Miss. lawmaker tells woman he 'could care less' after lobbying tax bill

GULFPORT, Miss., March 19 (UPI) -- A state legislator from Mississippi is defending himself after telling a woman who doesn't live in his district he "could care less" about her opinion in an email.

Becky Guidry of Gulfport, Miss., emailed Rep. Karl Oliver with her plea to vote "no" on a tax cut package presently before the state legislature, Oliver returned the note.

"I see you are not a native to the great state of Mississippi nor do you and I have similar political views. ... I appreciate you going to the trouble to share yours with me, but quite frankly, and with all due respect, I could care less. I would, however, recommend that there are a rather large number of like-minded citizens in Illinois that would love to see you return," the email said.

Guidry tells the Jackson Clarion-Ledger her "blood was boiling" when she got Oliver's response.

"My interpretation was since I was not born here that my opinion just doesn't count," Guidry said. "My husband's family is here. ... I work and pay taxes, my son goes to public schools in the Gulfport School District. We're involved in our community."

Contacted for his response, Oliver told the Clarion-Ledger, "This isn't news. Twist it any way you want."