-In response to the Lobbyist who criticized my letter regarding the fuel tax, I stand by the information I submitted. The majority of it was compiled by Iowans for Tax Relief, another well respected lobbying organization that has served Iowa taxpayers for many years.

-But now, the new tax increase is here to stay and we need to move forward because all facets of our infrastructure play a critical role in national, state, and community security.

-In Marshall County it has been said that the increased tax revenue is an $800,000 solution to an $8,000,000 problem. The new dollars must not divert us from dealing with the full scope of the problem. It must be a priority to continue seeking solutions for our crumbling roads and bridges and other infrastructure in need of updating.

-Limited space allows me to write about two of my suggestions. First, because government spends someone else’s money, there will always be waste, fraud, and inefficiencies that need to be eliminated.

-Secondly, instead of looking for more ways to tax Iowans, we need to be looking for ways to actually decrease the need for more state revenue.

-As a nation and state we invest in educating citizens about the high costs of smoking and overeating. But we ignore the high costs of Education (more than two thirds of our state general fund), and Human Services and Justice System (another third) and their direct correlation to the fact that we have so many teens and adults in our state that simply don’t know enough or care enough to be good parents. The financial impact of their ignorance, irresponsibility, or just plain selfishness is huge. Iowans need to know the astronomically high cost of our families falling apart due to sex outside of marriage, divorce, gambling, and more. We should begin by creating a class that does just that and making it a requirement for High School graduation.

-We need to resolve to put forth to both teens and adults, the cold hard facts of the economic impact of Iowa’s broken and deteriorating families.

I’ll end with a short FYI. The price of gas has immediately increased but in reality, gas stations won’t actually pay the increased tax until they purchase their next fill because many stocked up in anticipation of the bill being passed – and took advantage of our ignorance.

-Ignorance is costly.

Jane Jech,

410 N. 9th St.,

Marshalltown, IA 50158,

641-751-7591