"We've gone without for so many years and we're not seeing much of anything this year," she said. "It makes retirement look pretty good. Maybe doing what I do isn't worth it."

Brent Low, publisher of the Spectrum newspaper in St. George, said he opposed a proposed tax on newspapers and magazines.

"Newspapers are supposed to be the watchdog of government," he said. "We are the eyes and ears of the public. Freedom of the press is protected under the Constitution."

Task force members questioned Low on how the state should draw the line when it comes to taxing other forms of communication.

"This is a proposed retail tax on newspaper sales," said Bramble. "What about news magazines and books? What about telecommunications, people communicating with each other? Would you tax that? We tax that higher than anything else. "

Low found an ally in St. George resident Georgia Barker who said newspapers provide a unique service that should not be taxed.

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com