Incumbents taking advantage

Congressmen and senators should keep constituents informed on important legislation and issues. Reasonable costs should be paid by taxpayers. But why must taxpayers pay for elaborate, expensive mailings that go far beyond what is necessary to inform us? What do they cost taxpayers?

In June, U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, sent a four-page multi-color mailer, “Why I voted ‘No’ on the Health Care bill.” In July, we received a four-page multi-color mailing “Honoring America’s Military Families & Veterans.” Both included these words: “This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense.”

As a veteran who was honored to serve with the 2nd Armored at Fort Hood, I found the second mailing to be self-promoting of Edwards. His name appears 30 times along with five photos of him. This strikes me as campaign literature, although neither mentions his bid for re-election.

Incumbents truly have a taxpayer-financed advantage over challengers. Although no campaign finance laws were violated, were political calculations made with eyes on the Nov. 2 election?

John W. Welch, College Station

Support the FairTax plan

How big is the momentum to push the FairTax plan through Congress? My friends, family, neighbors, community, co-workers and business associates are very much in favor of the plan.

FairTax would put an end to all federal taxes, which would be replaced by one simple consumption tax. This tax is a personal consumption tax that could revolutionize the federal tax system as we know it today.

It would put an end to the 1040 tax form and all tax forms. U.S. citizens would never again have to reconcile with the IRS at the end of the year. It also is a tax that is not intimidating or confusing. The FairTax plan is simply a federal tax on personal consumption.

FairTax would lower prices because there would be no more embedded federal taxes. These taxes are embedded in all prices that we pay for all goods. This consumption tax would be a “pay-as-you-go” tax.

Tax lobbyists, tax lawyers and tax lawmakers would have to refocus their pursuits on more important matters.

Contact your congressman and senator. Let them know you support FairTax. For more information go to fairtax.org.

Steve Kungis, Temple

Keeping it honest

A Thursday Tribune-Herald article by Michael Shapiro [“Edwards foe blasts school funds formula,”] quoted the Flores campaign as saying that “McLennan County schools will receive over $2.1 million less than they would have under current allocation formulas.” Thanks for clearing the record in the same article to note that McLennan County schools actually get $3.1 million more. I appreciate the Fourth Estate doing its job of keeping the three branches of government — and those intent on entering them — somewhat honest by shining the light when they are not.

Ottis Foster, McGregor

Get down and dirty in the dirt

The recent gardening articles in the Tribune-Herald have been wonderful!

I’ve been a gardener all my life — and I ain’t young — but I must say that two recent stories should have been printed more than 50 years ago when I first started gardening. (I learned from my parents as a teen but I didn’t really care to learn then.)

Central Texas has a soil and climate of its own, so please keep up the good work and no more gardening tips from the Associated Press and New York City.

Cut off the computers and put a plow in your hand instead. Get down and dirty. That’s what it takes!

Helen Lenart, Abbott

Grateful to Board of Contributor

I would like to thank Allan Marshall for such good columns and such great remarks about Waco in his Aug. 6 column, “Drawing upon Waco experiences for the future.”

Yes, God does have a plan for all who listen. We all need to heed his plan and make his world a better place to live.

And, yes, our teachers in McLennan County are doing a great job and we, as parents and grandparents, need to do our job at home to help.

I would like to shake Allan’s hand. We need more writers like him and we love the Tribune-Herald .

W.T. Putman, Waco

Same sex marriage debate

On Aug. 4, the heavy hand of the federal government once again frustrated the will of the people. Judge Vaughn Walker overturned part of the California Constitution that states only marriage between a man and a woman is recognized by the state.  This ruling is a complete abandonment of common sense and the laws of natural order.

Redefining the institution of marriage to include persons of the same sex does not change the nature of the relationship.  Homosexuality is, and always will be, a disorder.

Joseph Rodriguez, San Dimas, Calif.

Gray wolf legislation

Regarding U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards’ bill to take the gray wolf off the endangered species list, I wonder the following:

Why is he concerned with the gray wolf populations in states other than Texas? This is no longer the wild west Mr. Edwards. What are you going to hunt when the wolf, bear and other wildlife are gone?

I can’t believe the Texas Farm Bureau supports this. Their offices must be overrun with varmints.

Shouldn’t our congressman be conserving what little we have left in our eco-system and not posturing for re-election?

Clyde L Harris, Hillsboro