Senate Tax Champions
Good responses to the C-J's survey of state senators' positions on Beshear's efforts to raise the cigarette tax:
Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown - No - "I just ran a campaign where I got 61.7 percent of the vote, and I told my constituents that I'm not for raising taxes."
Carroll Gibson, R-Leitchfield - No - "I wouldn't support a tax on anything right now."
John Schickel, R-Lakeside Park - No
Dan Seum, R-Louisville - No - "You don't tax your way out of a recession."
Vernie McGaha, R-Russell Springs - Probably not - "You never say never, but I'm against it."
Katie Stine, R-Southgate - No - "I'm generally opposed to adding taxes to the shoulders of the taxpayers of Kentucky."
Gary Tapp, R-Shelbyville - No - "I'm not in favor of any tax increase."
Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs - Probably not - "I'm not inclined to ever support increases in taxes."
Ken Winters, R-Murray - Probably not - "I have been against any new taxation."
and
David Williams, R-Burkesville - Probably not - "We're not inclined to raise any taxes."
