As a member of the federal community who served our country for 30 years, I am deeply concerned that my hard-earned benefits will be cut to offset proposed tax policy changes. I ask my representative Ted Budd and senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr to oppose such cuts to the federal community.

I based my career and retirement planning on long-standing, promised benefit calculations. Any cuts to what I earned break that promise and denigrates the value of public service.

Congress is currently debating reforms to our tax code. Paying for touted middle-class tax relief on the backs of middle-class federal employees and retirees is wrong. My retirement and health benefits were earned through years of hard work – they are not gifts to rescind.

— David Phillips

Salisbury