Among selected lawmakers chosen, Rep. Jeffrey Espich (R-Uniondale), ranking Republican member on the Ways and Means Committee and a former chair of that panel will be joining the commission which holds its first meeting on Monday, July 23rd. Senate President Pro Temp David Long (R-Fort Wayne), who chairs the joint Legislative Council, said he worked closely with Indiana House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend) in selecting the special advisors. Long and Bauer appointed four lawmakers and three citizens with tax expertise as non-voting advisors to the Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy. The panel will conduct the first in a series of public hearings on property taxes at 9 a.m. Monday (July 23) in the auditorium of the Indiana Government Center South, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis. The commission is comprised of Republican and Democrat lawmakers from both the Indiana Senate and House of Representatives. It meets when the legislature is not in regular session. In addition to Kenley, voting commission members are State Reps. P. Eric Turner (R-Marion) and Peggy Welch (D-Bloomington) and State Sens. John Broden (D-South Bend) and Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield). -30- |