IS IT TRUE FEBRUARY 12, 2018

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We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?

IS IT TRUE according to Indy Star columnist Matthew Tully his colleagues ”Kaitlin L. Lange and Tony Cook laid it all out last week in an article that told of Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma giving what should be called the “Legalized Loan Shark Legislation” a push on its way to a narrow victory in the House”?  … it’s been alleged if this bill is passed by both Chambers that House Bill 1319 would allow annual interest rates on some loans to roughly triple, to a mind-boggling 222 percent.?

IS IT TRUE  if the “Payday Lending” bill passes the Indiana State Senate it would increase interest rates by leaps and bounds on some of our most vulnerable residents? …House Bill 1319 now goes to the Indiana State Senate for consideration and we are told that it may have a hard time passing? …we are told that the four (4) local State Representatives voted “Yes” for this “Predatory Loan” bill was Wendy McNamara, Ron Beacon, Tom Washburne and Hollie Sullivan? …that State Representative Ryan Hatfield voted “no” on this bill?…we are extremely disappointed that members of the local media haven’t picked up on this “Predatory Loan Legislation” issue that seemly might hurt the most economically vulnerable among us? … that State Representative Wendy McNamara was a co-author of this bill?

Below is the Link to House Bill 1319 Roll Call vote for your review.

https://iga.in.gov/static-documents/c/0/6/5/c065d690/HB1319.113.pdf

Attached below is the link to House Bill 1319 for your review.

                          https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/house/1319

IS IT TRUE recently the Indiana Department of Revenue’s Tax Advisory Council convened behind closed doors for its inaugural quarterly meeting? … the Advisory Council was created in December of 2017?  …the group’s mission is to “shape the future of tax administration by providing input regarding agency operations, policies and legislative proposals,” according to the department?  …we are highly disappointed that not one individual appointed to this Advisory Council is from this area?

IS IT TRUE we wonder how many members of the Evansville City Council are aware that the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 protects people with orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments issues?

IS IT TRUE  we wonder if the unreasonable “3-minute Governmental Censorship” rule imposed two (2) years ago by former Evansville City Council President Missy Mosby (D) could be something that members of the “Indivisible Evansville” group should address?

IS IT TRUE we wonder if City Council will provide an interpreter for those attending Council meeting who have a major hearing problem or may be deaf that want to address the Council about a city issue? …we also wonder if Council President Jim Brinkmeyer (D) will impose the unreasonable “3-minute Governmental Censorship” rule when a hearing impaired persons address Council?

IS IT TRUE we wonder how Council President Jim Brinkmeyer (D) would handle a request from persons who have a speaking challenge because they have a serious studdering problem? …we wonder if Mr. Brinkmeyer (D) will impose the unreasonable “3-minute Governmental Censorship” rule on them when they address Council?

IS IT TRUE if a Civil Rights attorney who is well versed on the end and outs of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 made a presentation on this subject would City Council President Jim Brinkmeyer (D) cut him off from speaking on this highly complexed legal subject after three (3) minutes?

IS IT TRUE last year the uber-entrepreneur founder of Tesla, Solar City, and Space X, Elon Musk tweeted that he suffers from bi-polar conditions?…Musk went on to discuss in short bursts how he enjoys the extreme highs but also has to deal with the depressive lows?… according to scientific studies genius and insanity may actually go together according to scientists who found that mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are often found in highly creative and intelligent people?…Elon is in the company of some highly intelligent and impactful people with his self-diagnosis including Ludvig von Beethoven, Vincent van Gogh, mathematician John Nash, media mogul Ted Turner, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, author Ernest Hemingway, entrepreneur Rene Rivkin, and a plethora of luminaries from the fields of entertainment including Kurt Cobain, Ben Stiller, Britney Spears, Frank Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe?…technology entrepreneurs Steve Jobs of Apple, Larry Ellison of Oracle, and Bill Gates of Microsoft all have exhibited symptoms of bi-polar disorder at some stage of their lives?…Elon Musk personally acknowledged the level of stress he is under as CEO of three large companies and the City-County Observer wishes him peace, serenity, and profitability?…visionaries who can make things happen at a profit while creating jobs and wealth for regular people are few and far between?…most of us cannot even imagine the anguish that comes to the mind of people who truly aspire to greatness?

Todays “Readers Poll” question is: Do you feel that Indiana House Bill 1319 will be economically hurtful to the most vulnerable among us?

