What is real purpose behind proposed tax on 'big box' stores?

To the Editor:

The people around the state have worked hard to rid the state of the impression that Montana is anti-business. Then comes the announcement that Sen. Ken Toole wants to put an added tax on big box stores. I hope that the senator has been adequately answered by several of Wal-Mart's employees. Did the senator hope to drive them out of the state?

I don't think so. I believe he wanted to see these stores raise prices to cover the new taxes and get us used to a general sales tax. I now see that there is a proposal to replace the income tax with a sales tax. Usually it's proposed to replace the property tax which is usually quite popular.

The present tax system is bad enough, but why add the sales tax to the mix? We've told the governors and several legislatures no to sales tax. How many times do we have to tell them that?

If the legislature wants to do something worthwhile they should get a reading from the state supreme court concerning the unconstitutionality of the funding for state schools. Where in the state constitution does it tell how many dollars that the legislature has to spend on education and where it has to come from?

Richard Williams

Troy