Where I Stand

Property Tax Reform:

A significant first step to reduce property taxes was accomplished by the Indiana legislature with Governor Daniels' leadership during 2008. I will support the effort to enact the amendments to Indiana’s laws and Constitution necessary to achieve the fair, far-reaching and final changes desired by Indiana’s citizens.

See Governor Daniels' property tax plan here.

Here's what Governor Daniels has to say about Randy Truitt:

"Our neighbors asked us for positive change, and that's what our crew
has tried to bring. We need people on the team like Randy
Truitt who will permanently cap property taxes at 1% of your home's
value, guarantee students two years of college education and continue moving
Indiana in the right direction."

John Polles' opinion on Governor Daniels' plan:
At the October 20th Purdue Student Government debate, when asked about making the Governor's 1% tax cap permanent in the Indiana Constitution, John Polles said it would be "reckless" to do so.

The following day, when asked the same question during a live television debate on WLFI-TV, John Polles said, "I think it's reckless to consider making a constitutional amendment.  We have no idea whether it's effective or not."

This comment from Polles during the televised debate was captured in the October 22nd edition of the Lafayette Journal & Courier.  The article, written by Dorothy Schneider, states:

"Hoosier families are struggling," Truitt said, explaining his support for Gov. Mitch Daniels' plan to make the tax caps approved by the legislature this year permanent in the state constitution.

But Polles called that plan 'reckless'..."

Jobs & Economic Development:

Property tax reforms and increasing the pool of qualified potential employees are two keys to attracting and retaining higher paying jobs for Hoosiers. The successes of these policies are evidenced by the growth of employment and the recently announced investments within Purdue’s Research Park. I am especially excited about the potential for Indiana’s BioCrossroads programs and will offer my support to ensure its continued success.

Indiana is also blessed by our agricultural resources and proximity to the majority of U.S. consumers. To enhance our advantages in these areas, I support further investments in our transportation system to better enable the flow of materials throughout Indiana. I applaud the recent commitment to speed up the construction of the Hoosier Heartland Corridor, and I will lend my voice and efforts to finding the funds for the 231 bypass around West Lafayette.

(Check out Randy's ad about jobs and economic development on our YouTube page.)

Education:

A significant part of property tax relief was the removal of the local levy providing for our school’s operating expenses. However, I will work to ensure that Indiana’s financial support of our local school systems will provide the resources that we need to maintain the educational experience that has led to our high standards of achievement.

We are blessed by having both Purdue University and an Ivy Tech campus in our community. The lifetime benefits to degree recipients from these institutions have been well recognized. I recognize the concerns expressed regarding the increasing costs in attending these institutions. I will work with the legislature and be a voice within these institutions to find ways to create more affordable access to their programs.

(Check out Randy's ad about education on our YouTube page.)