
CCTIZENRY AND TAXPAYERS AND
VOTERS.
DEPENNS WHICH CITY YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT AAD THE
SITUATION THEY'RE IN.
THERE'S A VALUE PROPOSITION
CONVERSATION WITH THE
RESIDENTS HERE.
YOU CAN DDMONSTRATE HE VALUE
WHAT THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARR
GOING TO TO IMPROVE THEIR
INFRASTRUCTURE I THINK A LOT
OF RATIONAL HOOSIERS WOULL
LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, YOU KNOW
WHAT, I'M WILLING TO PAY MORE.
JUSTEN DOES IT MATTER TO
-AYOU WHETHHR IT'S LEVIED AT THE
STATE LEVEL?
THE KEY HERE IT'S A LITTLE
BIT MISLEADING WHEN WE SAY
JUST A NICKEL MORE PER GALLON
BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO TO A CITY
LIKE JJFFERSONVILLE, WHERE
THEY DON'T HAVE A WHEEL TAX.
IF YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE AND A
FAMILY WHERE THEY BOTH DRIVE A
CAR, DRRVE TO WORK, IT COULD
BE A 250, $300 INCREASE, NOT
COUNTING IF THEY SMOKE
INCLUDES THE INCOME TAX,
DOUBLE WHEEL TAX, CITY
IMPLEMENTS ANOTTER WHEEL TAX
ON TOP OF THAT AND THEN
THEY'RE PAYING AN EXTRA $25
APIECE A YEAR FOR THEIR GAS,
II'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT, ESPECIALLYYFOR --
HOW DOES ONE FUND -- IF
IT'S A BILLION A YEAR THAT'SS%
NEEDED OR 300 ADDITIONAL, 1.5,
I'VE SEEN LOTS OF NUMBERS, HOW
DOES THAT GGT DONE?
T'S ABOUT PRIORITIES.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.
WE'VE BEEN SPENDING
TRANSPORTATION MONEY FOR
GENERAL FUNDS PROJECTS.
THIS PAST YEAR IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN $350 MILLION A YEAR THAT
WAS DERIVED FROM SALES TAX ON
GASOLINE THAT COULD HAVE BBEN
SPENT ON TRANSPORTATION.
BUT IT HASN'' BEEN.
AND I WILL GIVE, YOU KNOW,
YESTERDAY REPRESENTATIVE BROWN
POINTED OUT THAA REPUBLICANS
ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE BACK
IN THE BILL HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT EARLIER AND CEETAIILY IT
IS A CREDIT TO THAT.
SO THAT'S ENOUGH.
ONE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO
MEANNTHIS WITHHALL DUEY DO, I
RESPECT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IN
FISHERS PEOPLE MMY BE A LITTLE
MORE ABLE TO FIND THE EXTRA
INCOME TO -- OR THE EXTRA
MONEY TO FUND THIS TAX, ANN IN
MY DISTRICT WE HAVE SOMEE%
REALLY, REALLY HARD-HIT AREE,
THERE ARE SOME VERY, VERY POOR
AREAS IN MY DISTRICT WHERE,
YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAVE A MUCH
LARGER IMPACT THAN FISHERS
OR --
IS THAT AN ISSUE, EVEN WITH
THE HERSHMAN BILLER SOME WOULD
SAY A DISPROPORTION MAT IMPACT
TO BETTER HEELED COMMUNITIES.
AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
IT'S DEPENDENT UPON EACH CITY
I THINK THERE'S A LOCAL
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT'S
THESE TOOLS WHERE RESIDENTS
WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTTNITY TO
WEIGH IN AS TO WHETHER THEY
THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR
THEIR COMMUNITY OR NOT SO I
THINK EACH COMMUNITT'S GOING
TO HAVE TO WEIGH THAT DECISSOO
AND WHETHER II'S IN THE BEST
INTEREST FOR TTE RESIDENTS.
WHETHER IT'S FISHERS OR SOME
OTHER COMMUNITY I THINK IT'S
GOING TO BE UP TO THE
RESIDENTT ULTIMAAELY WHEN WEE%
TALK ABOUT THE LOCAL TOOLSS%
THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS
BILL.
Ap I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, WE
NEED TO GET SOME FUNKY MATH
AUT OF HERE BECAUSE WE'VE
TRIED TO BE DATA-DRIVEE.
AOR SOMEBODY TO PAY THE KIND
OF MONEY JUSTIN'S TALKING
ABOUT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE
DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE
60,000 MILES A YEAR.
THE AVERAGE HOOSIER DRRVES
ABOUT 11,988 MILES, SSMMTHING
LIKE THAT, PER CAR.
SO WHEN YOU WORK THAT OUT, HE
PAYS -- IF YOU LOOK AT AVERAGE
MILEAGE -- MILES PERRGALLON,
YOU'RE LOOKING AT AAOUT $108
PER VEHICLE PER YEAR THAT
PEOPLE ARE PAYING.
