To the editor:

In a recent issue of this newspaper, Rep. Peter Nelson touted the House Republicanís plan to erase the $180 million budget deficit. Referring to the actions of the 2003 Legislature he wrote, "Again, we are not raising taxes to balance the debt."

I strongly disagree. What about the fees, surcharges, premiums, co-pays and increases in higher education tuition that were raised to the tune of $682,965,000 last session? Read that number again. That is nearly $700 million in fees and surcharges.
I recently learned that one of those fees is a surcharge placed on child support payments. The parent receiving the child support pays a monthly fee that is deducted from the child support payments. In many situations, that could be considered stealing from the poor. In all situations, that is balancing the budget on the backs of children.

The next time Rep. Nelson tries to persuade you that he and his Republican colleagues did not raise taxes, donít you believe him. A tax is a fee is a surcharge is a co-pay.

Monica Dwyer Abress
Lent Township

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