Letter to the Editor:

Am I in the Twilight Zone? I realize that most politicians stretch the truth at times and most never quite go through with all their promises when they run for office, but outright lies? Do they think just because they have forced most of Alabama into the poverty level that makes us stupid too? Well, we are NOT!

First, let me address Congressman Mo Brooks who graced us with his presence last week.

Congressman Brooks, Hello, I am ONE of the many School teachers that wrote to you when you and your posse were passing law after law targeting us when it was clear to everyone in Congress you had an ax to grind with the President of our union. You were very nice until you found out we were teachers, then you proceeded to talk to us as if were dogs. Remember me? I wrote to you as a taxpayer, a voter, a public servant to plead with you to help us and I can’t even put in this letter the response I received! NOW that it is election time you want to stroll through OUR town and tell the good people of the Shoals that the wealthiest Americans pay the most tax??? Do you enjoy trying to deceive people and make them believe your lies?

FACT #1- YOU VOTED NO time after time Legislature has been put in front of you to force corporations in this state to pay their fair share of state tax that goes directly in the Education Trust Fund.

FACT # 2 YOU AGREE that corporations should NOT pay one cent in state tax that the budget should be balanced on the backs of the poor and middle class!

FACT #3 YOU also voted NO to legislature that was put in front of you to get rid of all the tax breaks for the wealthiest Alabamians! The loopholes for this group are a crying shame! You allow the top 3% of earners in Alabama to receive a full state credit for federal income tax paid! Only three states allow this! Most states get their tax from the top earners from property taxes; However, Alabama could double its property tax and still be the lowest in the country! You allow Alabama to have 8.64% state and local sales tax which ranks sixth highest in the country, The ITEP report showed that Alabama’s lowest wage earners pay 4% of their income in general sales tax, compared to 0.6% for the top 1% of earners! We know why you do this. We see who backs your campaigns, Mr. Brooks. So save your speeches for folks that are stupid and give credit where credit is due.

You and your posse are responsible for the fact that now, besides the wonderful low unemployment rate of 9% that we have been stuck with for 2½ years, a new study released last week stated that one-in-four Alabama children live in poverty!

Great Job!

Just keep that sales tax the sixth highest in the country and let all of the unemployed Alabamians try to figure out how to pay for groceries. But don’t worry; your corporation of “Leo & Brooks” won’t have to pay any tax, you are safe! We won’t mention the 66% raise you voted yourself this year; must be tough being you!

Now, Governor Bentley, Remember me and my colleagues also wrote to you asking for your help? You stood before hundreds of teachers, education support professionals, and retirees a year ago and said, “I will not be governor without your support.” After your so-supporting speech of how you would not cut one teacher’s job, and you would not sacrifice classroom size, you would provide a sustainable funding base for the Education Trust Fund, You would control taxpayer expenditures on public employee health benefits, and last but not least, you would not forget us. Well Governor, you are right. You haven’t forgotten; you just flat-out lied. Go back to your inaugural address and read what you said about education and then go ahead and take the little money we have left in the Education Trust Fund and give it to the General Fund to pay for jails or whatever else you and the other politicians see fit.

I pray your children and grandchildren are finished with their education, because they surely will not get a quality one in the state of Alabama now, thanks to YOU!

Don’t worry; I am a southern lady and I do have morals and manners. I would never talk about a person behind his back. This letter will not only be mailed to Governor Bentley and Congressman Brooks, but also to every newspaper in Alabama.

See you at the polls!

Cheloe Witt Young
Florence