February 21, 2004

Dear Sir,

This morning I came downstairs and was greeted by the site of my wife sitting on the sofa clipping coupons from your daily and other sources. This picture of domestic bliss was short-lived as I sat myself down and began to peruse this day’s edition of the Times-Dispatch.

On the front page I was disappointed to see the headline, "Senate passes tax increase." Surely, I thought, this must be a mistake. Our Republican (conservative) controlled assembly could not possibly have acted in such a democrat (liberal) manner. I read on. I began to ask, "Surely, my conservative representative, John Watkins, could not have voted for such an increase." I reached the end of the article and saw the listing of the senators and how they voted. My disappointment turned to anger and extreme frustration.

The irony of this moment was not lost on my wife or me. Here she was clipping coupons in an effort to save our family much-needed funds, all the while our conservative senator and his confederates were voting to take more of our money. Can anyone now tell me if there is a nickels worth of difference between the republicans and the democrats? How many of my fellow voters will remember this transgression come next election? Does anyone really care?

The article also related how, less than an hour after voting for a tax increase on the populace, the senate voted to give a multi-billion dollar corporation a tax credit. How do these people look at themselves in the mirror each day? Now understand, I am all for tax breaks/credits, but how does one justify tax increases on the average citizen and then acknowledge the usefulness of tax breaks by giving one to a large corporation? Why is a tax break good for one and not the other?

Each month my wife balances our checkbook. When making a purchase we first decide if it is truly needed and then determine if we have the funds to afford it. If we don’t have the funds we don’t make the purchase. When can we expect those who control the State’s coffers to do the same? It is time for the citizen’s of the Commonwealth to WAKE UP and pay attention. Come next election make your voice heard and make it clear that continued fiscal irresponsibility by our representatives will no longer be tolerated.

Yours for Liberty,

Floyd C. Bayne