GOP senators threaten sales tax rollback

By Dan Carden, Times of Northwest Indiana

dan.carden@nwi.com

INDIANAPOLIS | If Hoosiers aren't allowed to vote on whether to add caps on property tax rates to the state constitution, six Senate Republicans said Tuesday they will demand a reduction in the sales tax rate.

State Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, said it's only fair, because a 1 percent sales tax increase in 2008 was intended to provide property tax relief.

"If the General Assembly fails to pass the property tax caps, we are breaking that promise and should repeal the sales tax increase immediately," Delph said.

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, joined Delph and four other Senate Republicans filing repeal legislation Tuesday.

Committees in the House and Senate already have approved the amendment. Both chambers are expected to take up the legislation after convening Tuesday.