Letters
Letters to the editor, Oct. 12
Hernando Today
Published: October 12, 2012
Vote yes for Amendment 4Published: October 12, 2012
After reading Michael Bates' article "Tax Income May Fall" this week, I felt a response was necessary.
Using phrases like "Tax Income" and saying that taxpayers could "lose ad valorem tax revenue" mischaracterizes what tax revenue actually is. Taxpayers don't lose tax revenue. They pay tax revenue.
Rather than take away revenue from local governments, the amendments on this November's ballot put more money back into the pockets of people who create jobs; Florida's homeowners and taxpayers.
However, there is one amendment on the ballot this year that Republicans and Democrats agree will create jobs, get Florida's housing market back on the rise and create long term solutions for local government revenue.
Amendment 4 will create an additional homestead exemption for first time homebuyers, reduce the cap on small business property tax increases and provide a way to stop the unfair practice of increasing assessments on homeowners who have seen their home values decline.
When Florida TaxWatch, one of Florida's most respected nonpartisan watchdog groups, conducted a comprehensive analysis of Amendment 4, they determined it would create around 20,000 private sector jobs. They also found that Amendment 4 would boost Florida's economy by $1.1 billion and increase personal wealth by $5.3 billion over ten years.
A healthy Florida housing market means home values will rise. And when home values rise, tax revenues increase. Now there is a way to increase tax revenues without raising millage rates.
Hernando County needs market based solutions that respect the role of job creators and homeowners first.
Voting "YES" on Amendment 4 is a great start.
Marilyn Pearson-Adams,
President of CENTURY 21 Alliance Realty
No Nelson
After reading the letter by Norman Pallot, "Mr. Nasty," I would like to call attention to some of the votes by Senator Bill Nelson.
If you are a senior citizen, Bill Nelson's vote for Obamacare will eliminate Medicare Advantage insurance plans in 2013. Seniors will be forced to buy supplemental insurance plans to cover the 20 percent Medicare does not cover and prescription drug plans since traditional Medicare does not offer prescription drug coverage.
If you are a gun owner, Nelson is on record for opposing the absolute right to gun ownership. He voted against the Concealed Weapons Bill which would have allowed people to carry guns in 48 states if they have a concealed weapon permit in any one of the 48 states. Nelson's vote left us with no option for self-defense if we are driving through states that do not accept permits to carry concealed weapons.
If are pro-life, you will be interested to know Nelson has a 100 percent pro-choice voting record according to NARAL, an organization supporting abortion. He even voted against the ban on partial-birth abortion, a procedure that allows a full-term baby to be killed within seconds of being born. He voted to expand embryonic stem cell research even though other adult stem cells were available for research.
If you are an energy voter, you will be disappointed to learn that Nelson voted against oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and against drilling on federally owned lands.
If you are concerned about illegal immigration, Nelson has cast numerous votes in favor of illegal aliens. He co-sponsored the DREAM ACT to reward illegal aliens with in-state tuition and amnesty. He voted against funding for additional Border Patrol agents. He voted to continue giving federal funds to declared "sanctuary cities" where law enforcement is forbidden to notify ICE when they arrest illegal aliens.
If you want to protect American jobs and wages, you will want to know that Nelson co-sponsored S. 2109 to increase the importation of high-tech foreign workers driving down wages and costing hundreds of American jobs.
I don't have enough space to continue with the harmful votes of Senator Bill Nelson, but the votes listed should give you a good idea of why you should vote him out of office.
Betty Dobson
Brooksville