Banner Graphic, Volume 15, Number 161, Greencastle, Putnam County, 7 March 1985 — Page 3

Committee okays tax exemption bill

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) State tax breaks for the elderly would be targeted to those who need it most under an exemp-tion-raising bill on its way to the Indiana Senate. The Senate Finance Committee voted 131 Wednesday for House Bill 1082, but only after trading a general tax break for the elderly for an increase in the tax credit for elderly households with adjusted incomes under SIO,OOO. As it left the House, the bill doubled the SSOO exemption for taxpayers, their spouses and dependents and boosted from $1,500 to $2,000 the exemptions for the blind and the elderly. H.B. 1082 also eliminated the extra SSOO “income” exemption that can be claimed by taxpayers and spouses who have at least SSOO in income each year. In the Finance Committee, Sen. Michael Gery, D-West Lafayette, proposed an amendment that would keep the exemption for the elderly at $1,500 but would raise the tax credit for elderly Hoosiers with adjusted incomes of less than SIO,OOO. Social Security and certain pensions aren’t counted as income for purposes of the elderly tax credit. The cost of the increased credits for the elderly by the savings of eliminating the SSOO increase in the elderly exemption called for by the House bill. The credits currently range from $25 to $65 for single taxpayers over 65 and from

Block tells American Pork Congress

Five per cent of current farmers may fail

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) American farmers disappointed with President Reagan’s veto of a farm credit rescue package will eventually applaud him for holding the line on government spending, Secretary of Agriculture John Block says. “In the final analysis, the farm people, the rural people and the American people will give the president credit for attacking the problem head on and the problem is government is spending too much,” Block said at the American Pork Congress Wednesday. The measure would have been costly to the government and would have encouraged more borrowing by farmers already encumbered by debts, he said. Block said excessive government spending has caused growth in the federal budget deficit, which in turn leads to_

Toys help ease boy's pain

GRANGER, Ind. (AP) For Aaron Payne it was like blowing out all the candles on his birthday cake, tossing coins in a fountain and seeing the first star of an evening all rolled into a giant wish come true. For 45 minutes Wednesday the 5-year-old from Niles, Mich., searched a toy store in Granger, picking out 37 toys. All were free to him, thanks to the Indianapolis Children’s Wish Foundation. Aaron has had leukemia since he was 2.

jpWo, 9jo ij§t J) FREE Bridal Lane® Cake Knife with purchase of a wedding set ' For Your betweennowand March 30, 1985 Romantic I Values up to '30 00 r , r ft. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! Wedding ... Diamond solitaire BATTERIES INSTALLED engagement ring, While You Wait, accented by petite COMPLETE JEWELRY AND hearts. Matching WATCHREPAIR wedding band. 10K gold.

Elmore Jewelers 13 SOUTH INDIANA, GREENCASTIE, 653-3713

SSO to S9O for married couples over 65. Gery’s amendment, which was approved 10-4, would raise the credits to S4O to SIOO for single taxpayers and SBO to $l4O for married couples. The exemption section of the bill benefits families with a non-working spouse and children over single taxpayers and married couples where both spouses work. For example, a family of four with one spouse working can now claim $2,500 in exemptions: SSOO for each family member and an extra SSOO for the income-earner. Under H.B. 1082, the exemptions would total $4,000 ber. But in a household where both spouses work and there are no children, there would be no benefit from the exemption change. Currently, that household can claim SSOO for each taxpayer and another SSOO apiece for each income-earner. Under the bill, each spouse would get a SI,OOO exemption and no extra tax break as an in-come-earner. Sen. John Bushemi, D-Gary, had proposed an amendment that would have eliminated all of the exemption increases and replaced them with a five-year phase out of the 5 percent sales tax on residential utility bills. He later withdrew the amendment at the request of Finance Committee chairman Lawrence M. Borst, RIndianapolis, who considered it an attempt to strip the bill.

higher interest rates and a strong dollar in international currency exchanges two financial symptoms that hurt farmers. The relief measures called for in the bill Reagan vetoed Wednesday would have taken up to 90 days to implement, Block said. Farmers wouldn’t have benefited from the measures as much as bankers and politicians, said Block. He said ‘ ‘75 percent of that money (in the farm credit bill), rather than helping farmers, would help the banks. “We’re so close to the planting season that we can’t be playing these political games with American farmers,” said Block. The administration favors a debtrestructuring program, Block said. Under that plan, the government would encourage a bank to write off part of the prin-

“He knows he’s sick. I don’t know if he understands how little time he has left,’’ said his mother, Carol E. Payne. “It’s terminal. The doctors say it could be any day.” The Children’s Wish Foundation, which tries to fulfill the last wish of terminally ill children under the age of 15, selected him as the 10th wish recipient. Aaron told the wish foundation he wanted S3OO worth of toys from Granger’s Children’s Palace.

