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Show THE MAQNA TIKES, THURSDAY, RAGS 2 JULY 21, 1988 Editoeialopinion Taxpayers for Uioh kicks off campaign flo educoie Ulohns SALT LAKE CITY Taxpayers for Utah, believed to be the most broadly based coalition ever to become involved in a ballot issue in Utah, today kicked off its public campaign to defeat three tax protest initiatives that will be on the November ballot. The group is headed by former governors Scott M. Matheson and Calvin L. Hampton, former U.S. Senator Wallace F. Bennett, and former Utah State Senator Warren E. Pugh. Matheson serving as spokesman for the group, pointed out die strong bipartisan support. He and Hampton are Democrats. Bennett and Pugh are Republicans. He also noted both Governor Norm Bangerter and his Democrat opponent, Ted Wilson, have endorsed Taxpayers for Utahs efforts. In addition, Matheson said, nearly every responsible group and oiganiz-tio- n you can diink of, is supporting our effort. These include diverse groups that do not normally join together,' especially on political issues. But defeat of these tax initiatives is so important to the entire state, we have come together on this issue. Individual working and retired Utahns are represented by several separate organizations, Matheson said. For example the Utah State Farm Bureau Federation represents 20,000 familes in the farm community. Union workers, 69.000 strong throughout die state, are represented by the Utah State AFL-CIHe added that 9,000 state employees are represented by the Utah Public Employees Association. Broad based citizen support is represented by such groups as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters, (which support defeat of two of the initiatives). Lower income and disadvantaged groups are represented by Utah Issues. The important senior citizen community is represented by die Utah State Chapter of the American Assn, of Retired People (AARP) with 1 13,000 members. Matheson said the states private business community is represented by official endorsements by the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ogden Chamber of Commerce. In addition several individual business people have contributed to the group. Several have also spoken out individually and appear in a video produced by Taxpayers for Utah to be shown during speaking engagements. The tax protestors would have everyone believe the only opposition they face comes from the education community, Matheson said. They are right in saying there is opposition there, but it goes far beyond the 15,000 members of die Utah Education Assn. We also have strong participation from die Utah State PTA, which represents 142.000 Utahns throughout foe state. And in addition to the presidents, faculty and staffs of foe nine institutions of higher education, we also have the Utah Students Assn, and foe Assn, of Student Body Presidents, which jointly represent foe 70,000 plus individuals enrolled in higher education in the state. Please remember, Matheson added, all of foe members of these various groups are also taxpaying citizens. None of them likes paying taxes any more than do foe protestors. All of them want efficient government, just as much as the protestors. But, they understand the basic reality that you cannot drastically cut tax revenues and expect government services and the quality of life to be maintained." Matheson said all these groups have come together to form Taxpayers for Utah and to oppose the initiatives, many of them after carefully studying both sides of the issue, because they realize the initiatives would have devastating effects on die entire state if they were to pass in November. The initiatives would have the following impacts: Cuts in social services $13 million (plus the loss of $16.5 million much foe Matheson noted that tax protestors continually refuse to say how Utah s for to refer but Taxpayers local revenue, initiatives will cut state and numbers as scare tactics. If they do not know how much the cuts will be or where they would have . to be made, how do they know our numbers are incorrect. Matheson noted foe Taxpayers for Utah calculations are supported by studies made by the State Tax Commission, the Salt Lake Area institutions. Chamber of Commerce, and noted economists for local Matheson said surveys indicate the more information citizens have bout the wore tax initiatives, the more they oppose them, and Taxpayers for Utah will between now and election day to provide that education. Matheson Up to now, foe only voice has been that of foe tax protestors, said. We will be working within the normal communication channels of each of our constituent groups to make certain foe true facts about the intiatives are understood. And we will be communicating to the community at large as well, he added. e politics campaign, which is exactly "We will treat this effort as a what it is. If that requires paid advertising, we will do some of that as well. in federal matching funds) Cuts in health services $8.7 million (plus the loss of $18.5 million in federal matching funds) Cuts in corrections $8.6 million. Cuts in public education $125 million. Cuts in higher education $33.9 million. Cuts in transportation and public safety $43.5 million. Cuts in other state departments such as economic development, business, labor and agriculture, natural resources, courts and administration $22.7 million. Included in this total of $349 million is also foe combined impact on counties ($49 million), cities and towns, ($29 million), and special districts ($18.2 million)., These initiatives are foe same as using a meat axe where a scalpel is needed, Matheson said. Necessary changes in foe tax structure are best accomplished through the regular legislative process. If what elected officials