The Independent-News, Volume 106, Number 42, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 26 March 1981 — Page 2

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- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - MARCH 26. IMI

Weekly Update From Congressman JOHN HILER

Todas 's double-digit inflation, high interest rates and high taxes have had a detrimental effect on many segments of our nation’s economy. The President’s progran’ for economic recovery, which I strongly support, is designed to help initiate new economic activity by reducing inflation, eliminating causes of high interest rates and cutting taxes. A major part of the program also addresses the need to eliminate unnecessary federal regulations and change counter-productive federal policies that also hinder our nation's economy and our quality of life. One example of questionable federal policy involves harvesting of softwood timber on the nation's 303 million acres of federally-own-ed forest land. Softwood timber serves a variety of purposes, from making paper to building homes. Unlike petroleum, it is also a renewable resource. In 19b4. Congress passed the Wilderness Act. This law established a system to preserve certain examples of our nation’s wilderness. Since that law was passed. C ongress has placed 78.2 million acres into statutory Wilderness. Statutory Wilderness is not just a typical parklike setting where you drive the family station wagon for a picnic. Wilderness is extremely restricted land that can only be entered by foot. on horseback or by canoe. There are no roads, no permanent or recreational structures and no motor vehicles are permitted. Timber harvesting is prohibited. The entire national inventory of renewable softwood timber is esti-

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ED COOK'S

DISTRICT 18

With over two-thirds of the first session of the 102nd General Assembly over, the House of Representatives completed some very important work. Last Tuesday, March 10. was the 40th session day. This date is important since it marks the deadline for bills to be heard in their house of origin. Since March 10. the House has heard only passed Senate Bills. T he opposite is true for the Senate. The days preceeding the deadline saw a flurry of activity in the House. During this time, some very important work was done and difficult decisions were made. Two bills I authored, and fourteen billy I co-authored passed the House be fore March 10th The following is a brief discussion of those bills: Bills Authored HB 1166 — If made law. HB 1166 provides that the taxpayer is not liable for interest on late assessments I wrote this bill because in Marshall County there were rough Is s*oo mistakes made in assessment where the taxpayers were un duly penalized. This bill will pre vent repetition of this problem. HB 1168 — Currently being discussed by the Senate. HB 1168 would create a pension fund for

mated at two trillion board feet, last war. Americans consumed 32 4 billion board feet. In 1978. when more homes were being built, nearly 42 billion board feet were consumed. But despite this obviously abundant supply of American lumber, we imported 9.4 billion board feet of foreign softwood last year at a cost of nearly $l.B billion. That was an incredible 30 percent of our estimated use last year. That’s because more than 123 million acres, one-third of all federallyowned forest land has been designated. recommended or is under study as statutory Wilderness. Because we're tying up so much land, we're facing a critical domestic shortage of timber that not only forces us to import from for eign sources, but has helped drive up the price of lumber in some cases over 800 percent in the past 10 years. Federally-owned forest lands contain 51 percent of our total softwood inventory, but represent only 20 percent of our annual harvest. An estimated four to five billion board feet is wasted every year because of old age, disease, wind and fire, much of which could be saved with aggressive and responsible forest land management. Conggress will need to address this issue in the 97th Congress if we're to avoid unnecessary price increases. create new jobs and improve our nation's economy while providing adequate recreational resources. 1 invite your views. Write Congressman John Hiler. House of Representatives. Washington, D. C. 20515.

Indiana House Summary

police officers and firefighters at state universities. Bills Co-Authored HB 1103 — Would allow judges of city and town courts to perform marriages. HB 1156 — Amends current law to provide that traffic must yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles displacing only a flashing light. In the past traffic was required to yield only if the flashing light was accompanied by a warning audible signal. HB 1185 — Changing current law. this bill would extend the hours the day that a special tractormobile rig (a 14 foot wide mobile or modular home) may be moved from a seven hour midday period to all daylight hours. The bill would also remove authority of the department authority to restrict the hours of operation in first- and second-class cities under certain circumstances. HB 1259 — This bill increases the present $2,000 veterans deduction t<> SS.(MX) for totally and $3,000 for partially disabled veterans. It also broadens eligibility from just veterans with service during a war period to all veterans with 90 or more days of service. Ihe surviving spouse deduction is increased