l&Sm/fmMk. WWBWB

HAROLD H. NEGLEY 'Committed no crimes'

state

cipal or reduce interest rate on a farm loan. The government would then guarantee 90 percent of the loan, he said. Block estimated that as many as 5 percent of American farmers might go bankrupt during the current farm credit crisis. “Nationwide I don’t think the percentage (of farm failures) will be alarming.” Block said. He predicted that the percentage of farm failures could be higher in certain states, but said the national rate would be “maybe 5 percent.” “I look at it as a kind of natural evolution,” said Block, noting that the number of farmers has been declining for years. Speaking to pork producers from across the nation, Block also outlined the ad-

Special Purchase Pfaltzgraff Sale

W 1 1 H"! 1 *

SAVE 50% ONEIDA PFALTZGRAFF Stainless Flatware 20-piece set * _ sOy|99 Reg. ‘49.99 Sale *T Stainless Serving Pieces 50% off

Negley taking voluntary leave pending campaign finance probe

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) State School Superintendent Harold H. Negley says his decision to take a leave of absence during the probe of his campaign finances should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt. “In no way should my actions be construed as an admission of criminal conduct,” Negley said in a news release. “I have committed no crimes, and 1 am confident of the final outcome of this matter.” Negley announced Wednesday night he would take a voluntary administrative leave, pending results of a Marion County grand jury investigation into alleged campaign irregularities. The grand jury will begin hearing testimony on the allegations today, according to Prosecutor Stephen Goldsmith. Gov. Robert D. Orr said the controversy over Negley’s alleged use of his office for personal gain has been a “distraction” at the very least.

ministration’s proposals for the farm bill Congress will write this year. He said farm policy should be marketoriented, with less reliance on crop price supports, and should address the problems of foreign subsidies and trade barriers that block the sale of American agricultural products abroad. “If we can bring agriculture away from Big Brother government, we’ll all be better off,” said Block. Lt. Gov. John M. Mutz said the Reagan Administration’s proposed bill “removes the safety net too quickly for farmers” who have long been dependent on government crop price supports. Mutz, the state’s commissioner of agriculture, said Block conferred after the secretary spoke at the Indiana Convention Center and Hoosier Dome.

The governor said he had not advised Negley to take the leave, but added he thought Negley’s decision was “wise.” “I think it will ease what has been a tense situation, and enable him to get on with the business with the grand jury,” Orr said. Negley, a Republican, has refused to comment on the investigation. He has not been charged with any crime. The Indianapolis News has reported Negley solicited finanacial donations from employees and profited from a raffle at a 1982 employee picnic. It said he borrowed $9,000 in interest-free loans from his campaign finance committee for personal use in 1982 and 1983. Negley repaid the loans the same years, and after the reports were published, paid $441 in interest and admitted the loans may have been inappropriate, the News said.

SALE Friday, Saturday TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 25 % 0ff Presses OUR Skirts Sweaters ALREADY LOW PRICES Mouses ON ALL WINTER MERCHANDISE \acV«* s Vmses leans Sp ° r >°»e ar GesU'b v 12 W. Washington St.

4* . 830 Indianapolis Road Mon.-Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. « _ Greencastle, Indiana Sun. 12 noon -5 p.m. Phone 653-8810

March 7,1985, The Putnam County Banner-Graphic t

Negley’s attorney, Stephen Coons, said reports of “ghost employees” in the department had “no merit or substance whatsoever.” Negley said he would remain on leave from his duties until allegations of campaign fund irregularities are resolved. Robert Krajewski, East Chicago school superintendent and a member of the State Board of Education, will be acting superintendent. Earlier Wednesday, Negley read a brief statement to the Board of Education saying he would continue to be effective in office. “The question concerning effectiveness has arisen,” Negley told the board, which he chairs. “By whatever measures, I was effective for the past 12 years I am still effective. I perform the same duties. ” 1

Save up to 50 % on Pfaltzgraff *8.99 Pfaltzgraff 5-piece Placesetting Reg. *lB. Choose from 4 of Pfaltzgroff's most popular patterns! Each 5-piece placesetting includes 1 dinner plate, 1 salad plate, 1 soup/cereal bowl, cup and saucer. Hurry in and save today! (Shown Folkart) 40% off all accessories! Here'S |ust a sampling of what you can find! Vegetable bowl, reg. *l2 Sale *7.20 Salt & Pepper, reg.’lo Sale *6.00 Platter, reg. *ls Sale ‘9.00 Sugar and Creamer, reg. *l6 . . Sale ’ 12.50 Sorry. No Special Orders *13.99 Save 38% off Pfaltzgraff Heirloom 5-piece placesetting Reg. ‘22.50 includes 1 each, dinner plate, salad plate, soup/cereal bowl, cup and saucer. 30% off all Heirloom accessories! NOW OPEN SUNDAY 12 noon

A3