Charles W. Gallagher

To the editor,

On September 12, 2008 at a speech in Dover, NH, candidate Obama made the following statement: “I can make a firm pledge, under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.”

On April 1, 2009, a new federal tobacco tax went into effect which increased the price per pack by 62-cents making the total federal tax $1.01 per pack. Other tobacco products saw similarly steep increases in taxation. There is no question given smoking demographics that this tax increase will fall disproportionately upon U.S. citizens making less than $250,000 per year.

Keeping in mind Mr. Obama’s statement of September 12th in the fair city of Dover, it is important that citizens understand that President Obama’s proposed cap and trade carbon tax will increase the cost of electricity, heating oil and gasoline and diesel fuel. To pay for that tax, tens of millions of U.S. citizens who make less than $250,000 a year will have to fork over additional sums to utility companies and fossil fuel producers; this despite the fact that there is growing scientific evidence that anthropogenic global warming is a myth.

Analysis of what President Obama says and what he does demonstrates that you cannot take this president at his word. President Obama has raised taxes on people making less than $250,000 a year and he intends to do so again if he can pass his cap and trade legislation through Congress.

Charles W. Gallagher

Gilford