do regarding taxes is undesirable in an individuals point of view, that person should vote accordingly on election day, not try to drastically alter foe whole process. bag state-wid- O. Utah Foundation asks: Will Tax-c- a thing sos a "good ton? ' Dr. H. Kent StaheU FHP Staff Physician Americans lavish an estimated $300 million each year in tanning salons to receive a good tan. Some pay up to $30 an hour to receive that bronze hue to their skin. We also spend $350 million each year on suntan products skin lotions, pills to accelerate tanning, and lamps to use at home. Up to almost a century ago, those who were tanned were farmers, sailors, and workers who labored in foe sun. Those who had no tan were admired since they did not need to labor in foe sunshine. Even in foe 1930s, tanning was not as fashionable as it is today. The cost of sun tanning has now been evaluated. The incidence of skin cancer has increased 900 percent in foe last 50 years, and prolonged exposure to foe ultraviolet rays is now known to cause premature wrinkling of foe skin by breaking down the skins collagen and elastin. Ultraviolet rays stimulate melanocyte cells in foe skin to release melanin, and this deposition of melanin in the skin allows protection against further ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet rays are of two types: Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB). Both cause tanning of foie sltin, but UVA penetrates deeply and is less apt to cause sunburn. Tanning salons use UVA and may advertise that it is safe because it is not apt to cause a burn. Even without a bum, however, UVA users risk premature aging of foe skin, skin cancer, retardation of the bodys immune system, and damage to foe fine vascular network beneath foe skin. . Tanning booths can be dangerous, for in most tanning salons foe UVA light used is about 100 times stronger than natural sunlight. Skin damage from ultraviolet light is cumulative foe more exposure you get, foe more damage you receive. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently reported that UVA caused mutations (or changes) in animal cells grown in an experimental laboratory. Ultraviolet light can activate 40 diseases in a persons system. Some medications, such as diuretics and antibiotics, have an adverse effect by increasing the skins sensitivity to ultraviolet light. is very helpful. Early detection of skin cancers through Removing a small skin lesion is simple compared to foe removal of a larger lesion found in later stages. Preventing skin damage can be accomplished by foe judicious use of sunscreen. A 1978 FDA regulation required sunscreens to carry a sun protection factor (SPF) number to indicate foe degree of protection provided. SPF numbers range from about 2 to 30. SPF-1- 0, for example means that foe user can spend 10 hours in the sun and absorb the same ultraviolet amount that would have been obtained in one hour without a sunscreen. You should know your skin type and choose foe sunscreen that offers foe appropriate protection. If you are light complected, you have less natural protection from the sun and, thus, need more protection from ultaviolet light You would need a higher SPF than someone with a darker skin type. Next time you see a good tan, think 30 years in foe future when that person may have premature wrinkling and may have to deal with skin cancer. r.!AC NA TIKIS USPS I 3286-800- 0 9124 Weal 2700 South, Magna Utah 64044 J. HOWARD Publisher-Managin- g Letters to the Editor should be d typewritten and whenever possible. Letters will be edited for clarity, good taste and double-space- STAHLE Editor BONNIE M STAHLE Advertising-Offic- e Dale Maneger J. Neilson Reporter-Photograph- Kent Goble Sports Writer PubOshod Thursdays Nslnwlsr send change ef eddiew 9124 West 2700 South. Magna Utah 84044 , 4 Second Oats Postage Paid at Magna Utah 64044 Tfcsss resdsrs lac length. The Magna Times will not publish unsigned letters, but the authors may request anonynity. The author should include any pertinent telephone numbers and addresses; such information will be kept strictly confidential and is only for foe editors use.. Address such correspondence to: The Magna Times, 9124 West 2700 3outh, Magna, 84044. The publication can be reached at Office hours are 8:30-- 5 pjn. 250-565- 6. Monday-Frida- y. initiatives eliminate Fat Services? ut discussed projections of what the effect of foe tax limitation initiativeswould be, and say there would be severe reductions in services in public education, higher education, social and health services and in many other areas of government and that results in many areas might be catastrophic. The Tax Limitation Coalition of Utah, sponsors of the tax limitation initiatives, insist that they are not going to close schools, take food from foe needy, or put handicapped persons out on the street, but are only working to eliminate government waste. Tax protesters have not attempted to argue points raised by their opponents in any detail, but stand by their assertion that government waste can be eliminated only by reducing the fends on which government operates. Utah Foundation notes a close resemblance between foe tax protesters posiC. Northcote Parkintion and foe theories of foe English economist-lecturson, who attracted international attention in foe 1950s and 1960s. Parkinsons economic laws were couched in humorous language, but were taken seriously by economists. Parkinsons first law: Work expands to fill the time available for its completion; his second law: Expenditure rises to meet available income; and a corollary; The size of a staff bears no relation to foe work to be accomplished, expresses the core of foe tax protesters argument that eliminating tax revenue is foe only way in which government waste can be