Federal annuitants should no longer be reluctant or silent about expressing their views concerning the illegal taxes collected from them for many years by the state of Utah. Although they are supposed to have freedom of speech, annuitants and Civil Service employees have worked under the Hatch Act and have been careful in voicing an opinion concerning politics. But the Hatch Act has been amended to allow more freedom.
It is providential that a $2 million surplus should appear at this time. The governor has said that there are insufficient funds to repay the annuitants, forgetting all the previous years when taxes were illegally collected.All have the right to question the laws and try to have them revised.
If the Supreme Court reconsiders the case, it should uphold and maintain the honor, dignity and integrity the public recognizes. Annuitants are looking for fairness. Maybe all annuitants should write to the Supreme Court and ask that the justices affirmatively uphold their original judgment but increase the interest to 25 percent unless the taxes are refunded, plus interest, on a specified date.
It is sad that an attorney has to be hired to try to enforce the Supreme Court's decision. The state was breaking the law knowingly by treating state and federal retirees differently.
Federal annuitants and employees of the government pay a substantial tax. Were it not so, there would be a much lower surplus in state revenues. They should not be subject to discrimination.
Thurman H. Barker
West Jordan