To the editor:

Recently, the House voted in favor of a $726 billion tax cut.

Our lawmakers are out of step with the priorities of the nation. Instead of giving taxpayers the $726 billion in tax cuts over the next 10 years, we should spend that money on people in need.

According to the National Priorities Project, if that money were used to support state and local programs, Kansas would receive $883 million in fiscal year 2004. This money would pay for any one of the following:

• Head Start for 147,687 children
• 21,182 elementary school teachers
• Health care for 520,367 children

I am willing to make the personal trade-off for those less fortunate than myself. It appears that those in power are trying to buy our votes with an unneeded tax cut. We could use less of this self-serving and short-sighted mentality.

I hope our senators will show their commitment to children and education in Kansas by rejecting this tax cut.

Melinda Morris-Black,

Lawrence