eliminated. inefficiencies, duplications, overstaffing Can $346 million worth of fat and other wasteful practices be eliminated from state and local government in Utah to compensate for foe revenue losses that would result from passage of foe Peoples Tax Reduction Act and Peoples Tax and Spending Limitations which will be voted on in November? This, according to Utah Foundation, is foe heart of foe issue which Utah voters are being asked to decide when the two initiative petitions Come before them. The Foundation, a private nonprofit research organization that historically does not take sides in controversial issues, looks at arguments advanced by both sides on foe question in a research report released Monday. The Utah State Tax Commission has issued figures, based on application of the two initiatives provisions to 1986 tax receipts, indicating that state and local revenues would be reduced by approximately $346 million. The Commission is engaged in compiling new analyses based on more recent collections which are expected to be higher, due to natural growth and inflation. Opponents of the proposed tax and revenue restrictions present extensive estimates of what the revenue loss would mean to operations of state and local government institutions and agencies. Supporters of foe initiatives argue that essential services would not be interfered with, but that revenue losses could be offset by eliminating unneeded fat. Tax protesters point to recent charges that $3.5 million was misappropriated at the Timpanogos Mental Health Center in Utah County and a tax protest leader said in public debate that people who think that this (foe Timpanogos situation) is an isolated incident are beyond help. Opponents of the proposed restrictions agree that such situations should be eliminated, but point out that approximately 100 situations of foe magnitude of foe Timpanogos affair would have to be identified and corrected to absorb foe proposed revenue cuts, and that foe action would have to come immediately to avoid serious impacts on essential services. Taxpayers for Utah, an organization supported by concerned business and community leaders to oppose the tax limitation initiatives, has published and Is there such er Foundation analysts believe the debates will continue, not only to election day, but will go on thereafter regardless of the outcome of die election. Whatever foe result of tiie voting, foe result appears sure to be painful to the losers, and could be acutely painful to those directly affected by program cuts if the initiatives are approved. Many Utahns believe that even if foe tax protest Ms, it will have rendered foe state a valuable service by focussing foe attention of elected officials and government workers on foe need for greater economy and efficiency in state and local government operations, the Foundation report concludes. Q I MINNEAPOLIS, MN With the baseball season starting, again, I had some memories of foe 1987 World Series that have stuck with me since last Fall. I have always had confidence in umpires, whose perception and knowledge of foe game made them able to do 6 creditable job. What I observed in foe 1987World Series from TV cameras covering every angle of a play, corrected , that impression. Playbacks showed that the Champion Twins were deprived of an earned home run when an umpire Med to see a runner touch home well before he was tagged out. The Cardinals didnt get an earned hit when a player tagged up at first well before he was tagged out. The number of umpire errors pointed out at each game and available for instant replay review were disturbing. I lost confidence in basebal because these mistakes were so obvious and frequent by foe best umpiring crews, that I wondered what impact errors had all season long. I was so discouraged with this officiating that I wonder whether it is worth foe effort to drive 300 miles, round trip, to see a game. Our economy, in many respects, resembles people today who are disillusioned and losing confidence. After a long period of economic growth and good spirit, foe stock market, which had risen too high for foe profits companies were earning, took a nosedive. Most Americans dont have any stock, and lost nothing. Those who owned stock, for foe most part, had big paper profits that disappeared over a couple of weeks, but really had not lost actual cash in hand. There were some professionals and Speculators who did lose because they believed that we had only one way streets in our economy, going up. We all learned that our economy has two way streets, and what goes up can also go down. The success or failure of our economy, measured in prosperity and growth versus recession and depression, is really tied to the confidence level of our people, you and me. While there are many safety valves built into foe system since foe 1920s there is one function, confidence, that can offset everything else. Our Federal Reserve System can try to influence foe economy with more money, less money, and higher and lower interest rates. The federal govern ment can attempt to encourage or discourage economic activity by its balancing or unbalancing of foe federal budget. But neither of these public influences can necessarily change your confidence level. ; . v That confidence level, positive or negative, can kill or build companies, create or reduce jobs, and make a success or failure of our business system. Lets take a look at how confidence effects our economy. If you believe that good times will last forever, you are willing to take on long term commitments that rely on your paycheck, like buying a house, appliance or car. Those sales provide employment for everyone invovlved with providing houses, appliances and cars. On foe other hand, if you fear that you will lose your job or income, and