Rep. Lutz Announces The Taxpayer Protection Plan:

Growing Jobs, Helping Hoosiers

STATEHOUSE - Rep. Jack Lutz (R-Anderson), along with his House Republican colleagues, today unveiled a 2010 legislative agenda with a focus on three key areas: protecting taxpayers’ pocketbooks, growing and protecting jobs and enacting meaningful government reform. The 2010 legislative session is set to begin Jan. 5.

“When Hoosiers are in need, the call for help falls on the shoulders of their public officials,” said Rep. Lutz. “House District 35 has been hit hard with rising unemployment rates, so it is my intent to work on legislation that will provide businesses with incentives to expand and/or develop in Indiana. Government can’t create jobs, but we can help create an environment that is conducive to accelerate job creation.” 

The Taxpayer Protection Plan: Growing Jobs, Helping Hoosiers calls for permanent property tax caps along with growing and protecting Hoosier jobs.  Rep. Lutz hopes that the plan will serve as the foundation for providing fiscal protection to every Hoosier taxpayer. 

Rep. Lutz supports three main goals that do not rely upon taxpayers as an unlimited resource for taxes and also protect their pocketbooks: (1) pass permanent property tax caps now; (2) no new tax increases; (3) live within our means.

The plan also includes four initiatives to protect and grow jobs: 

■ Calling upon the Department of Workforce Development to delay sending 2010 tax bills to employers. 

■ Supporting the delay of the unemployment insurance tax increase.  House Republicans did not support the bill from last session because it would punish employers with one of the largest tax increases in state history during an unprecedented economic downturn.

■ Supporting a review of all available job incentives so that Indiana can pool the current incentive funding to allow the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to use the incentives to increase Hoosier employment.

■ Allowing new businesses to phase in their income tax within three years of starting a new business. This incentive will put Indiana ahead of many states around the country.

The final portion of the Taxpayer Protection Plan will ensure the legislative process at all levels is open and transparent to Hoosier taxpayers. The plan provides increased lobbyist and legislator disclosures, creating an independent redistricting commission and encouraging efficiencies for local governments.