To the editor:
Thanks for Mindie Paget's Wednesday review of local public opinion about Gov. Graves' proposals to raise enough revenue for at least some state services. It looks as though most people understand that more money is needed, and that most people, confused by the blizzard of numbers and the inherent complexity of the tax system, think that the governor and state Legislature may be in a better position than they are to know which taxes should be raised.
Raising sin taxes and the gas tax is maybe the best the Legislature can do under the circumstances. It is in a big hurry. However, as long as the sales tax is still charged on food at the checkout stand, there is no way anyone can justify any increase in the sales tax.
A sales tax rebate in April of next year to poor people who need the money today, at that grocery checkout, is meaningless. Using rebates to return this money only to those with the smarts and gumption to apply for it, and only after months have passed, is at best silly and at worst just plain mean-spirited. Increasing the sales tax is not the way to go.
Jinny Ashlock,
Lawrence
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