that bad times are ahead, you obviously will not spend money and make long term commitments. That lack of sales will reduce employment for everyone providing houses, appliances and cars. Furthermore, when people spend money, foe receivers of foe money spend thq money, it circulates and creates more jobs. When people do not spend money, foe people who would have received it dont get it, and they dont have foe money to spend, either, further hurting foe job market and employment levels. If you believe that big inflation is ahead, you will attempt to convert your dollars into real goods, tilings that will appreciate in value as your dollars value goes down. A fear of big inflation can set off buying sprees which push prices up even further. On foe other hand, if you dont believe we are headed for more inflation, you will have no reason to rush into purchases. So confidence in foe future, whether it applies to having a steady job or level inflation, plays a very important role inour business system. Thats why it is important for us to imploy reliable congressmen, senators and representatives who have foe backbone to balance our federal budget, and politicians at other levels willing to balance budgets, too. Selection of congressmen and sound politicians is our job as citizens. The deficits and variations in inflation that effect our confidence and economic health result, in large part, from foe quality of politician we have selected. Thats Straight Talk! . Tax accused of exaggerations brainwashing The Utah Taxpayers Association blasted foe State Tax Commission for deliberately attempting to sabotage foe Property Tax and Spending Limitation initiative by exaggerating foe tax cutting consequences of foe limitation and scolded opponents of tax limitation for planning to spend more than $V6 million to defeat foe initiatives. The Tax Commissions claim that foe Property Tax and Spending Limitation initiative would cut property taxes by $176 million or 24 percent is grossly exaggerated. The cut would actually be less than $80 million, or 1 1 percent of total property taxes, according to Jack A. Olson, spokesman for foe Taxpayers Association. We feel foe Commission has exaggerated foe cuts in an attempt to defeat foe initiative. It was also foe Tax Commission that underestimated foe 1987 tax hikes by $110 million, Mr. Olson said. The Taxpayers Association spokesman criticized die opponents of foe initiative for planning to spend more than $'A million to defeat tax limitation on foe November ballot. If theyve got that kind of money to throw around, maybe they ought to give it to foe schools and social programs they say need it so desperately, Mr. Olson said. The Utah Taxpayers Association predicts the expensive brainwashing campaign conducted by Taxpayers for Utah in opposition to the tax limitation campaign will backfire and will lead to a overwhelming victory for taxpayers in November. The Taxpayers for Utah ad campaign conveys foe cavalier attitude that a few politicians have a corner on foe wisdom market and that a hundred thousand citizens who have signed petitions do not know what is good for them, said Olson. The Taxpayers Association criticized their opponents for using die name TaxWe feel it is an attempt to confuse and deceive, Olson payers for Utah. said. We receive dozens of calls every day from people wondering if we are foe same organization. Many people feel they are trying to steal our name or are trying to capitalize on our reputation. Taxpayers for Utah is not in the phone book and directory assistance has no listing for them. If they are 66-ye- ar , not trying to confuse, why dont they list their number with directory assistance? Mr. Olson asked. Taxpayers for Utah does not in any manner represent foe taxpyers of Utah as foe name implies. If they represented taxpayers they would be in favor of tax limitation because an overwhelming majority of Utahns support tax limitation according to numerous public opinion polls. Taxpayers for Utah really represents those in our state who have their snout in the public trough. Nearly all of the groups opposing the tax initiatives, direedy or indirectly benefit from higher state and local taxes and an expanded role of government. Groups such as foe Utah League of Cities and Towns, Utah Education Association,, Utah Public Employees Association, Utah Society of School Superintendents, and foe Utah Association of Counties are hardly people we would expect to have foe interests of taxpayers at heart.. It is this very group of individuals and organizations that has gotten us into our present economic quagmire, including and ineffective government services. Why would anyone believe these same people could possibly get us out of this mess? Mr. Olson asked. I am galled by statements from former Senator Wallace Bennett and former Governor Scott Matheson chiding tax protesters for not working within the system and for undermining legislative authority. Isnt it foe legislature that has ignored foe will of an overwhelming majority of Utahns who support Olson questioned. The rights of a people, who are ignored by government, to change laws directly through foe petition process is the cornerstone of our democracy. The petitioners are working within foe system and within the framework of the Constitution. It is frightening to realize that Bennett and Matheson who once represented us, dont undersold that the people ultimately hold all power, not foe politicians, not foe bureaucrats, Mr. Olson over-taxatio- n, said. The Utah Taxpayers Association is in full support of foe property tax initiative entitled The Peoples Tax and Spending Limitation Amendment but does not have a position on foe tax rollback and foe tuition tax credit measures. 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