a tax increase is a tax decrease?

This was an odd thing for the C-J to use to supplement their description of Governor Daniels' "State of the State" address and his property tax plan.

TAX-INCREASE REQUESTS

Gov. Mitch Daniels has asked for a tax increase in each of his four State of the State addresses:

2005: Daniels asked for a temporary 1-percentage-point increase in the state's 3.4 percent income tax for individuals and joint filers earning more than $100,000, with the money to be used to balance the state budget. Lawmakers never considered the proposal. 2006: Daniels asked for a 25-cent-per-pack increase in the state's cigarette tax to encourage smokers to quit. The proposal died in a House committee. 2007: Daniels again asked for a cigarette-tax increase, this time to fund a health-insurance program for low-income adults. Lawmakers approved a 44-cent-per-pack increase that will provide health insurance to up to 130,000 Hoosiers. 2008: Daniels asked for a 1-percentage-point sales-tax increase to 7 percent. He proposes to use the money to cut property-tax bills. The House Ways and Means Committee is considering the idea.

Perhaps it was just convenient to note that there is a tax increase within his property tax reform proposal (as in other years)-- or maybe the C-J is trying to influence/tilt the debate.

In any case, on net, the governor's proposal reduces taxes-- at least, at the state level-- by about $700 million. True, local governments would still be able to increase local option income taxes to make up for lost property tax revenue. But at most, Daniels' proposal is revenue-neutral, not a net tax increase.