TAX DOLLARS FUND TOWNSHIP LOBBYING: The lobbying campaign over the fate of Indiana townships has consumed hundreds of thousands of dollars, including, according to both sides, tax dollars (Indianapolis Star). The Indiana Township Association sent a letter to township trustees in the fall telling them they needed more money to lobby against the reforms and providing instructions on how to shift funds around in their taxpayer-supported budgets to pay for a “special dues assessment” to foot the bill. Although it’s common for cities, counties and states to use some of their taxpayer dollars for organization memberships and to lobby, Marilyn Schultz, the executive director of Mysmartgov.org, a lobbying group leading the drive to restructure local government, said that seeking those additional taxpayer dollars went too far. “It crosses the line,” she said. “It may be perfectly legal. But it doesn’t pass the smell test.” Debbie Driskell, the executive director of the township association, said the letter raised about $12,000, which so far remains unspent because the group decided not to hire another lobbyist, as it had intended. “Are we just to not defend what we believe in and just allow someone to be on the offense with their taxpayer dollars? I say absolutely not. We will defend what we believe is best for our constituents,” she said.
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