A freshman Mississippi lawmaker responded to a concerned email from a constituent telling her he “could care less,” the Jackson Clarion-Ledger reported Friday.
Gulfport resident Becky Guidry told the newspaper that she reached out to Rep. Karl Oliver (R) and most other state representatives asking about tax breaks currently under consideration by the legislature. To Guidry’s surprise, she said Oliver responded to her concerned email—and encouraged her to move out of Mississippi.
“I see you are not a native to the Great State of Mississippi nor do you and I have similar political views,” Oliver wrote to Guidry in the email she passed along to the Clarion-Ledger. “The people of our Great State overwhelmingly share my same or similar views on Government responsibility. I appreciate you going to the trouble to share yours with me, but quite frankly, and with all due respect, I could care less. I would, however, recommend that there are a rather large number of like minded citizens in Illinois that would love to see you return.”
Oliver confirmed to the Clarion-Ledger that he had sent Guidry that email, saying “This isn’t news.”
“She’s taking a question about a tax bill and turning it into me being anti-public education,” he continued.
Guidry told the newspaper that her “blood was boiling” when she read the email, and that she worked, paid taxes, and sent her children to public school in Gulfport.
In March, the Mississippi senate overwhelmingly voted to pass a tax bill that would phase out the corporate franchise tax and reduce both individual and corporate franchise taxes, according to the Washington Times. While Republican state leaders argue that the tax cuts will spur economic growth, critics fear the consequences of a drastic reduction in state revenue.
