Lifting debt ceiling will cause rating cut
On page A5 of the Kokomo Tribune Jan. 6, there was an article entitled, “Obama wants action on borrowing limit crisis”.
The sixth paragraph reads, “But he [President Obama] said he will not compromise over his insistence that Congress lift the debt ceiling. The nation’s credit rating was downgraded the last time lawmakers threatened inaction on the debt ceiling, in 2011.”
The credit rating of the United States was not downgraded because lawmakers “threatened inaction.” It was downgraded because the debt ceiling was once again raised with no serious plan to decrease spending.
Now President Obama has vowed he “will not comprise” – his determination is clear – the debt limit WILL be raised. And if President Obama’s insistence in raising the debt limit becomes reality, another downgrading of America’s credit rating will likely become reality too.
Added to massive debt increases and the lowering of America’s credit rating, if President Obama gets his way, he will not need the vote of Congress to authorize future debt increases.
He will have full authority to truly take the United States over the financial cliff – the financial cliff of no return.
Shelley G. Jones, Bringhurst
Peru GOP continues to butt into business
Once again, we see Peru Mayor Jim Walker whining about loss of tax collections and tax properties. What is amazing is I do not see the mayors from the surrounding communities doing the same.
Yes, they have the same problems, I am sure, but they deal with them without trying to change the rules.
In the most recent commissioners’ sale (Spring ’12), there were 87 parcels that were sold with taxes being collected on those parcels – taxes that would have been otherwise lost forever. Out of the 87 properties sold, 38 have been transferred to new owners, with 26 of them being in the city and then paying $16,115.37 in 2012 property taxes – also taxes that would have been lost. (These 26 would be equal to 161 other properties paying $100 a year.)
Also collected on those same properties was $29,949.24 in taxes from the commissioners’ sale, for a total of $49,064.61.
Of the 26 properties that were sold in the city, three responsible local investors bought eight properties for a total of more than 30 percent of the total redeemed.
The mayor should be reminded that on these properties, the investors do not get homestead credits, no supplemental credit, maybe a mortgage deduction. As usual, the mayor whines on either side of the coin, those who pay nothing or less than $100 a year, saying that city services cannot be supported on this amount of revenue, but also about the other side, where the investors are paying large annual amounts of taxes on the properties that they own, with the mayor saying they need to be “monitored.”
If the proposal is to “monitor” the tax sale properties, then do not discriminate – all properties need to be “monitored,” which is not currently being done. Even when complaints are filed, nothing is done.
For having a Republican mayor and a majority Republican council, the party that flies the banner of not interfering in business and having lower taxes, in this community at least, does not hold true, as more rules and regulations are passed yearly, with attempts to micromanage the city and implementing endless taxes and “user” fees.
Wayne Bunker, Peru
Letters
Letters to the editor - Friday, Jan. 11, 2013
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May 21, 2013: Letters to the editor
Tipton development: A study in contrasts
These are exciting times for Tipton County, with Chrysler coming to the county and bringing more than 800 legitimate jobs.
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Letter to the Editor: May 13, 2013
Good people wouldn’t do this to their neighbors. This common refrain is being heard over eastern Howard County where industrial development is planned for our farmland in the form of massive wind turbines.
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Letters to the Editor: May 12, 2013
How fortunate, that after years of trying to bring top-notch wind energy companies to Tipton County, this great choice is here for us — just at the right time. Tipton County badly needs the revenue from clean wind farm companies.
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Letter to the Editor: May 10, 2013
As a taxpayer and concerned citizen of eastern Howard County, I have read some of the latest scholarly and peer-reviewed information available on industrial wind turbines. It’s not something I ever wanted to do or expected to do, and I do not pretend to be an expert even after reading much information.
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Letters to the Editor: May 9, 2013
More than 1,500 Hoosier children just received an early death sentence from the Indiana Legislature. By slashing the state budget for tobacco prevention and cessation by 38 percent, our lawmakers told us that the health and future of our children isn’t important.
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Letters to the Editor: May 8, 2013
The citizens of Howard County have watched Tipton County’s elected officials deal with growing opposition to wind farms. They have responded to the concern of their citizens and are reviewing their ordinances related to wind development.
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May 5, 2013: Letters to the editor
All at IU Kokomo deserve recognition
This week, nearly 550 Indiana University Kokomo students will reach a milestone they will treasure for a lifetime when they become IU Kokomo's newest graduates.
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May 2, 2013: Letters to the editor
Reports of climate change span decades
From an article in The Washington Post:
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May 1, 2013: Letters to the editor
Turbine setbacks fail to protect vulnerable
Counties throughout Indiana are now beginning to rewrite their zoning ordinances pertaining to industrial wind turbines, due to new health and safety information coming out almost daily.
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April 30, 2013: Letters to the editor
There is assistance for autism sufferers
I am the mother of Cheryl Guyer, whose recent letter to the editor brought tears to my eyes as I read her firsthand comments regarding my granddaughter.
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May 21, 2013: Letters to the editor
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
