Dear Editor:

I’ve noticed many people complaining about how unhappy they are about the status quo here in Indiana. And then they go on to blame liberals, progressives and Democrats.

Does anybody else notice the cognitive dissonance at work here? Republicans have controlled the governor position since 2005. The state senate and heneral assembly have been controlled by the GOP for even longer. If you’re unhappy with the direction that Indiana is headed, why blame the Democrats? Blame those who have been in power for almost 10 years now. Blame Mike Pence and the Republican majorities in both the state senate and the general assembly.

Let’s examine some recent facts about our state.

A recent report by the USDA estimates that 1 in 6 Hoosiers visit a food pantry on a regular basis. According to a recent Tax Foundation study, Indiana taxpayers paid 9.5 percent of their income in state and local taxes. That’s a 1.1 percent increase since 2001. Per-capita income for Hoosiers has also decreased by $1,064 since 2001.

The Census Bureau recently stated that Hoosier median income is $48,393, around 9 percent less than the national average of $52,762. These negative effects are caused by Mike Pence eliminating various business taxes. Many of those tax cuts over the past two year have come at the expense of local services including funding for roads and schools. If businesses have to shoulder less of the tax burden, that means workers like you and I must pick up the rest. Which is evident by the facts shared previously.

So how does this pertain to the District 22 race? If Nisly wins (along with other Republicans in key races), then the GOP will have a super-majority in Indiana and they will be able to pass even more harmful laws that will effect all of us. Pence has recently proposed that groceries be taxed to make up for budget shortfalls created by his pro-business tax cuts.

I enjoy living and working in a state that is pro-business, but when is enough already? When median income is being dragged down by compensating for pro-business taxes, I say enough.

A vote for Kolbe is a vote to not give the establishment Republicans (who have all endorsed Nisly) a rubber stamp to pass whatever anti-worker laws they think up next. If you’re that unhappy with how things are going in Indiana, I urge you to not vote for Nisly. Vote for Kolbe.

Matt May
Warsaw