Teabaggers unite to oppose mass transit expansion in the Indianapolis area [View all]

Tea party activists are organizing the first formal opposition to expanded mass transit in Central Indiana, and they’re willing to spend cash to defeat a proposed referendum on the issue.

“Our concerns are not only about the local tax increase, but about the overall cost of such a proposal,” said Chase Downham, president of the Indiana chapter of Americans for Prosperity. “We think this particular plan is costly for our city, and we are concerned about the impact on the budget going forward.”

The group opposes legislation that would allow residents to decide through a referendum whether to raise their income taxes by up to 0.3 percent to pay for most of the local portion of a 10-year, $1.3 billion transit expansion. That tax would amount to roughly $10 to $15 per month for the average worker and would pay for most of the $700 million local share.

Americans for Prosperity, a national tea party group founded by the billionaire Koch brothers, is becoming increasingly involved in state politics throughout the country. The Indiana chapter recently launched a six-figure media campaign to back Gov. Mike Pence’s proposed tax cut. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.indystar.com/article/20130319/NEWS05/303200025/Opposition-forms-fight-mass-transit-expansion?nclick_check=1