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To My Legislators: 1-31-2004

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Letter to My Legislators

Posted January 31, 2004.

My name is Bob Norris.  I am writing to you, my State Representatives,  to express my opinions on some issues that will be facing the State Legislature this year. I offer these opinions so you know how at least one resident of the area you represent feels about some issues.   Thank you for your time. 

Taxes:

  • I support closing the tax loopholes that Governor Vilsack has previously mentioned.
  • I support increasing the cigarette tax. Not only will this increase short-term revenues, but it should decrease medical costs over the long-term as higher prices will discourage more people from smoking.  Higher prices should help to discourage young people from starting also.  
  • I haven't seen it proposed, but I would support increasing the tax on alcohol to raise more revenue.  Alcohol is a luxury, not a necessity.  I like to drink alcohol of many kinds and would be more than willing to pay a little more if extra was going into the state funds to pay for services.
  • I am willing to pay higher income taxes to fund education.  See education notes below.
  • I am against expanding the sales tax.  The sales tax is a regressive tax and I personally would like to see it completely eliminated or at least eliminated on all essential items like clothing and basic nonfood grocery items like soaps and cleaners and supplies.  

Gambling:

I am totally against the expansion of gambling.  We have more than enough gambling opportunities in Iowa already.  Adding gambling just means people spend their money on gambling rather than other goods and services.  Gambling brings with it a host of other social problems.  Adding more gambling will not increase revenue to the state, it will only shift the sources from where it comes.  Just say no to more gambling.
 

State Worker Pay:

I am a state employee and I am against proposals to freeze state worker salaries.  I would rather see freezes than layoffs, but given the Republicans desire to cut taxes, I think it is unfair to freeze or cut state salaries.  State employees are tax paying citizens of Iowa, just like everyone else.  We live in the communities and purchase goods and services just like everyone else.  We are not welfare recipients like some of the Republican leadership would like to make us out to be.  Citizens of Iowa have needs for government services and we provide those services.  State employees have already sacrificed hundreds of jobs, had pay cuts (the furloughs) in 2002, and postponed negotiated salary increases.  To me, if there is going to be another reduction in the number of state employees, then there needs to be a reduction in the services government provides the citizens of Iowa.  Prioritize the services, then decide which services would be nice, but we just cannot do them anymore.  Only so much work can be done with so many bodies. 

 


 

 

 

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