LETTERS

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CLEARING CLINTON Jon Gray Noll’s complaint about Bill Clinton being picked for the Lincoln prize left me thinking “really?” (April 18, “Bill Clinton picked for Lincoln prize? Really?”) Specifically, in this forum’s limited space, two things come to mind.

First, “... the Monica Lewinsky investigation ....” No such thing. There was the “Independent Counsel In Re: Madison Guaranty Savings & Loan Association” often referred to as “Whitewater.” Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr went down the Monica Lewinsky trail as part of his crusade, er, investigation of everyone rumored to have been intimate with Bill Clinton. A trail so tangential that Federal Judge Susan Webber Wright ruled it was “not essential to the core issues” of the Paula Jones case on Jan. 29, 1998. That is, not material (remember that).

Second, from the very same sentence that used “Lewinsky investigation” there is “... perjury ....” Didn’t happen. Allegations of perjury revolved around Clinton’s answer concerning “sexual relations.” To be perjury, it has to be a lie about a material matter told knowingly. Judge Webber had

ruled Monica Lewinsky was “not essential to the core ...” and when she allowed the definition of sexual relations, over the objection of Clinton’s attorney, she said “... I’m not sure Mr. Clinton knows all these definitions, anyway.” Nonmaterial matter using a definition the judge says the witness doesn’t understand. Doesn’t sound like perjury to me. John Krein Springfield

GRANDVIEW VOTES I ran for Grandview Village Board president. Although I lost, it was a fair election. I received some bad publicity early on, but that was squelched. I personally went to more than 200 homes in Grandview with my message. A vast majority agreed with me that change was needed. I was very disappointed in the turnout. Of the 884 registered voters in Grandview, only 141 voted for the village president. Very sad. If the people of Grandview want change so much, they should have got out and voted. But the incumbent won, showing me that the people of Grandview really do not want change.

I also partially blame the State Journal Register for its lack of coverage of this election. A lot of coverage was given to the school board, Jerome and Riverton. Not one article or interview with either candidate

was given. So it was up to the candidates to do this. But since the SJ-R didn’t feel this election was of that much importance, neither did the residents, hence the low turnout.

I wish to thank my supporters and the people who voted for me and wish those elected the best. Anthony Casper Grandview

DOING THE MATH I am writing in regards to a letter titled “Tax Trouble” by Kent Gray (April 18), in which he describes a sales tax increase of 57 percent. I believe that this math is incorrect. The sales tax increase approved on the 16th will increase the city sales tax from 8 percent to 8.5 percent, an increase of 6.25 percent. In the Legacy Pointe development, sales tax will increase from 9 percent to 9.5 percent, an increase of 5.6 percent. A 57 percent increase would result in sales taxes of 12.6 percent and 14.1 percent, respectively. Furthermore, since Chicago has a current sales tax of 9.25 percent, our city is currently taxed at a lower rate. Even with an increase to 9.5 percent, this would be a tax of 103 percent of Chicago’s rate, not 120 percent. Unless I am unaware of another sales tax proposal, I would like to respectfully claim that these numbers are more accurate. David DeMuro Springfield