On preventing deaths
Re "Unique occasion/Cigarette tax will improve health," writer Michael Keck is concerned about lung cancer caused by cigarette smoking and proposes an increased cigarette tax to save lives and money.
Cigarettes are not the only contributor to lung disease in Arkansas. Arkansas has five coal-fired power plants: Flint Creek, Independence, White Bluff, Plum Point, and John W. Turk Jr. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a typical coal plant each year emits over 10,000 tons each of sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide, as well as hydrocarbons, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, mercury and other heavy metals, all of which have negative impacts on health and the environment, including lung damage, cardiovascular diseases and asthma. Plus, each coal plant emits on average 3.7 million tons of CO2 per year, contributing to global warming, impacting health from heat, vector-borne diseases, and extreme weather.
It makes economic sense to tax what we want less of, like cigarettes and fossil-fuel pollution. A national revenue-neutral gradually rising fee on CO2 is projected to save 13,000 lives a year, and over 20 years create 2.8 million jobs, add $1.375 trillion to the economy, and reduce emissions 52 percent. After 20 years the dividend to a family of four would come to almost $400 per month in inflation-adjusted dollars.
Preventing deaths should be a nonpartisan issue. Congressional bipartisan action on a revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend policy would save lives in Arkansas and nationally.
SHELLEY BUONAIUTO
Fayetteville
Motivations for tax
A legislative task force will study raising the tobacco tax as one option to increase revenue. Guest writer Michael Keck further advocates raising the tax to $1.50 per pack to reduce cigarette use and improve the health of our citizenry.
Having spent more than two decades as a cancer researcher, I certainly agree that reducing smoking would have both health and economic benefits. The health benefits of this tax would be more meaningful if the revenue generated was used for health-related programs or, heaven forbid, expanded health-care coverage for our most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, it appears the motivation for this tax is to generate revenue to offset a proposed reduction in the tax rate for individuals in the top income bracket. Since the percentage of smokers with incomes less than $25,000 is four times higher than those with incomes exceeding $75,000, as proposed the poorest among us will be taxed more for the benefit of the wealthiest. If improved health is really the desired outcome, why not spend the revenue where it would do the most good for those that need it most?
Similarly, efforts are underway to reduce eligibility in the state's Medicaid expansion program from 138 percent of poverty level down to 100 percent to "save" money for further tax cuts. It is estimated that 60,000 Arkansans would lose their health-care coverage if this were implemented. If enacted, taxpayers may "save" 6 percent in insurance premiums for these individuals, but your health-care costs will increase to cover 100 percent of the care for these now uninsured.
The mantra of cutting taxes from people seeking office may be good politics, but the consequences of these policies are often detrimental to the citizens they are supposed to represent.
RANDY HAUN
Little Rock
Very simple question
After the last couple of days of T-Rump selling our country down the drain to Russia, it comes down to a simple question: Do you believe in the American system, with all its flaws, or, are you going to follow T-Rump into the abyss?
See you on the other side ...
CHARLES ISGRIG
Pine Bluff
Ballot issues mislead
Proposed constitutional amendments Issues 1 and 2, to be voted on in the Nov. 6 general election, are both misleading and unnecessary.
Concerning Issue 1, it looks as though the attorney general and General Assembly are at it again! Trying to confuse voters by combining two unrelated items: (1) Civil lawsuits (tort reform), and (2) granting power to the General Assembly to adopt rules for the Supreme Court, making the popular name of Issue 1 sound as though the General Assembly already has power to adopt rules for the Supreme Court.
I believe, even to bestow favor or authority on the Legislature, the attorney general should never be permitted to approve ballot titles which commingle two or more different issues to be voted on as a single issue. Each matter should be presented under a separate issue number. Voters should have the opportunity to decide separately which issue(s) they choose to support.
Over the years I have found the Supreme Court quite capable of setting its own rules, based on the law, without legislative assistance. The General Assembly has enough difficulty taking care of its own legal problems. One seldom hears about graft and malfeasance on the Supreme Court as we do repeatedly in the General Assembly.
On Issue 2: If requiring voters to present photo identification is such a great idea, why does the Legislature need to give itself authority to grant exceptions?
LOUISE HENDERSON
Hot Springs Village
Possum Poot parade
Well, it took several days to clean up all the orange confetti and covfefe from our glorious gravel streets. Our Fourth of July parade was the hugest, best attended ever. We were all aglow at the success it was; all the lights plus orange for our president made it all the more festive.
I arranged for a special contingent of the former Trumpeteers to march; their little red ties and gold vests really added to it all. They had approached me regarding the back pay that was lost when Daddy Donald declared his magnificent rest and restoration center bankrupt and, using the art of the deal, I allowed them to look for items of value after the parade to sell for their money. Greatest deal ever. Unfortunately a few of the little guys had the loping gait of Jar-Jar Binks, but parade they did, and all worked out well.
We even had a short skit wherein we replicated the division at the border in honor of zero tolerance. The little folk were quite good at this. The fireworks tent will double as an open-air gathering place for a few more months; hopefully it will house our Halloween festival. A couple of the little people ran off into the hills excitedly chattering about Daddy Donald and the return of coal. I fear they may have been lost in a cave but we can search for and check on them in a few weeks. Who knows, they might find coal up there.
Come see us in Possum Poot where we're still basking in the warm afterglow of the most successful parade ever!
STEVE GIBSON
Little Rock
Editorial on 07/20/2018