Should tax money be used to fund religious charter schools?

A school opening this month is named for a Jewish high priest, is directed by a rabbi, will have kosher food and will teach Hebrew. It's also a public school, funded by public tax dollars and following state curriculum guidelines.

Ben Gamla Charter School, billed as the nation's first publicly funded Hebrew-English school, has prompted fears of religion creeping into public schools and has even drawn criticism from groups that defend Jewish causes. Similar criticisms have been raised against Arabic-language charter schools elsewhere, with some saying those schools teach Islam.

Organizers insist that while Ben Gamla will teach Hebrew language and culture, it won't cross the divide between church and state.

Read the rest in The Sun Herald.

Mississippi can't afford a lower tax on groceries?

Could this be the reason?

On Friday, Mississippi lawmakers approved a multimillion dollar incentive package to secure a deal that will bring the Toyota plant to northeast Mississippi. The state's incentive package includes $293.9 million for Toyota, much of which will cover costs for infrastructure such as roads and water and sewer lines for the 1,700-acre site at Blue Springs, near Tupelo. The package also has $30 million from the state for top-tier Toyota suppliers and $60 million from local governments for land acquisition and water supplies.

Not to mention the tax breaks they are getting.

• A 20-year exemption on income tax
• Sales and use tax exemptions on equipment
• A 3.5 percent rebate on payroll taxes

But according to Governor Barbour Mississippi, which has one of the highest sales taxes on groceries in the nation, can't afford to give it's citizens a tax break on groceries. Could it be because our legislators are busy giving tax breaks and money to corporations? Corporations like the Oreck plant that after receiving tons of tax breaks and incentives left Mississippi high and dry.

I'll Eat Somewhere Else

Diners at Ocean Springs restaurants may have to pay a 2 percent tax in coming years.

If this passes I'll just eat in Gautier, D'Iberville or Biloxi.

Moran said part of the taxes will pay for a proposed sports facility on Highway 57. She said people attending tournaments at the facility are expected to bring about $1 million a year into Ocean Springs' restaurants and bars. She said that even if city restaurants and bars lost any revenues from having to increase the tax, they would regain those revenues back through the events brought in by the investments the city will make.

One HUGE problem with her theory, Highway 57 is closer to the restaurants in Gautier then the dining facilities in Ocean Springs. Am I really suppose to believe that tourist will drive out of their way in order to dine in Ocean Springs and pay an additional 2% in taxes when they can eat in Gautier for less and have a shorter drive? Also having participated in many soccer tournaments I know first hand MANY parents bring drinks, and food stuffs with them so they will not have to spend additional money dining out, others take advantage of the food items provided at concession stands which probably would not be subject to the tax.

Then there is the fact the Choctaws are planning to build a casino on Highway 57, do we really want a sports complex for children next to a casino?

Sid Salter Questions Why Families Are Forced to Pay Higher Taxes on Necessities Then Cigarettes

Therefore, the priority of Mississippi government — Gov. Haley Barbour the lead dog and his lapdogs in the state Senate chief among them — is that we keep the 4-out-of-4 Mississippians who must purchase gasoline to get to work, school and church paying within 7 percent of the national average gasoline tax so that we can protect the apparent divine right of the 1-in-4 Mississippians who smoke to pay 72 percent less in tobacco taxes than other Americans. If there is any logic or fiscal responsibility in a state artificially keeping cigarette taxes almost 10 times lower than gasoline taxes, it’s lost on this writer. Gasoline is a necessity that must be purchased by virtually all Mississippi families and businesses. Cigarettes aren’t.

Read the entire column in the Meridian Star. It ticks me off to be forced to subsidize a nasty habit that causes cancer and pollutes the air we all breath. I for one am sick and tired of breathing the second hand smoke of the 1-4 Mississippians that choose to smoke. I will support candidates who will ban smoking in public places and will raise the cigarette tax.