What?? A Democrat Wanting To Privatize?

Abdul over at Indiana Barrister posts a piece by Lawrence Twp Trustee Mike Hobbs (D) about the locally hot topic of township government reform. Knowing the Dems are just as interested in protecting their turf as much as some Republicans, I smelled a ‘Rat. So I sent our resident Jack Russell Terrier into the burrow and found Mr. Hobbs is only interested in privatizing one part of township government. The part that’s not under his or his political party’s control.

In the tradition of FReeper “PJComix”, author of the DummieFunnies, I’ll interject in between passages below the fold:

At the Lawrence Township Trustee’s office, we’ve carefully studied our options and evaluated various means to lower the cost of our services and make our level of government less affected by the whims of the governor.

DITCH MITCH! DITCH MITCH! DITCH MITCH!

This study lead us to a simple solution; auction the rights to operate the small claims court. Private small claims courts have a long history. In 16th and 17th century England, skilled magistrates were paid by private individuals to settle disputes. Fairness and knowledge were rewarded by higher rates paid by the parties. The market created a better court system.

So, as your party puts it Mr. Hobbs, “auctioning off” operation such non-performing entities like the Indiana Toll Road were bad things, but selling off the courts is a good idea?

At present, the small court is a bloated government entity in which elected officials get rich by servings evictions and other courts orders.

Normal folks don’t have the privilege of writing themselves a township check for paying their rent.

So far in 2008, the Lawrence Township Constable has made well over $200,000 by serving orders.

And whose fault is that? Oh right it’s those greedy landlords. How dare they demand their tenants pay their rent.

What Mike Hobbs doesn’t tell you is out of that $200,000 the Constable must pay himself, buy his own car, pay self-employment and payroll taxes, buy his own gas, pay his own vehicle maintenance, pay his staff, etc. Constable is a 1099 contract position, paid by piecework depending upon the Court’s caseload.

Speaking of court orders did Mike Hobbs ever get that DUI in the township SUV resolved?

With a more efficient court model and better staff,

Translated: Look at what we did in Center Township.

the small claims court could be a profitable enterprise for a private firm. The Lawrence Township Trustee believes that this model will change the small claims court from a burden on taxpayers to tax relief.

Ah-ha! I knew I smelled a ‘Rat. Of course a township trustee wouldn’t be advocating for elimination of their own job. You know - Go ahead and cut government just don’t cut my government.

Let’s review - who is the Lawrence Township Small Claims Court Judge? The Honorable Jim Joven. He’s also the Republican candidate for Marion County Circuit Court, seeking Hon. Ted Sosin’s seat on the bench who moved to Superior Court. It’s just a coincidence that Mike Hobbs has suddenly seen enlightenment in advocating for portions of Kernan-Shepard that pleases him, right? Uhhhh-huh.

Nothing like turning advocacy for an issue which affects all taxpayers and turning it into an unpaid political campaign ad for Judge Joven’s opponent, with some leftover for the floundering campaign of JLT.