Welcome
"As your State Representative, I pledge to serve to my best abilities the citizens of the area, by encouraging what makes this district great. This region of the state has been ignored for a long time - Funding Schools, Indiana's strong reliance on Property Taxes, Personal Rights and Safety as well as Economic Development are some of the few points that need to be addressed. It is time to stand up and make our voice heard."
~Tom Knollman
Updates
Standing up for correct information
My opponent continues to break his promise of no negative ads by attacking with misinformation and outright lies. I will continue over the next couple of days to bring a positive campaign to the district because that is what the district deserves. I am responding to the misinformation in my opponent’s November 2nd & 3rd ad in the Connersville News Examiner and mailing.
Permanent Property Tax Reform
I have worked with the citizens of District 55, the local school board, the local Farm Bureau Senators Kinley and Nugent along with Representative Hoffman for real property tax reform solutions. I am also on record to eliminate property taxes.
From the Pal Item - “Knollman also wants to reduce or eliminate property taxes, a quest he began locally two years ago, but he admits it won't be easy to do. Sales and income taxes are both affected more by downturns in the economy, while property tax revenue is more stable, he said.”
Additionally, I gave my support to the Advance America Group to work to eliminate property taxes which is on record.
Improving Education
My opponent stated that I refused to meet with local teacher’s organizations. I did not meet with the teacher’s union as requested, that is true. That is because the Union chose to endorse and give thousands of dollars to my opponent before asking to speak with me. I have spoken with many individual educator’s in our district about education issues.
I have volunteered in the schools in many different capacities; local agricultural advisory board, ISHAA official, FFA supporter, science fair judge, Ivy Tech Advisory Board to name a few.
Education is the avenue for real economic development and I will work to find the best funding sources to encourage a high level of standards for our children and the future of District 55. I stated before that nationally for every dollar spent on education, 65 cents makes it to the classroom. In Indiana, it is only 61 cents. If we can work in Indiana to achieve the national average of 65 cents, that would mean an additional $387,000,000.00 annually going directly to the education of our children without an additional burden to the taxpayer.
As far as campaign finance is concerned, that is all a matter of public record and is available at Indiana Campaign Finance and my reports have been accurately and timely filed. My opponent’s campaign finance reports which were legally due 10/20/06 are still not filed at the time of this writing (November 3, 2006). I have received campaign help from the Indiana House Republicans, they believe in me. My opponent has not received any support from the Indiana House Democrats, who do they believe in? Much of my opponent’s money ($4,750.00) has come from out of state.
Affordable Health Care for all Hoosiers
I have not personally offered a plan on expanded health care. This is a complicated issue and cannot be solved in the way my opponent wants to solve every issue, by throwing money at it and hoping it goes away.
This is an area that is going to have to have a coordinated effort between the federal government, state governments, insurance companies and medical service providers. The health care issue has been growing for years and will not be correctly solved without lots of inputs from all sides and careful analysis.
Standing up for District 55
I have made pledges that will positively affect District 55 and Indiana. I am proud of and those I have signed I proudly display them on my website and in my office.
I have pledged to permanently eliminate taxpayer funded lifetime health insurance for legislators, my opponent has not. I have pledged to end the partisan practice of gerrymandering, my opponent has not. I have pledged to honestly balance the budget for the coming fiscal years, my opponent has not. I have pledged to implement a plan for Indiana’s energy needs, my opponent has not. I have signed other pledges that will have a positive impact on Indiana and District 55.
To see all the pledges of the Indiana House Republicans, follow this link http://www.56in06.com/default.aspx.
My opponent states he will listen.
He listens and states he will be tough on drug crimes.
Then he listens and states that penalties for drug crimes should be along the lines of community service. ??
He listens to the people on the time issue while being endorsed by Hoosiers for central time. ??
He wants to penalize hard working families and skilled workers and new businesses like Honda to pay for the massive spending program increases he has proposed. Who did he listen to there?
He shows up to wonderful events like the People Speak held in Connersville and leaves during the introductions. Does he want to listen? Or does he just want to talk?
I made the mistake of trusting a handshake from my opponent that was given to me this spring when we agreed to have a positive campaign. I know he has shaken a lot of hands over the course of this campaign and there is time for you, the voters, to learn from my mistake.
Tom
<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Next >>
©