Sales-tax holiday offers savings

Missouri families can save money the first weekend in August. For the past three years shoppers have been able to save on back-to-school supplies, computers and clothes, thanks to the sales-tax holiday. My three-year effort to pass this measure was crowned with success in 2003, and the result was so positive that the General Assembly and Gov. Matt Blunt made the sales-tax holiday permanent last year.

I encourage all Missouri families to save money and conduct their back-to-school shopping during the first weekend in August. Families will pay no state sales tax on qualifying purchases, and many local governments have joined this effort by suspending their own sales taxes.

PETER D. KINDER, Lieutenant Governor, Jefferson City, Mo.