THAT'S $108.
-AWHAT'S YOUR CELL PHONE BILL?
AOW, FOR THAT, FOR THE AVERAGE
HOOSIER, TO GO TO $250, I NEED
TO SEE THE MATH.
p> NO, NO, NO, NO THAT'S NOT
BASED ON THE GAS TAX ALONE.
I'M SAYING IF A WHEEL TAX WERE
IMPLEMENTED IN THESE
COMMUNITIES --
YEAH, SO YOU GGT A WHEEL
TAX OF $50 FROM THE CITY, $50
FROM HE COUNTY, THAT'S $100,
IF YOU HAVE TWO CARS, THAT'S
$200 AND THEN YOU'RE PAYING
THE ADDITIONAL $50 A YEAR IN
GAS TAXES IF YOU'RE BOTH
DRIVING SO THAT'S WHERE THE
MATH COMES IN.
AND THE PEOPLE GET TO
DECIDE THAT.
AND THE TRUE -- THE ISSUE HERE
IS -- FISHERS IS UNIQUE.
II'S A FAIRLY NEW CITY.
ASPHALT LASTS ABOUT 15 TO 20
YEARS.
CONCRETE LASTS ABOUT 30 YEARS.
AND THAT MEANS REEUILD IT AAL
THE WAY TO THE LAY.
WE HAVE CITIES -- BRIDGES LAST
ABOUT 50 YEARS.
WE HAVE BRIDGES THAT ARE ON
188-YEAR REBUILD CYCLE.
WE HAVE CITIES THAT ARE ON 70
AND 80-YEAR REPAVE CYCLES.
NOW, THE PROBLEM WITH THE
ONE-YEAR, ONE POO.T'S%-
OUR CITIES NEED ABOUT
$470 MILLION A YEAR
INCREMENTAL JUST TO STOP THE
DECLINE.
OF COURSE, THE ONE-YEAR POP
IS GOOD WHEN IT'S AN ELECTION
YEAR AND WHAT ROLE DOES THAT
PLAY, THE FACT THAT IN
NOVEMBER MANY OO YOUR
COLLEAGUES WWLL BE GOING --
STANDING FORRREELECTION?
I'M SURE, YOU KNOW, AT SOME
LEVEE IT MAKES IT MMRE
DIFFICULT BUT I THINK MOST --
MOSTLY PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW,
HAVE SOME KIND OF TECHNICAL,EY%-
YOU KNOW, ISSUE WITH THE BIIL,
SOME KIND OF FUNDING MECHANISM
PORTION OF IT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ALL
ELECTION-RELATED, IT REALLY
COMES DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE
NECESSARY TO LOOK FOR THEORK
MONEY IN THE EXISTING REVENUE
WE HAVE AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS
JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE.
WE TALK ABOUT THE T WORD,
TAXXS, THE BILL TALKS ABOUT
STUDYING TOLLS.
IS THAT ACCEPTABLE TO YOUR
ORGANIZATION?
I THINK WE CAN STUDY THAT
FOR THE LONG-TERM.
WE'REEOPEN TOOTHE STUDY FOR
SURE.
SO THAT'S BETTER THAN
TAXES, IN YOUR MIND?
WELL, I THINK THAT'S A
LONG-TERM DISCUSSION.
IF WE'RE DECIDING BETWEEN
RAISING TAXXE RIGHT NOW OR A
LOOG-TERM SOLUTION FOR
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING 20, 30
YEARS DOWW THE ROAD, THAT
MIGHT BE SOMETHIIG WE HAVE TO
DISCCSS.
TO TOLLS, MAYOR.
THIS IS COMING FROM A GUU
THAT ROVE UP 65 TTIS MORNING
THAT WOULL HAVE HAD TO PAY $16
TO GET HERE SO --
I APPPECIATE YOUR COMING
AND APPRECIATE EVERYBODY ELSE
COMING HERE FOR THIS
DISCUSSIONN
AGAIN, MY GUESTS HAVE BEEN
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ED
SOOIDAY OF VALPARAISO.
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENNATIVE DAN
FORESTAL OF INDIANAPOLIS.
FISHERR MAYOR SCOTT FADNESS OF
THE INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF
CITIES AND TOWNS.
AND JUSTIN STEVENS OF
-AAMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY.
WE'RE TALKING FANTASY
SPORTS IN INDIANA.
SO IF YOU'RE A DRAFT KING OR A
FAN DUELER, I BET YOO'LL
DOUBLE DOWN ON THE NEXT
"IIDIANA LAWMAKERS."
TIME NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY
CONVERSATION WITH ED
FEIGENBAUM, PUBLISHER OF THE
NEWSLETTER INDIANA
"LEGISLATIVE INSIGGT."
