The May 24 edition of the Alexandria Times includes this letter to the editor from David:
To the Editor:
Jim Roberts’ letter to the editor dividing Alexandrians into different “species” based on their view of the ACPS budget demonstrates exactly what’s wrong with debates over fiscal policy in our community, our Commonwealth, and our country. Too many of us seem ideologically hidebound to the notion that all tax increases are bad and all tax cuts are good, or visa-versa, but the real world is not so black and white.
For example, I do support Council’s very minor real estate tax increase to protect our schools from harmful cuts. I also sponsored legislation to raise state taxes on cigarettes to just below the national average, and I opposed repealing the estate tax — a $140-million annual giveaway to about 1,000 of the very wealthiest Virginians. On the other hand, I sponsored a $25-million “climate change” tax cut to eliminate the sales tax on energy-efficient products, a $72-million tax cut to discount sales of ultra-fuel- efficient cars and SUVs, and a $58-million tax credit for low-income renters. I co-sponsored this year’s successful effort to eliminate income taxes altogether for 140,000 working poor Virginians. In and of themselves, tax cuts and tax increases are neither inherently good nor inherently bad — they are a means to an end.
Let’s not lose sight of that by attacking our neighbors.
Del. David Englin
45th District