Letters

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Aug 29, 2003

While Rep. Joel Hefley is home this month, let's encourage him to vote in favor of the modernization of the tanker fleet when he returns to Washington.

Bob Gardner, Colorado Springs

AIR QUALITY Technology negates need for continued monitoring

This is in response to the many recent comments on emission testing. Colorado Springs attained the status of "Attainment Area" a few years ago. This means Colorado Springs had not experienced an air quality violation for five years. It also means Colorado Springs is not required to do emissions testing.

In 1981 the federal government required all vehicle manufacturers to produce vehicles with computer controlled devices/systems that would monitor and minimize tailpipe emissions to a required level.

The air quality program has done its job. It should be retained only on a purely voluntary status until such time that state/federal monitoring systems detect an increase in tailpipe emissions.

We should scrap the emissions test and reinstate the old safety inspection program. It would test/inspect vehicles for brake wear, exhaust leaks, loose or torn body metal, altered suspensions, worn tires, etc.

Terry Smith, Colorado Springs

AMENDMENT 32 Beware of liberals' definition of budget cuts

Douglas Bruce did an excellent job dissecting Amendment 32 ("Amendment 32 is not a property tax freeze," Letters, Aug. 24). Contrary to what the promoters of Amendment 32 would have us believe, it is a tax increase for all homeowners.

The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights does not cause cuts, but requires frugality from those spending tax dollars. Beware of liberals who equate lack of excessive increases in entitlements with cuts. TABOR should be a model for all states.

Denny Modlin, Colorado Springs

Correction

Thursday's Our View, "Red Rock reticence," contained an editing error. The amount of money for razing homes and relocating tenants should have been $732,000.