SPOTS ON ONE SIDE, WE'VE GOT
DIRECT MAIL PIECES ON THE
OTHER SIDEE THIS II GETTING
ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY REAL
QUICKLY.
AS MUCH AS WE MIGHT THINK THAT
EVERYTHING WILL BE DECIDED
QUICKLY IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
DECIDED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
IT'S NOT EVEN ALL GOING TO BE
DECIDED THIS SESSION.
I THINK NEXT YEAR YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE A LOT MORE ATTENNION TO
THIS REGARDLESS WHAT WE DO
THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE GOING
TO LOOK FOR A SHORT-TERMMFIX
WHICH COULD INCLUDE TAXES THIS
YEAR BUT NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE
REAL KEY AS WE DO WHAT ED
AOOIDAY WANTS TO DO, TAKE THAT
LONG-TERM VIEW DOWN THE ROAD.
WHAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS,
THOUGH, IS THE FACT THAT THE
AILING ATLANTA CLLSES SOON FOR
CANDIDACY SO THESE
LEGISLATOOSS PARTICULARLY
REPPBLICANS WHO FEAR BEING
PRIMARIED, ARE GOING TO SEE
WHO THEIR OPPONENTS ARE BEFORE
THEY HAVEETO VOTE EFFFCTIVELY
ON A TAA INCREESE TOWARD THE
END OF THE SESSION SO THAT'S
GOIIG TO HELP DRIVE THIS
DEBATE.
BUT YOU THINK THE TAX
QUESTION COULD SURVIVE EVEN
ABSOLUTELY AND WHAT YOUAR?
WILL SEE IS SOME TYPE OF
INDEXING, THE INDEXING THAT
REPRESENTATIVE SOLIDAY WAS
REFERRING TO, I THINK THAT'S
ALMOST A CERTAINTY.
THERE'S AN ONGOING INCREASE
IN THE TAX RATE, KEEP PACE
WITH INFLATION.
RIGHT, WE BUMP THINGS BACK
TO WHERE THINGS WERE BEFORE
THE RATES WERE CHAAGED.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE
TODAY VERSUS GAS TAXES VERSUS
WHERE WE WERE BACK THEN IN 21
GOVERNOR O'BANNON IMPOSED THE
TEMPORARY BAN ON THE GASOLINE
SALES TAX, GAS AT THE SHELL
STATION AT 16th AND CAPITOL
IN IIDIANAPOLIS WAS $1.84.9
GALLON AND TODAY ON MY WAY
INTO THE STUDIO IT WAS DOWN TO
$1.74.9.
EVEN THOUGH YOU INDEXED
TODAY'S PRICES AGAINST THEE%
PRICES BACK THEN YOU'D STILLL%
BE AT ABOUT THE SAME PRICE AS
-AYOU WERE BACK 15, 16 YEARS
AGO.
IF A TAAXBILL SHOWS UP ON
THE GOVERNOR'' DESK, DOES THAT
PUT MIKE PENCE IN A TOUGH
SPOT?%-HE SAID IN THE STATE OF E
STATE THE LAST PLACE HE WOULD
LOOK WOULD BE IN THE WALLETS
OF POCKETBOOKS OF HOOSIEES.
HE'S BEEN PRETTY
COOPERATIVE IN LETTINGGTHE
LEGISLATURE COMING UP WITH THE
BEST SET OF CONCLUSSONS AND
THE BEST PACKAGES AND I THINK
THAT IF HE GETS WHAT HE WAATS
IN THERE, HE'' BE WILLING TO
AT EAST ALLOW A TAX INCREASE
IN EITHER CIGARETTES OR THE
GASOLINE SALES TAX TO BECOME
LAW EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT HIS
SIGNATURE.
THESE ARE NOT A, B, C, THIS
COULD BE AN AMALGAM BY THE
TIME WE'RE DONE WITH
COOFERENCE.
IT ILL BE A PACCAGE
PRESENTED TO GOVERNOR.
VERY INTERESTING.
ED, THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS FOR
YOUR INSIGHT.
FOR INFORMATION, EETRA
STREAMING
YOU CAN ACCESS LIVE
STREAMMNG COVERAGE OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE
INTERNET AS WELL.
AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN GET OUR
SHOW, ON DEEAND, FROM XFINITY
AND BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS.
>WELL, THAT CONCLUDES
ANOTHER EDITION OF "INDIANA
LAWMAKERS."
I'M JON SCHWANTES, AND ON
BEHALF OFFWFYI PUBLIC MEDIA,
INNIANA'S OTHER
PUBLIC-BROADCASTING STATIOOS,
AND MYYCOLLEAGUES ED
FEIGENBAUM AND CHRISTOPHER
AYERS, I THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US, AND IIINVITE YOU TO VISIT
WFYI.ORG FOR MORE ON THE 2016
UNTIL EXT EEK....%