COUNCIL PROMOTES TAXPAYERS` RIGHTS WITH RALLIES ON SATURDAY

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste will be holding over 250 rallies across the nation Saturday as part of its Taxpayer's Action Day `91.

The event is a day of simultaneous rallies for taxpayer rights. This year's theme is "Take Back Your Power."

Julia Kridelbaugh, of Cape Girardeau, who is the local representative of CCAGW, said the rallies are intended to send a message to Congress that the American public will no longer tolerate waste and mismanagement of tax dollars.

Although a rally was held in Cape Girardeau last year, Kridelbaugh said this year the closest one will be in St. Louis. That rally is scheduled for 10 a.m. at 12777 Olive Street in Creve Coeur, 1.3 miles west of I-270.

The CCAGW releases annual reports to voters on the waste rating of elected officials. In most instances, Kridelbaugh said, in non-election years the waste ratings slip in order to please special interest groups, but are improved during election years.

CCAGW gave Sen. John Danforth a 75 percent rating in 1990 and a 66.67 percent rating this year, rating him as friendly both years. Sen. Christopher Bond, who was listed as lukewarm in 1990 with a 58.3 rating, increased in 1991 to friendly status with a 66.67 rating.

Eighth District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, of Cape Girardeau, was rated friendly last year with a 66.67 rating, but was dropped to lukewarm this year with a rating of 50.

CCAGW, with 300,000 members, is a nonprofit group fighting government waste, inefficiency, and higher taxes.

Recent examples cited by the group include: 58 cents out of every personal income tax dollar goes to interest on the national debt, which now exceeds $4 trillion; 44 percent of household income goes to federal, state, and local taxes; and the federal government has not balanced the budget for 21 straight years.

The group also points out that tax dollars have gone for such things as: $80 million to raise the salaries of congressional employees; $942,000 for fishing gear entanglement research; $219,595 to teach college students how to watch TV; and $46,000 to study how long it takes to cook an egg.

Information on the St. Louis rally can be received by calling Kridelbaugh at 334-5674 or 842-6300.