Challenge - cut size of government

The problem with this challenge is that no matter the "win" when something gets capped, or eliminated, or cut ... government works full time to find more places to spend.

Howey points to
Doug Ross, Times of Northwest Indiana: Indiana’s property tax system reminds me of the scene in “The Wizard of Oz” where Dorothy pours water on the Wicked Witch of the West as the witch shrieks, “I’m melting!” What’s left is just a puddle. Local government is in meltdown, and the solution doesn’t seem to be forthcoming. The signs of trouble are clear: Porter County’s auditor said Tuesday he wants to stick with a software firm blamed for much of the delays in getting property tax bills out on time, further holding up the process of getting bills out. Chesterton’s bond rating has been downgraded because of late property tax collections. Munster’s Town Council has started a property tax revolt of its own, asking fellow municipalities in Lake County to complain about the high cost (through borrowing money) of slow property tax collections. Valparaiso has gone begging at Valparaiso University, hoping for another handout to help fund the purchase of firefighting equipment. Merrillville is about $350,000 behind on its NIPSCO bill. Winfield Town Council President Jim Hicks has begun writing Gov. Mitch Daniels every month to ask him to come to the small town to talk about its financial situation. LaPorte County hasn’t even sent out property tax bills that should have gone out more than a year ago. How is the government supposed to keep operating when it doesn’t collect the money it needs? This is a system in crisis. That’s shameful.

Doug, here's what you're not saying. The state offered $400 million in savings in reorganizing government that was shot down. The state capped property taxes, and local governments found ways to increase fees and waste 14 months of time they should have used getting tax bills out. LaPorte is a mess because the assessor doesn't want to follow the law on market values.