Governor's threat blackmail, pure and simple

The governor's threat of school funding reduction if the proposed income tax is not approved by voters is nothing more than blackmail and should be so described in any newspaper article.

Webster's dictionary defines "blackmail" as "anything, as money, extorted by means of threats of exposure or danger."

That precisely describes the governor's threat to cut school funding if his tax proposal is not approved. There is no mention of reducing money for overpaid state and school employees or other appropriate reductions that would harm his political support.

Many citizens may feel, as I do, that they would willingly pay more taxes if it were accompanied with reductions in outrageous union pay and the state debt.

Any suggestion that a tax increase is temporary is as likely as that ice will freeze in hell!

VANCE C. KENNEDY

Modesto