Your Mail 6-28: Political signs, TPA and taxes

Political signs

The next big election in Rapides Parish is in October, and political signs are already littering the roads. Having candidate signs out four months before an election dulls the public interest.

Could having these political signs out so early have something to do with the fact that voters are turned off by election time and don't go to to the polls to vote?

Voters might pay better attention to elections if advertising was kept to a shorter time period and the number of political road signs were limited.

Diane Lawton

Pineville

Abraham supports TPA

As a team member at International Paper, a company that employs more than 450 people at our Bogalusa, La., paper mill, I appreciate Congressman Ralph Abraham's support for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).

TPA will allow our country to craft strong trade agreements that support American manufacturing by leveling the playing field and opening new markets for our products. Since 95 percent of the world's population lives outside of the United States, exports continue to be of growing importance for the U.S. forest products industry. It is important to our team at Bogalusa and for the entire Louisiana forest products industry.

TPA will create new opportunities for many businesses and their employees. The International Paper link to global trade is not only important to our employees, but to the more than 600 smaller companies throughout the state where our Louisiana facilities purchase goods and services.

Representative Abraham demonstrated leadership by supporting TPA. In voting for this critical piece of legislation, he voted to stand up for his constituents and those who work in manufacturing. Thank you, Congressman Abraham.

Bernie Chascin

Mill Manager, International Paper

Bogalusa

Pet project taxes

Would you like to raise taxes for a pet project in your city?

If you do, you might use our city for a pattern. Pet project taxes are added in a general election. The new taxes fail and everybody goes back to earning a livelihood.

A little time is allowed to pass; and then the city has a special tax election.

The 15 people with the pet project all vote. The people who will pay the bulk of the tax are too busy earning a living and do not vote. The pet project passes and the hard workers pay for it.

This is a very effective system and works like a charm. I don't know the cutoff point; but apparently we have not reached it though we are closing in on 10 percent sales tax.

Alva Z. Albright

Alexandria