Sales taxes affect the poorest of the poor and seniors on a fixed income, the very people who can’t afford more taxes.

What needs to be done is to eliminate the majority of exemptions. The legislators should start paying attention to the taxpayers and not to the lobbyists. All exemptions should be put on the table and only the most important, such as our local governments, schools, hospitals and retail businesses, should be exempt, then perhaps the rate could drop to 3 percent, and at that rate everyone would be paying their fair share.

We should not be subsidizing exemptions for companies or organizations that can afford to pay. Had the Legislature of years ago kept their promise and dedicated the lottery to education, we would not have the problems of today and our property taxes would most likely be lower.

Talking about an increase in sales tax now is giving ammunition to the tax cap referendum.

It’s time for our leaders to start leading and stop listening to the lobbyists and listening to the taxpayers.
Edward Samson, Lewiston

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