Letters
Letters to the Editor
TBO.com
Published: April 10, 2012
Governors helping ObamaPublished: April 10, 2012
Recent polling with head-to-head matchups between President Obama and the leading GOP contenders has Obama ahead in Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. These are all key swing states during presidential elections.
Many pundits conclude that perhaps Obama is doing something people like. Some say it is because Santorum and Romney are weak GOP candidates.
One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that these three states have unpopular GOP governors that are all singing from the same sheet music. They all told the people less taxes, less regulation, etc. Then they proceeded to forget the middle class while cutting taxes for their wealthy pals.
The only regulations rolled back are ones that save huge corporations money. Has anyone in Florida seen lower tag fees, sales taxes, gas taxes or property taxes? They pretended to cut costs but only in areas that people actually care about, like schools and public safety. All three of them proceed to push outsourcing with tax dollars going to companies with which they have, to put it politely, cozy relationships.
The polls are showing President Obama ahead not because he is great or his opponents are not; the polls reflect the fact that the people of these states have a real case of buyers' remorse regarding their GOP governors.
Even the various tea parties see that these governors are not about making government more efficient, just channeling our tax dollars to their corporate buddies.
These governors are the best thing in the world for President Obama's re-election chances.
Dana B. Orr
Avon Park
Tourism tax repeal
This is in answer to "Our Views" published April 1 in Highlands Today about tossing the tourism tax being a bad idea.
Yes, the Citizens for Government Accountability wants and expects some way to make the Tourist Development Council accountable, and the only way to do this is with a sunset.
Contrary to what the paper is trying to portray, a sunset will not kill the tax; it only puts it on the ballot so voters can decide if they want to keep it or not. This is the same procedure politicians go through when their term is up. If they are doing what they promised, we keep them. If not, they are voted out. The same will go for the tourist tax.
Then why are we trying to put the issue on the ballot to repeal the tax? Simple: This is the only way Ross Macbeth says we can put a sunset in the tax. Are there other ways to do that without repealing it? Yes, but each time a way is brought before the county commission, it is shot down. It is apparent some of commissioners don't want the voters to have their say on this issue at the polls.
When spending tourist tax money, are the TDC and commission following State Statute 125.0104 as required and Highlands County Ordinance 01-02-20 as they promised? If they are, why are they afraid of a sunset, where a debate would take place and the voters would see if the tax is worth keeping, then vote?
The one-cent sales tax has a sunset and, in fact, the voters just voted to keep it in place. They must be spending that tax money like they promised.
Bill Youngman
Sebring
Editor's Note: Our editorial did not indicate "sunsetting" the tax will kill it. Our argument is the tax does not affect local residents and helps market the county to outsiders, an ongoing project to keep tourist dollars flowing.