HOOSIERS’ INPUT KEY TO CUTTING RED TAPE – STRAIGHT FROM THE SENATE

“Cutting the red tape.” It’s a figure of speech we’re all familiar with, and one we can all stand behind. Each year, as business practices and technology become more advanced, government must make necessary changes to outdated, complicated and even conflicting rules that can impede business growth.

As your state legislator, I am committed to keeping Indiana’s government streamlined, efficient and free from that notorious “red tape.”

The recently introduced “Cut Red Tape” website, created by the Office of Management and Budget, gives Hoosiers an avenue to express their thoughts and ideas on reducing our state’s business regulations. Your active participation can lead to more business startups and growth in our area, and across Indiana.

The idea for the new website was conceived in conjunction with Gov. Mike Pence’s regulatory moratorium. The moratorium, which took effect January 14, 2013, created a freeze on the creation of new business regulations as well as a review of all existing regulations.

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According to Gov. Pence’s office, there are currently more than 11,000 business regulations on the books. The overwhelming number of guidelines and “red tape” for businesses is getting in the way of what is truly important: jobs for Hoosiers.

Of course there are many other factors to promoting a job-friendly Indiana.

This past session, lawmakers worked with Gov. Pence to manage Indiana’s fiscal health and create a positive environment for business. We maintained our honestly balanced budget and reduced taxpayer-funded debt by 52 percent. We also made significant tax cuts which will provide relief to working Hoosiers and employers.

Over the past several years, we’ve reduced the corporate income tax rate, capped property taxes, eliminated the inheritance tax and cut the individual income tax. Because of this low-tax commitment, Indiana ranks first in the Midwest in the Tax Foundation’s latest Business Tax Climate Index.

Indiana is also experiencing noteworthy new job growth. Indiana’s economy grew at the 8th fastest rate in the country in 2012, and statistics from June show an impressive increase in manufacturing jobs in Indiana. In fact, it was the biggest jobs gain our state has seen during a one-month period in nine years.

However, as far as I’m concerned, legislator’s work to create an outstanding job culture in Indiana and put Hoosiers to work is never done.

That’s where you come in. Your input and ideas are needed to help decide what business regulations should be abolished, and how we can best demonstrate to companies that Indiana is the perfect state for them to thrive.
To directly submit your thoughts to the “Cut Red Tape” website you can access the submission form. As always, you can also contact me with your ideas by email at Senator.Long@iga.in.gov or by phone at 800-382-9467.