Most of you probably are not even looking at the race for the 3rd Congressional District, but I felt this article was really something. The Olympian has, as expected, already endorsed Brian Baird (d) Incumbent over the Republican chanllenger Michael Messmore, so I was very surprised to see this article in the daily O. I especially liked how the article pointed out this little fact:

Among his main campaign themes is his support for a state sales tax deduction on federal income tax, an idea he has championed since his freshman year.

The exemption was approved in 2004, but it was not extended past this year as Congress waged a pre-election battle over bills at the beginning of the month.

"I think we'll get it," Baird said. "They were kind of holding it hostage, but once the election's over, I think we'll move at least the extension package."

But Baird voted against a bill that would have extended the tax break - one of several separate issues wrapped up in a bill Republicans hoped to entice Democrats to vote for.

This really was intresting especially seeing that many of us in the 3rd have gotten mailings in which Baird states he "restored sales tax deductibility". Of course he is talking about his vote in 2004 that the article mentions, but it is also misleading as it makes it sound as if the tax deduction is still in effect. I urge all of you to check out Michael Messmore's website at www.messmore.com even if you are not in the 3rd just to see what kind of a leader we in the 3rd would love to have.