"Agreement of Non-Aggression" may explain legislator’s erratic behavior

By David Scott Coker

As the silly season of this election cycle begins in earnest, many Hoosier residents concerned about property tax relief may be wondering if members of the General Assembly have taken leave of their senses?

For many weeks at the beginning of this session of the legislature, there seemed to exist rather universal agreement regarding the gravity of the property tax crisis across the state and members of both parties seemed genuinely interested in working together to find an amicable solution for all parties involved. Members of the leadership of both parties were quick to find merit in various portions of Governor Daniels enormous property tax reform proposal. For a time, at least, there seemed to hover an air of amity, agreement and bi-partisanship among our elected representatives.

More recently, however, the rhetoric and posturing has become more combative. The disagreements over specific portions of the two major versions of the tax bills have become more intense. While some may chock this up to just plain old fashioned political bickering, there is a theory about how we got to this juncture offered by a rather monkish, combative property tax activist to whom we will refer as Brother Phinias the Fair from the fictitious world of Camelot.

This plausible theory, discerned from the quiet conversations among the monks and sages toiling in the carrels near our state capital – holds that back in the dog days of summer, when property tax activists were taking to the streets of our capital city on almost a weekly basis, an "Agreement of Non-Aggression" was drawn up by behind-the-scenes activists supporting both Democratic incumbent Mayor Bart Peterson and Republican Governor Mitch Daniels.

The theoretical "Agreement of Non-Aggression" held that Republican regulars in Marion would basically sit out the mayor's race during the 2007 election cycle, leaving the political neophyte Republican challenger, Greg Ballard, relatively high and dry with very little in terms of manpower, practically no name identification and few campaign contributions, the Mother's milk of American politics.

Out of appreciation for this lack of support and enthusiasm to unseat the very popular incumbent Peterson, the Democrats were willing to put up token opposition to Governor Daniels when he seeks re-election this November.

Unfortunately, this "Agreement of Non-Aggression" did not have a clause written into it to accommodate the "Law of Unintended Consequences" resulting from an enormous grass roots groundswell of anger throughout the state generated by an across-the-board 24 per cent increase in property taxes.

This anger, lit an enormous, time-delayed fuse among neighborhood activists throughout Indianapolis which virtually sprang up over night and took everyone by surprise. Though rallies in churches, street demonstrations and public hearings, the anger grew – and the unknown candidate, Greg Ballard, in a matter of weeks was propelled into being the poster child for the Property Tax Repeal movement which continues to grow in Circle City.

When the powder keg exploded with the unexpected election of Ballard to become the Mayor of Indianapolis, the "Agreement of Non-Aggression" apparently went up in flames with everything else. The Democrats were taken aback in utter disbelief that their young, fresh-faced, has-been mayor could become a casualty of the property tax war being waged across the state.

Now, they feel under no obligation to do anything to help Governor Daniels, and while whatever tax legislation is ultimately passed, it will bear vestigial resemblance to the plan originally offered by the Governor -- other than the portion which raises the sales tax to 7 cents on the dollar. This will place Daniels in the unenviable position of having to run for reelection at a time when he had presided over two enormous tax increases in three short years – something no incumbent Republican ever wants to do.

The more recent, abridged thinking seems to be that the Democrats can actually defeat Daniels in the November election, retain control of the House of Representatives and pick up Senate seats therefore placing them in a stronger position next year, to finish the tax reform work left undone in this session of the General Assembly.

Brother Phinias the Fair looks out over the political landscape and sees little but trench warfare in the coming months. He has been warning of a "perfect political Tsunami" that may be about to hit in Indianapolis, with residents receiving three enormous tax bills in the coming months, one to make up for the money owed from last year's increases that went unpaid in lieu of the Marion County reassessment and two installments for the coming year's obligations.

Elsewhere, there are warning of "a long hot summer" in Indianapolis which could include "barricades and burning tires" in certain urban neighborhoods – we will have to wait and see.

How this will play out in the November elections at this point is anybody's guess, but I would be more willing to bet on the outcome being determined by the "Law of Unintended Consequences" rather than a bi-partisan gentleman's agreement between political adversaries any day!

David Scott Coker
Evansville, IN
oldcars55@aol.com

http://members.aol.com/oldcars55/index.html

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