Standing up to the Republican demand

Thanks for your report on July 17 on Sen. Patty Murray standing firm on the issue of tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent [“Murray challenges GOP on tax cuts,” news].

It makes no sense to say that the programs in the federal budget that benefit the poorest among us must be cut to enable big tax cuts for the richest 2 percent in the U.S. Basically, that is a banner that promotes benefits for the wealthiest at no cost to them. We are all in this together. The richest can most afford to pay their taxes (just as they can most afford lawyers and tax dodges to avoid them). They need to be doing their part. I am glad that our senator is standing up to the Republican demand that everyone else must be sacrificed in order to assist the richest in getting richer.

— Robert C. Dickerson II, Seattle