In a recent letter to the editor ("Veterans not alone in deserving tax break," Feb. 16), Ann Loar Brooks states that if one group gets a tax break, all should. As a retired U.S. Navy veteran, I must make the case why we retired veterans should get this tax break.
We in the military did not make our pension in Maryland but in and for this country. We endured long separations from our families and were put in harm's way while in the service to our country. We should not be asked to pay even more to live out our retired years. This amounts to us giving twice for this country and this state!
This is the main reason veterans from Maryland decide to retire elsewhere. So the Maryland legislature should consider whether they want a piece of our pension and other sales taxes and such that we contribute to the state or get nothing from us at all when we decide to leave for states that do not tax our military pensions.
As far as teachers, police, firefighters and other public servants, I am all for them not being taxed either, but those whose salaries and pensions were made in this state need to take that up with this Democratic legislature.
Don Gray, Abingdon