In his Dec. 3 letter, Dr. Carl D. Atkins criticizes my vote against the federal tax legislation saying that my vote wasn't needed as the GOP had the votes to pass the bill anyway. Atkins states that I have "not voted [my] conscience but in a desperate attempt to save [myself]."

Atkins can disagree with my votes in Congress, but suggesting that my vote was cast against my "conscience" is ridiculous. I carefully weighed the pros and cons of the bill; indeed, there is much in the bill to help taxpayers and businesses, but it did not do enough to help all New York families and taxpayers. New York state taxpayers are already subject to some of the highest state and local taxes in the nation as a result of the tax-and-spend policies that come out of Albany.

My vote against the bill was due to the total elimination of the deductibility of state income taxes that will, in my judgement, drive increasing numbers of taxpayers and their businesses and jobs out of New York state. In casting my vote against the bill, I did what I thought best for our nation and our state.

John Faso

Congressman, 19th District

Kinderhook