Additional tax on gasoline is unacceptable

Published Monday, April 2, 2007

Minnesota is one of the highest taxed states — presently the fourth highest taxed state. Only Connecticut, New York and New Jersey have higher total taxes.

Do we really want to add 10 cents to the present tax on gasoline? I wonder if our DFL friends will walk out again if they can't get their way. I hope Gov. Pawlenty has the good sense to give it the veto it deserves.

Over the last 20 years, I’ve spent time working with volunteers after disasters, including Mississippi. Mobile, Columbus and Hattiesburg are some of the places. I found a very different place than the one pictured in a recent letter to this paper.

I found a very church-oriented society of very giving people, both black and white. I always looked for damaged places in rural areas that may get overlooked. I never found any area with poor health care, poor education or any more poverty then we see here in Minnesota.

As for retiring to Mississippi, there are numerous tax advantages for senior citizens. No tax on any Social Security, no tax on IRAs, no tax on 401k plans or interest from federal securities. No inheritance tax unless it exceed $1,000,000. Mississippi ranks 48th with only Alaska and Alabama having lower total taxes.

It’s obvious the letter writer has never visited Mississippi or he would have seen the influx of manufacturing that is locating in Mississippi. In February 2007 Toyota announced it will be building another vehicle plant in Blue Springs, Miss. The plant will cost $1.3 billion and employ 2,000 new employees.

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---

Keith Folger - Fergus Falls