Earlier this year, I attended the same meeting as Rep. Steve Hilgenberg. I was pretty irritated to hear that a guy who represents so many farmers in this area wants to end use value for farmland and get rid of all tax exemptions on farm equipment and inputs. That's just nuts.

The price for inputs has been skyrocketing and the price for corn and soybeans is going down. Our economy is going in the tank. What part of this makes him think this is a good time to jack up taxes on farmers who spend almost all of their money locally?

If jacking up taxes for farmers is Mr. Hilgenberg's idea of how to help out local people and communities, I hope he stays there and doesn't go back to Madison.