Urge legislators to pass tax increase

Like the rest of the country, our state's economy is in trouble. As a result, families are hurting in these challenging times. Like all citizens, I don't want to spend more of my hard-earned money in taxes, but as a responsible citizen, and as my father's daughter, I know that publicly supporting a moderate income tax increase to balance the state's budget is the right thing to do.

My father became a U.S. citizen when I was 10 years old. I can remember how proud he was to be a member of the civic community and how he took his responsibility of being a good citizen very seriously. I remember it almost as much as I remember him having my four sisters and me in church every Sunday morning.

Dad would have much respect for Sen. Michael Noland, who courageously voted "yes" for an income tax increase May 30. And if my father were alive today, he would be leading all of us in urging Rep. Keith Farnham to support an income tax increase that will prevent cuts to lifeline services that are critical to our most vulnerable citizens, while also strengthening the state's economy and preventing massive job losses.

There is no question that state government must undertake serious belt-tightening, but it is clear that those savings won't come close to closing its colossal shortfall. Generating new revenue is the only responsible way to balance the state's budget while preventing devastating cuts to vital state services, and cutting the jobs of those that provide these critical services.

Join me in calling Rep. Keith Farnham at (847) 841-7130 and urge him to work hard for a balanced budget solution now.

Laurel Bault

Elgin