Please take time and read our articles entitled “STATEHOUSE Files, CHANNEL 44 NEWS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, READERS POLL, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBS” and “LOCAL SPORTS”.  You now are able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.

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EDITOR’S FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.

 

 

23 COMMENTS

    • There you have it. The Barack H Obama “Justice Department”, with enthusiastic backing from ACLU, sued the state of Arizona in order to stop them (Arizona) from enforcing immigration laws against illegal aliens. Said that was the feds job, and even though the feds weren’t doing it, Arizona couldn’t.
      Now comes the Anti-American Civil Liberties Union, A.K.A. Illegal Alien Criminal Protectors Union, to argue the feds CANNOT enforce immigration law when it involves illegal aliens.

    • JoeBiden hates the ACLU today. But he loves the ACLU when the Nazi’s need a permit to exercise their right to free speech and march, or talk at a college campus. What a joke.

      • BFMH, you sir, with all due respect, are a liberal lemming. I hate the ACLU that spends 90% of their time suing to remove VFW 10 commandments from Courthouse squares and suing to remove Santa and crosses from Christmas scenes. Now the ACLU arm of the Democratic Party sues in front of Obama Judges to stop enforcement of US Immigration laws. Liberalism really is a mental disorder.

        • The reason you’re pissed JoeBiden is because he’s right. When you want the Nazis to get their marching permit you take ACLU’s work, you defend those assholes! He pointed out you are a hypocrite.
          He’s right. That’s why you’re pissed.

  1. Three BIG cheers for the CCO taking time to compliment brave business leaders today!
    CCO! Home of those who Dare to Do Mighty Things!

    “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”

    “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”

    • ‘The galleries are full of critics. They fight no fights, they play no ball. They make no mistakes because they try nothing. Down in the arena are the doers. They make mistakes because they try many things. The man who makes no mistakes lacks boldness and the spirit of adventure. He is the one who never tries anything. He is the brake on the wheel of progress.

      And yet it cannot truly be said he makes no mistakes because his biggest mistake is the very fact that he tries nothing and does nothing, except criticize those who do things.’ ~~ Gen. David Shoup / Medal of Honor Winner

  2. I don’t think the CCO and some of the contributors have a good grasp on law regarding participation in public meetings. First of all, the public has a right to attend and observe—only. Participation is not a right afforded by free speech or otherwise. Those meetings are for the purpose of the public board to conduct business on behalf of the public, not necessarily with the public. They are totally within the law to eliminate any public comment if they wish. I don’t agree with that position, but they can do it. As for three minutes, well if you can’t state your position in three minutes, you are editorializing. The chair should have the right, and capability to control the meeting. This blog is for editorializing, a public meeting is not.

    • Pete

      Thanks for your input.The County Commission and County Council allow citizens to address them without a time limit. City Council allows citizens to address them, for only 3 minutes. Our point is 3 minutes is to short for any person who want to discuss a governmental issue that that concerns or effect them. Granted some people carried away and ramble which shouldn’t be allowed.

      Our point is that members of the Vanderburgh County Commission and County County practice good public policy and transparency by allowing taxpayers the opportunity to address them without any time limit. We feel that the Evansville City Council should do similar.

      Thanks for your input.
      Editor

    • Pete,

      During my tenure as President of the Council, I contemplated limiting public input regarding issues, but I believed that those who elected us as their representatives should have a forum to express their grievances and concerns. There were instances where individuals as you would say, editorialized and when occurred, it was my responsibility to terminate the discussion with dignity. Your assessment is correct about the right of the public to address the common councils, i.e. the councils have the rule authority . . .but, common sense should rule the day and allow open public discussion. Limiting discussion has it’s purpose, but, in many occasions, three minutes will not be sufficient especially when council members have discussion among themselves running out the clock. Implementing a one size fits all approach may be interpreted as censorship resulting in degrees of suspicion by the public. Consequently, the councils should allow any individual to state the subject matter to be discussed and in some cases where the complexities of a particular issue, the individual should request and the chair should grant an extension of time. Apparently, the present policy seems to be too inflexible and probably will not help reduce the negative opinion of the electorate . . .

  3. I see your point, and agree with you. I was unaware of the context behind the point you were making.

    • Thanks Pete. I personally enjoy reading your well thought out comments. Our only focus is “good public policy” regardless of ones political affiliations.

      Editor

Comments are closed.