Howard County Aide

 Congressman Burton has pushed another effort to help Howard County recover the losses it has taken from Chrysler's failure to pay property taxes.  Congressmen Burton and Donnelly and Senator Lugar hosted a meeting with the Auto Industry's Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers.  The Kokomo Perspective shares Burton's response.

"Whether it's 'old Chrysler' or 'new Chrysler,' they have an obligation to the people of Howard County. These people have been supportive of Chrysler for so many years, and I think it's unconscionable that police officers, firefighters, and teachers are threatened with layoffs because Chrysler has not paid their personal property taxes.

"Even so, I appreciate Dr. Montgomery accepting our meeting request and sharing his thoughts on the situation. Looking ahead, we learned that, as far as the Auto Task Force is aware, Howard County is the only place in America with this problem. We were also told that Howard County officials, along with Kokomo officials, are scheduled to meet with representatives of Chrysler in the near future.

"It is my hope that, as those Chrysler representatives sit down at the table with our local officials, they keep in the forefront of their minds the unique and dire situation facing the people of Howard County, as well as the generosity of taxpayers in this country who paid for Chrysler to survive."