from S2.(XX) to $3.000. HB 1296 — If made law. increases inspection fees for commercial feed distributors. This bill would raise an estimated SI7O,(XX) to $ I KO.(XX) in revenue for the state. HB 1312 — Stiffens penalties im possed upon persons whose checks arc dishonored or who improperly stop payment on checks. A bill of this nature is needed due to the radical increase in the amount of bad checks being written. People delaying their payments of the expense of the business community must be controlled. HB 1409 — Concerning shoplifters. this bill increases the maximum period of time a suspect may be detained at a store to l’/j hours if a law enforcement officer's assistance is not requested. If an officer’s assistance is requested, the bill provides the detention could continue until up to 2 hours. HB 1660 — Extends one of the “frequent” property tax exemptions for goods held for out-of-state shipment to cover property shipped to a public warehouse by contract and private, as well as the currently mandated common, carriers. HB 1681 — Defines special purpose buses and allows adult use of school buses. This bill was badly needed because school corporations, private as well as public, were having trouble using school buses for extra-curricular activities. This bill eliminates anv obstacles existing in current law so the students may be transported by these vehicles. HB 1706 — If made law, provides that a person who holds property for someone else is not liable for property taxes on that property in those cases where the owner of the property is liable for those taxes under a contract with the holder of that propertv. HB 1727 — Would allow Rural Electric Membership Coops to recover unclaimed stocks and credits which are the result of distributable savings of the corporation. HB 1746 — Amends current law to require that cold storage warehouses specify the type. date, receipt and w ithdrawal of food products placed in cold storage. An amendment added to this bill would require a notification to a consumer at the time pf sale stating the length of time the product was in cold storage at that facility. HB 1785 — In its present form, this bill would provide that farms may not be declared a nuisance by expanding subdivisions and suburbs unless negligent operation is charged. A bill such as this is needed because some farmers are being driven out of business when these new communities complain about things like odor and noise from tractors. HB 2049 — This bill provides that no hitchhiker injured, or the personal representative of that person in the event of fatal injury, shall have a cause of action for damages against the operator or owner of the motor vehichle in which he was riding during the accident unless the driver was negligent. The bill also permits hitchhiking in the event of an emergency. If you have any questions or comments concerning these or other bills, please write to me at the State House, Indianapolis. Ind. 46204. or call me toll-free at 1-800-382-9842. As a special order of business on Wednesday the Local Option Income Tax (HB 1445) and the Gasoline Lax (HB 13 7 8) were brought to the full House fl<x»r for consideration These amendments proposed by the Republicans would allow tor two state tax increases, even though Governor Orr has stated that he does not support a state tax increase. Numerous amendments were offered for HB 1378 from members of both sides of the aisle. The amendments that were passed, however, would bring in an additional $67.3 million this year.

THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS Publication Number 261460 ROBERT E. URBIN, EDITOR SUSAN R. URBIN, ASSISTANT EDITOR INDEPENDENT-NEWS CO., INC., Publisher 601-03 Roosevelt Road, Walkerton, Indiana 46574 Telephone (219) 586-3139 PUBLICATION TIME: Thursday of E^ch Week Second Class Postage Paid At Walkerton, Indiana 46574 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 15C Per Copy; $4.50 Per Year (S(K Extra If Mailed Out Os State)

