Voice of the People

Let me start off by saying that I think the South Shore extension is a good idea for the region.

I am strongly opposed to the way funding for it has been talked about.

That is until I saw what Chet Dobis (D) Merrillville suggested in last Thursday’s paper.

I was not impressed with what Rep. Pete Visclosky had to say in the Friday’s edition of the paper. I feel this way because he seemed to come across as a typical politician.

He told us how great the South Shore extension would be for us but really had no plan for funding other than to say “we must all step up to the plate.”

Well Pete we have all been stepping up to the plate for a long time and the plate just keeps on getting bigger and harder to fill.

Generating new taxes really hurts the people trying to start families and make a home without financial hardships. If a person is making $50,000 a year and has one or two kids it isn’t enough in most cases and both end up having to get a job to make ends meet. Creating a new tax will only make it even harder for young families to make and enjoy even the simple things.

Chet Dobis not only has something to say but it seems that Chet has a plan. From what I read about Chet’s plan it sounds like a win, win situation to me.

I think that Pete should get together with Chet and head to Indy and have a set down with Mitch.

No increase of the state sales tax would be needed but present taxes diverted to fund the South Shore extension.

I saw on the Chesterton Tribune’s web site a survey on the South Shore extension. The results so far are not a landslide in anyone’s favor. It does show that the majorities of people that have participated in the survey strongly oppose it and think it would do more harm than good.

I think the state could and should fund this using Chet’s plan or HB 1220.

If Pete’s claim’s about jobs and money are true, a lot of money for the entire state and not just Porter, and Lake Counties would be generated.

Michael Adams

Posted 1/16/2008