As members of the House Republican Caucus gathered in front of the Caps Clock counting down the time left to act on Senate Joint Resolution 1 this session, Rep. Burton urged Democrat representatives to join Republicans in signing a petition supporting an immediate vote on the tax cap resolution. "House Republicans are asking our colleagues across the aisle to join us in helping Hoosiers, by capping property taxes forever," said Rep. Burton. "Now is the time for House Democrats to stop pushing back the issue and start voting on the caps." On display with the House Republicans were several large pledge cards with signatures of House members who support an immediate vote on SJR 1. SJR 1 contains the constitutional amendment permanently capping homeowners' property taxes at 1 percent of assessed value. The General Assembly passed SJR 1 last session, and the Senate, with bipartisan support, has already passed it this session. Speaker Bauer has declared the caps dead this session over the strenuous objection of House Republicans and many Hoosier taxpayers. The permanent caps would limit property tax bills to 1 percent of the property's assessed value for homesteads, 2 percent for residential rental property and farmland and 3 percent for business property. To become part of the Indiana Constitution, an amendment must be passed by two consecutive, separately elected sessions of the General Assembly and by Hoosier voters in the next general election. If the House passes SJR 1, Hoosier voters would have the opportunity to vote on it in 2010. "The Speaker has made it blatantly clear he has no plans to give the caps a hearing, let alone a vote," said Rep. Burton. "House Republicans and Democrats gave Hoosiers a promise to cut property taxes now and cap them forever. However, House Republicans are the only ones working to keep their promise."
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