PEOPLE

The Southeast Missourian asked people what they thought of the deficit reduction tax increase proposed by President Clinton that was passed by Congress Friday.

Mary Sue Vandeven of Pilot Knob said: "I hope he (Clinton) didn't have to give away the farm to get the Senate and the Congress to vote in his favor. I think it's great the super rich should have to pay more taxes. They've been getting a free ride with taxes all along. I think something has to be done because nothing has been done for the last 12 years. You can't keep coasting forever."

Tim Simmons of Kelso said, "I don't like taxes very much. I think they should cut the deficit and everything. There's plenty to cut instead of raising taxes on us again. His campaign was no taxes on the middle class. Now he's taxing us gas wise. We've been taxed all over now. I think there's plenty more where he can cut."

Delbert Phillips of Scott City said, "Well, the middle class is what has been keeping this country going all this time anyway. If he's going to tax anybody it would be the middle man because there is more middle men (middle class) than there are rich men. They need to cut out some of that spending."

Elizabeth Cummins of Chaffee said, "He said he (Clinton) wouldn't raise our taxes and now he comes along and he's going to raise our taxes. I don't think he should raise our taxes. He needs to cut all the spending up in there (Washington) before he raises our taxes."

Don Leggett of Chaffee, said, "They can raise taxes as much as they want, the more taxes they get the more they're going to spend. I think they ought to quit spending and start (cutting spending) in the White House. They (Congress) get a percentage for the cost of living and they add it to their paycheck, but where is ours?"

Charles Bauman of Louisville, Ky., said, "I think it's a start. I think there's a long way to go but at least it's a step in the right direction. I think an energy tax would hurt a lot of people. The barge industry has been hit with losses of $4 million a day or more and an energy tax on top of that could close down a lot of barge lines. And of course that is a mainstay for a lot of people in the area."