THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996             TAG: 9608170025
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   39 lines

TAX AND SPEND! TAX AND SPEND!

Candidate Dole comes out with a plan for tax reduction; you come out with an editorial against the plan.

American taxpayers are spending 40 percent of their income on taxes. Don't you think they need some relief? We are being smothered by excess taxation. Is it any wonder that a household requires two wage earners - one to earn income, one to pay the taxes?

You took the same route when Governor Allen proposed a tax reduction. You came out against it, then printed everything that Tom Moss and the Virginia Education Association presented in their ``dog and pony shows'' through the state and continually stressed how little the tax cut would be. At least Governor Allen's proposal was a step in the right direction.

As it turned out, Virginia was one of only six states whose spending increased last year, and Tom Moss bragged about ``Bringing home the bacon.'' As everybody knows, bacon is pork. When you consider that every one of the politicians from 113 districts had to bring home some pork, is it any wonder that Virginia's spending increased?

You took the same tack when Norfolk raised taxes to fund the Pace program and the fee for SPSA. You were in favor of both increases. In fact, you took Virginia Beach to task for opting out of the recycling program. But good old Norfolk - our City Council signed on and passed the charge to the consumer.

I don't ever remember your being against any tax or fee increases. I have lived in Norfolk 42 years, and I have been told by numerous city administrations: Just wait until our tax base increases. I waited. Our tax base has increased manyfold, and still taxes and fees continue to increase. Why doesn't your paper conduct an investigation on the waste of taxpayers' funds in this city?

And I can't believe it. Today's issue (Aug. 9) advocates an increase in gasoline taxes. Don't you people ever quit?

ALFRED E. S. ARMFIELD

Norfolk, Aug. 9, 1996 by CNB