Speak Out 6/26/07

More tax revenue

OUR CITY leaders need to be reminded that there's a difference between a tax rate and tax revenue. Cape Girardeau, being a conservative city, never needs to raise tax rates again. It is plenty high enough. As businesses become better, as more people move in, as more houses are built, even with the same tax rate, the city will receive more tax revenue. That's what the city needs to concentrate on.

No payroll tax

AMERICA WAS built on the backs of hard-working citizens. A payroll tax? What is the Cape Girardeau City Council thinking? I can only hope all residents will be watchful and show up at the next city council meeting when it comes for a discussion. It's time for us to speak up.

Tax hit for seniors

LITTLE HAS been said on tax reassessments. Our property taxes are being increased by over 12 percent. This on a home over 40 years old in an older neighborhood with no new improvements. This is quite a hit for seniors on a fixed income. As retired seniors, we lose ground each year.

Go faster, use more fuel

I SEE that Kentucky has made a move to increase gasoline and diesel consumption and Illinois is considering such a move by increasing the speed limit. Going faster increases fuel consumption. Most people already are driving at excessive speeds. States ought to be lowering the speed limit to conserve energy instead of raising the speed limit.

No water park

I'M A voter in Cape Gir-ardeau, and I know we are going to have a vote on a tax to repair our parks and the swimming pools. I will vote for this tax, but if a water park is included, I will vote no and encourage everyone I know to vote no. The water park's nice. I'd love to have it, but not with taxpayers' money paying for it. We need the other things, but we don't need a water park.

Destroyed embryos

PRESIDENT BUSH has vetoed a bill that would permit the use of stored embryotic cells to be used to help cure disease. The White House said it would cost the taxpayers to deliberately destroy human life. The news showed these embryos are going to be destroyed anyway. I don't see what the problem is about using them to help people.

No such thing

THERE IS no such thing as an illegitimate baby. It is a human being and is entitled to be here.