Parts of deal are concerning

To the editor:
Unreported by the press were some special deals (perks) for Wall Street, NASCAR and boutique corporate tax loopholes sneaked into the Fiscal Cliff bill. This amounts to millions of dollars that will not help reduce our debt while Congress permitted a cut in the payroll tax to expiere, meaning that the tax burden for the average worker (160 million people) will increase about $1,000 in 2013.
These perks were added by the U.S. Senate. Is this why we no longer trust our politicians?
Why is it that the Senate will not vote on any bill that could lower our debt? Why is it that our president is not pressing for debt reduction legislation? I don’t mind paying more taxes if the White House reduces government spending. I am a worried taxpayer. Are you?
Robert Snyder
Portland

Incensed
To the editor:
Congress finally passed the Fiscal Cliff bill late Jan. 1.
The first thing, for everyone your first paycheck of 2013 will be at least 2 percent less due to the increase in the SS tax. This is your first tax increase that you will see. Remember who did this and whom to thank.
Now that your Congress has finally passed the Fiscal Cliff bill that your President says he will sign, let me get this off my chest.
How foolish are you, if you can take the two days before Christmas till two days after New Year’s off from work, but instead a project that you have had all year to complete, you cannot get done and must work during that time including late New Year’s Eve and New Year’s day?
Then still only complete a portion of the project actually after the deadline but have the ability to make it retroactive and be able to delay spending cuts and debt ceiling another two months.
None of us could or would. However, this is exactly what your elected Congress has done. Every American should be incensed at the way this has been handled no matter what the outcome is.
Sincerely,
Jim Byrd
Winchester

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