TAX PLAN SHOULD SHRINK GAP BETWEEN HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS
    While listening to various speeches, I realized that we are getting incorrect information regarding the tax policies of McCain and Obama. The Tax Policy Center, a joint venture of the government-sponsored Urban Institute and the non-partisan Brookings Institute, published a paper in August 2008 entitled “An Updated Analysis of the 2008 Presidential Candidates’ Tax Plans.”

The paper highlights the McCain proposal to permanently extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, reduce the corporate income tax rate, and allow immediate deductions for investments for capital equipment.

In contrast, it states that Obama proposes permanently extending only certain provisions of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, (primarily helping taxpayers with incomes under $250,000), while enacting new and expanded tax breaks for workers, retirees, homeowners, savers, students, and new farmers.

The study states that McCain’s tax cuts would primarily benefit those with very high incomes. In contrast, Obama’s plan offers much larger tax breaks to low and middle-income taxpayers and would increase taxes on high-income taxpayers.

Giving more and more tax breaks to the wealthy does not help the country as a whole, nor does it help the majority of its citizens. The wealthy invest their wealth only to accumulate more wealth. The average citizen invests this additional income in the American economy through increased purchasing power – if only by the ability to pay their bills.

Which candidate will benefit the country as a whole and put the country back on the right track, shrinking that ever-increasing spread between the Haves and Have-nots?

– Libby Stupak, Eau Claire

ENOUGH TALK, BUILD IT
    The city has been talking for years about building a Convention Center/Arena.  LaCrosse has one, why can’t we?  A new, bigger facility would attract larger scale conventions and events that the current Civic Center Convention Center cannot accommodate.  In addition, concerts, sporting and cultural events could be held at the new facility, offering additional entertainment options for the residents of the Eau Claire area.  These events would increase tourism, bringing in money for the city.  With so many school budget cuts, maybe some of this money could be used to bring back the programs and teachers that have been cut over the past few years.  A new convention center/arena would also bring much needed jobs to the community. Let’s stop talking about it and finally get it done!

– Kelsey Tolar, Eau Claire