July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Davis says state is in good hands (10/15/2008)
By By JACK RONALD-
The national election debate has been dominated by talk of change.
But as State Rep. Bill Davis sees it, that's the wrong focus where state government is concerned.
"When you talk about change in the state of Indiana, you must be talking about going backwards," he said in a recent interview. "We're moving forward. We've created jobs, have reduced taxes, and reduced government."
Davis, 60, is seeking re-election to a third term in the Indiana General Assembly as the representative from District 33, an area which includes Jay County, the northern half of Randolph County, and a portion of Delaware County.
The Republican candidate is the owner and operator of LPI Inc., a Portland-based construction and paving company.
A graduate of Portland High School, he and his wife, Mary, have three daughters and 8 grandchildren.
His local community involvement includes service on the boards of the Jay County Community Center, Jay County Economic Development Corporation, the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Hospital and Zion Lutheran Church. He serves on the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee and the Roads and Transportation Committee.
"This election, for us, is about - No. 1 - taxpayer protection," said Davis. "People are so afraid the property tax relief in House Bill 1001 will disappear."
He's supportive of a move that would incorporate caps on property taxes in the Indiana State Constitution.
"Only after it's approved by voters in a referendum," Davis said.
"I think we're done tweaking (the property tax system) until we can get rid of it completely," he added. "I believe that the ultimate answer is doing away with it. ... We shouldn't tax people out of their holdings, and that's what we were doing."
Davis said his other key focus has been in the area of job creation, and he gave the administration of Gov. Mitch Daniels high marks in that area.
"There's been an explosion in telecommunication jobs," he said. He also cited state initiatives in the area of biofuels, wind turbine generation of electricity, and coal gasification.
Davis also said he supports efforts to streamline local government, following the recommendations of the Kernan-Shepard Commission. "We would be derelict in our duty if we didn't," he said, noting that House Bill 1362 allowed any two units of local government to merge voluntarily. "We're starting to see some of that happen. ... Sometimes we just need to let things play out."
That position is consistent with his political philosophy, Davis said. "We need less taxes, and we need less government."
Davis was critical of his challenger, Jay County school administrator Andy Schemenaur, for proposing new programs without specifying how they're going to be paid for.
He was also critical of the tone of the campaign.
"They (state Democratic Party officials) have put Andy in a place with negative campaigning where I'm sure he didn't want to go," said Davis. "Some of the statements were simply untrue."
"We're doing all the things we said we would do," he said. "And we still have a surplus."[[In-content Ad]]
But as State Rep. Bill Davis sees it, that's the wrong focus where state government is concerned.
"When you talk about change in the state of Indiana, you must be talking about going backwards," he said in a recent interview. "We're moving forward. We've created jobs, have reduced taxes, and reduced government."
Davis, 60, is seeking re-election to a third term in the Indiana General Assembly as the representative from District 33, an area which includes Jay County, the northern half of Randolph County, and a portion of Delaware County.
The Republican candidate is the owner and operator of LPI Inc., a Portland-based construction and paving company.
A graduate of Portland High School, he and his wife, Mary, have three daughters and 8 grandchildren.
His local community involvement includes service on the boards of the Jay County Community Center, Jay County Economic Development Corporation, the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Hospital and Zion Lutheran Church. He serves on the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee and the Roads and Transportation Committee.
"This election, for us, is about - No. 1 - taxpayer protection," said Davis. "People are so afraid the property tax relief in House Bill 1001 will disappear."
He's supportive of a move that would incorporate caps on property taxes in the Indiana State Constitution.
"Only after it's approved by voters in a referendum," Davis said.
"I think we're done tweaking (the property tax system) until we can get rid of it completely," he added. "I believe that the ultimate answer is doing away with it. ... We shouldn't tax people out of their holdings, and that's what we were doing."
Davis said his other key focus has been in the area of job creation, and he gave the administration of Gov. Mitch Daniels high marks in that area.
"There's been an explosion in telecommunication jobs," he said. He also cited state initiatives in the area of biofuels, wind turbine generation of electricity, and coal gasification.
Davis also said he supports efforts to streamline local government, following the recommendations of the Kernan-Shepard Commission. "We would be derelict in our duty if we didn't," he said, noting that House Bill 1362 allowed any two units of local government to merge voluntarily. "We're starting to see some of that happen. ... Sometimes we just need to let things play out."
That position is consistent with his political philosophy, Davis said. "We need less taxes, and we need less government."
Davis was critical of his challenger, Jay County school administrator Andy Schemenaur, for proposing new programs without specifying how they're going to be paid for.
He was also critical of the tone of the campaign.
"They (state Democratic Party officials) have put Andy in a place with negative campaigning where I'm sure he didn't want to go," said Davis. "Some of the statements were simply untrue."
"We're doing all the things we said we would do," he said. "And we still have a surplus."[[In-content Ad]]
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