Our taxes have continued to rise

This fall, incumbent Democrats and Republicans will ask us to re-elect them to the state legislature. Republicans are now in the majority for many reasons, one being the promise to lower our outrageous and escalating property taxes and put a cap on increasing property valuations for tax purposes. That allows annual tax hikes without a legislator having to vote for it. Their promise was a lie.

This year, I paid the highest property taxes I have ever paid, and this was with a Republican majority. In all fairness, I know my taxes would have been much higher under a Democrat majority, because they have absolutely no regard for taxpayers. Now Republicans are becoming the same as Democrats in their contempt for taxpayers.

I asked my Republican representative why my taxes were at a record high with a Republican majority. One response was "the courts mandated school spending." My response to that is why does our unimaginative legislature allow the courts to lead them around by their noses? Why don't they do what the U.S. Congress has done: give themselves the power to limit jurisdiction of the courts on some issues. They can introduce a constitutional amendment to do exactly that, but they won't because so many of our Republican representatives are actually liberals who run under the Republican label to get elected.

On a multitude of other issues, the Republican majority refuses to control spending. They are contemptuous of the taxpayers who were foolish enough to elect them to office. The socialist Democrats are even worse.

This fall, I will not be voting for any Democrat or Republican. Both parties are political prostitutes who serve only themselves and do not represent us. I will be voting for third-party candidates at every opportunity. I urge all voters to do the same.

Continuing to vote for Democrat and Republican liars will only ensure out-of-control state spending will continue to incrsae and our taxes will continue to escalate. Enough to enough.

Donald N. Baker