Tax Reform

Dear Editor: It is rare that I get to congratulate you and agree with a position you have taken, so I felt obliged to do so now. Your recent editorial on reducing the partisanship in Frankfort and seating Virginia Woodward was right on the mark. The longer that the Republican leadership in the Senate spends playing partisan games, however amusing they may be, is that much longer that they do not spend on the business of the people of this state. Three courts have now ruled that Dana Seum Stephenson did not actually live in Kentucky and did not meet residency requirements to run. Let's move on and get to work on the budget and tax reform issues ahead in this legislative session.

The Democratic Woman's Club of Clark County met Monday, Oct. 5, at the Clark County Public Library for a soup and salad meal. Sen. R.J. Palmer was guest speaker. Palmer spoke to the club on such issues as domestic violence, the penal code, state budget and tax reform. President Karen Ward reported about her trip to the Democratic Woman's Club State Convention. Members and guests attending the meeting were Nancy Atchison, Brandy Bailey, Pam Blackburn, Madeline Bumgardner, Karen Bushart, Elizabeth Franklin, Stephanie Gilbert, Jane Hylton Greene, Mary Beth Hendricks, Ann Humble, Charla Hylton, Paula Joslin, Joyce Lawson, Brooke Raney, Kathy Roe, LaDonna Stamper, Sandy Stevenson, Karen Ward and Grace Witt.

Dear Editor, I’m tired of the false TV ads running against Ben Chandler, especially the ads run by national special interest groups. Americans for Tax Reform has a great name that makes you want to be a part of this group. However, the “Americans” of Americans for Tax Reform are Big Oil, special interests and multi-millionaires. This group is currently running three attack ads against Ben; including one saying, Chandler raised our taxes. This isn’t true.

State reps to help chamber launch panel Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce will kick off its 2011 AT&T Public Policy series with a panel discussion on tax reform featuring several state representatives and subject experts from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 29 at the Danville Country Club. State House Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville; State House Rep. Bill Farmer, R-Lexington; Sheila Schuster of the Mental Health and Healthcare Coalition; and Andy Hightower of the Richmond Club for Tax Growth are the panelists for the informative, conversational session.

Dear Editor: I would like to voice my concern over an editorial that appeared in the Monday issue of the Advocate. The headline read, "George W. Bush the right person with the right policies to keep America safe. " One of the most protected and respected rights of our Constitution is freedom of speech. One can express an opinion whether right or wrong. Perhaps one of the most crucial aspects of the democratic process on which our constitution is based is that we have a peaceful means by which to remove a leader from office for grievous acts against our country.

Dear Editor, I'm a bit tired of all the unpatriotic chicken manure being fertilized from local voices. I strongly disagree with anyone who says they want to see our president fail. We should pray for America and President Obama to succeed. I agree with the president's quick decision to respond to the worst recession since the Great Depression. President Obama did what was necessary. Banks were bailed out. Jobs are currently being created. Money continues to flow through local business.

To Sen. Jim Higdon and State Rep. Kim King, I propose a plan that involves no new spending, only a reallocation of resources to vital needs. First, they should take action to enhance Kentucky tax resources. Petition Gov. Beshear to immediately direct Justice and Finance cabinets to collaborate in locating, billing and collecting an estimated $300 million in tax dollars from all motor vehicle tax evaders currently operating on Kentucky highways under illegal license plates caused by circumvention of Kentucky titling and registration laws.

According to a recent statement issued by Bain Capital, “Mitt Romney retired from Bain Capital February of 1999.” If this was in fact the case, why do 2002 SEC filings identify Mitt Romney as CEO and president? When Romney was being vetted as John McCain's runningmate back in 2008, he provided the campaign with 23 years of tax returns. As we all know, the McCain campaign did not pick Romney as the VP candidate. Could it have been something in those tax returns that disqualified him?

The information listed below is compiled from campaign materials from the Republican candidates. Governor and Lieutenant Governor tickets Governor: Phil Moffett Lieutenant Governor: Mike Harmon Phil Moffett of Louisville is running as a Tea Party, Republican candidate. He works in the private business sector, and this race is his first attempt at public office. Moffett graduated from the University of Kentucky and is the founder and managing partner of CSS Partners, a telecommunications management firm in Louisville.

Dear Editor, Kentucky and its cities are headed for financial disaster. They have a retirement system that is out of control, rising insurance costs and insufficient taxes on retiree income. Some suggest that our present retirement system is underfunded. I suggest that it is simply overspent. Employees are allowed to retire too early, and the benefits are too great. We have government workers retiring before age 50. They are often rehired, sometimes into the same jobs. Full insurance is sometimes provided free to both the workers and their families.