One amendment to HB 1378 which passed would increase the tax on gasoline from B'/i cents to 10 cents for a gallon of gasoline up to SI.OO. Anything over SI.OO up to a maximum of $1.50 would be taxed at 8%. Another amendment would insure that local governments and the state highway department receive the increased funds from the proposed tax. Another amendment which was passed would allow seven southwestern Indiana counties to issue bonds to finance county road and bridge construction. The gasoline tax for the state would be adjusted quarterly instead of semi-annually. Amendments to HB 1445 — the Local Option Income Tax — which passed the House would bring in an estimated SBO million to the state. These amendments of the 17 proposed would change the current local option tax so that revenue from the tax could be used as an alternative to the property tax. The individual income tax would be increased from 1.9% to 2% a year. In addition, the supplemental corporate net income tax would be increased from 3% to 4%. This amendment would also provide that additional revenues go to a special fund dedicated to schools. Now that these two bills — HB 1378 and HB 1445 have been amended on second reading, the Speaker of the House must deter mine when again to suspend the House rules and call down these amended bills for consideration and passage on third reading before they arc sent to the Senate. 1 will keep you informed on the progress of these bills. Weekly Senate Wrap-Up From Sen. V. R. Miller Work continues on the budget and other matters as the General Assembly approaches the last month of the 1981 session. The state's financial situation continues to play an important role in the consideration of bills, fiscal restraint, low tax rates, and economic development are the goals of this session. The Senate passed a bill this week that would allow more people to own manufactured homes built to HUD standards. H.B 1032 would give local zoning boards the authority to set aesthetic standards that homes must meet to be placed in certain areas, but prevents zoning boards from totally prohibiting manufactured homes in their cities and towns. Indiana is the number one producer of manufactured homes in the United States,, and the bill would have a positive effect on industry in the state. The measure now goes to Governor Orr for his signature or veto. Another bill that will affect Indiana industry is H.B. 1714. The bill, which passed the Senate Finance Committee this week would provide a property tax deduction of up to 95% for oil shale conversion systems that use Indiana shale. The bill will also generate tax dollars, in addition to creating employment possibilities at the conversion centers. The measure is part of the Orr-Mutz energy and industrial development program. In other action, the Senate Fi-

nance Committee voted 10 to 3 in favor of a measure that would impose a one percent food and beverage tax in Marion County to pay for the expansion of the Indianapolis Convention Center. Present plans call for the construction of a $65 million domed stadium as part of the expansion, with S3O million of this paid by private sources. This proposal, which has the support of the Chamber of Commerce. AFLCIA. the Lieutenant Governor's office and several other statewide business and labor groups, now goes to the full Senate for action. As of the 47th session day. two bills have passed both houses of the General Assembly and been signed into law by the Governor. Among the bills that have passed both houses but not yet been signed into law arc the following: H.B. 1002 - H.B. 1004 - Recodifies local government planning and public safety laws. H.B. 1159 — Allows commitment to Department of Corrections if sentence is over 60 days. H.B. 1409 — Increases the time limit for detaining a shoplifting suspect. S B. 78 — Prohibits persons to the Department of Corrections from conducting a private business on department grounds. H.B. 1103 — Allows judges in city and town courts to perform marriages. H.B. 1240 — Allows assessment of interest charges on late child support payments. I can be contacted at the State House, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 or be called at 1 -800-382-9467. 4-H NEWS The second meeting of the John son Township Prairie Farmers was called to order by president. Doug Keeling. Brett Mollenhauer and Kim Huizenga led in pledges. We will be having a card party (euchre and pinochle) with a donation of 75 cents. rtefreshments and demonstra tions were by Jeff Keeling on "How To Get A Pig Ready For Show ” and Doug Keeling had his on "The Proper Wav To Show Your 4-H Pig”. The next meeting will be on March 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Com munitv Building. Jill. Chip and Julie Bolze will have demonstrations and refreshments. CUB SCOUT PACK TO MEET MARCH 26 Cub Scout Pack 293 will have it's March Pack meeting at the Youth Building at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. March 26. Scouting awards will be given and the program for the evening will be folk music of the colonial period of our country. Also the Pack would like to remind residents of the upcoming Walkerton and Koontz Lake area paper drive this Saturday. March 29. Door to door coverage will be made in Walkerton. If possible please have papers on your porch or curb tied or bagged. Koontz Lake residents may call 586-7191 or 586-7370 for pick up. Atlantic salmon are able to leap 15 feet high. The short-eared owl hunts on cloudy days instead of at night only, like most owls.