Missouri uses refund money without interest

To the editor:

I was amazed at the headline on Marc Powers' story in Sunday's paper, "Taxpayers take more refunds at state's expense." Does the Southeast Missourian expect us to believe we are taking something that is not ours?

If the state is paying out record amounts in refunds, it can only be because the state has held out of our wages a lot more money than it was entitled to keep.

Perhaps a better headline to explain the situation would be, "State has to pay back largest amount of money ever stolen from taxpayers."

The state has had free use of my refund money, and it is giving my money back without any interest. I do not feel this article has the proper slant on how things really are.

The amount refunded is expected to top $1 billion. I would sure be glad to use the taxpayers' money for a year and pay them back whenever I got ready to in 2002. The simple interest in a savings account for that amount of money would sure be nice.

If Missouri needs more money, perhaps a tax increase is in order. I would be glad to pay my taxes at the end of the year and do away with the withholding system.

LARRY HUEY

Scott City, Mo.