TAXPAYER'S ACTION DAY MARKED AT COUNTY PARK

Local taxpayers joined in a rally marking America's third annual Taxpayer's Action Day Saturday.

About 25 attended the event at the Cape Girardeau County Park North. It was sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Taxpayer's Action Network.

About 250 similar rallies were held across the country, sponsored by Citizens Against Government Waste.

Julia A. Kridelbaugh, director for the Southeast Missouri Citizens Against Government Waste, said people attended from Sikeston, Scott City and Cape Girardeau.

"Many of the people said they were looking for some way to speak out or to become involved," she said. "It was an informal rally. People were able to ask questions."

The organization is non-partisan and is designed to educate people about how tax money is spent and to advocate reforms for fiscal conservatancy," Kridelbaugh said.

"We try to educate the public on where the tax dollars are going 40 percent of their income goes to local, state and federal taxes," she said. "There has to be a lid, a stopping point to the spending."

The national organization also publishes books on "pork barrel" projects, and ranks politicians on how well they have managed the public's money.

"We also help to educate candidates on the issues we're concerned about," Kridelbaugh said.

Specific reforms the organization endorses is a line-item veto and a balanced budget with tax limitation.

"We do lots of activities, but we really give people a chance to voice what they feel and become better informed."

The keynote speaker was Mark Schmacher, Sikeston businessman.