Tea Partiers Try to Halt Indy Transit Vote

As the Indiana Senate begins to consider whether to allow residents to vote on a tax referendum to expand mass transit in Central Indiana, Tea Party-aligned groups are trying to derail the legislation.

March 21, 2013, 2pm PDT | Jonathan Nettler | @nettsj

Chris Sikich looks at recent efforts by the Indiana chapter of Americans for Prosperity, and other groups, to derail "legislation that would allow residents to decide through a referendum whether to raise their income taxes by up to 0.3 percent to pay for most of the local portion of a 10-year, $1.3 billion transit expansion," in Central Indiana. "That tax would amount to roughly $10 to $15 per month for the average worker and would pay for most of the $700 million local share."

"Transit bill author Rep. Jerr Torr, R-Carmel, said he’s not concerned the opposition will derail transit at the Statehouse," notes Sikich. “All the General Assembly is being asked to do is give this option to local government and voters,” Torr said.

"The bill already passed the House by a 56-39 bipartisan vote, and so far has faced little resistance at the Statehouse. Passage by the Senate, though, is no guarantee."

Full Story:

Metro Indianapolis mass transit plan to face opposition from Tea party

Published on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 in IndyStar.com