Today's Star informs us that Senators Teresa Lubbers and Pat Miller are calling for a state commission to investigate skyrocketing property tax bills in Marion County and what can be done about them.  Let me save more taxpayer money and avoid a commission--or worse, a special session of the General Assembly.  Here's how I see it.

Perhaps Lubbers and Miller should have spent the entire 2007 session discussing taxes rather than passing unnecessary legislation like making water the official drink of Indiana.  The senators and their party should have made the state budget and tax relief the top issue for day one of the last session.  Instead, they waited until the last 2 weeks of the session to address taxes, pushing another lousy budget on Hoosiers. 

Senator Lubbers points her finger at Bart Peterson for his lack of fiscal control...no argument from me there.  But  it is she who can effect change for all Hoosiers with some creative tax cuts.  Unfortunately, she looks to Senator Kenley for direction.  He wants to shift the tax burden, not cut them. 

Plain and Simple:  Teresa Lubbers (along with Sens. Miller and Kenley) are now and have been for some time listed as taxpayer unfriendly by Watchdog Indiana; I have no faith she will have a sudden revelation making her see a path to tax reform.

The tax problem we now face is a result of the current legislators not doing their job, or doing it poorly.   You don't need a state commission to unravel that mystery.