Repealing the pay raise isn't enough to restore trust

The attempt to reverse the pay raises given to the Pennsylvania House and Senate is just a ploy to get the heat off the politicians. The House version has a nonseverability clause, which would allow a judge to reinstate all the raises ("Pay Raise Repeal Is Stalled," Nov. 8).

If a court challenge restored the raises for one group, such as the judges (whose salaries cannot be lowered during their terms "unless by law applying generally to all salaried officers of the commonwealth"), they would be restored for all, including the Legislature. It is a well-crafted plan to quiet the citizens, making them feel that the judicial branch and not the lawmakers increased the salaries. Lawmakers would get their raises without the backlash.

The late-night antics of the Pennsylvania House and Senate in July prove to us that nothing they do can be trusted now -- or until proven otherwise. They will need to assure us that these increases will not occur.

The animal to describe the lawmakers should be changed from the pink pig to a sheep, because the nonseverability amendment is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

GARY BONACCI
Collier

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Rape victims' care

As a Republican and a lifelong supporter of a woman's right to choose, I commend state Sen. Joe Conti and state Rep. William DeWeese for putting party politics aside and standing up for victims' rights by introducing the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act ("Easier Access to Pill for Rape Victims," Nov. 1). This bill would make emergency contraception available to rape victims at hospitals statewide and would greatly reduce the need for abortion, thereby preventing victims of rape from being twice victimized.

It is appalling that half of the hospitals in Pennsylvania do not routinely offer information and access to emergency contraception for women who have been raped. Eight other states have recognized the need to provide adequate care for rape victims and have passed similar legislation -- it is time for Pennsylvania to follow their lead.

Rape victims everywhere deserve access to this common-sense medication, and as a leader in the national organization the Republican Majority for Choice, I call on our U.S. senators, Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum, and members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the House of Representatives to support a federal version of this bill and to take a stand for women across the country.

I sincerely hope that partisan politics, both here in Pennsylvania and in Washington, can be placed aside in favor of helping rape victims get the CARE they need. I urge our Pennsylvania legislators not to play roulette with the health of rape survivors and to sign this bill into law.

ELSIE H. HILLMAN
Squirrel Hill

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Unlikely scenario

In the Nov. 1 article "Easier Access to Pill for Rape Victims," Dr. Fred Harchelroad, chairman of the emergency department of Allegheny General Hospital, implies that women could abuse the availability of the morning-after pill in emergency rooms by subjecting themselves to a full rape examination and treatment when they have not, in fact, been assaulted.

In September 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women published a report titled "A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations." In the introduction, it states: "Victims may be reluctant, however, to report the assault to law enforcement and to seek medical attention for a variety of reasons. For example, victims may blame themselves for the sexual assault and feel embarrassed. They may fear their assailants or worry about whether they will be believed. Those who have access to services may perceive the medical forensic examination as yet another violation because of its extensive and intrusive nature in the immediate aftermath of the assault. Rather than seek assistance, a sexual assault victim may simply want to go somewhere safe, clean up, and try to forget the assault ever happened."

Dr. Harchelroad would have us believe that women would choose an "extensive and intrusive" procedure on a whim. He also provides additional evidence of the skepticism some women will face when reporting sexual assault.

AMY STEVENSON
Regent Square

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Who would do that?

Regarding the Nov. 1 story "Easier Access to Pill for Rape Victims," I hope Dr. Fred Harchelroad was misquoted when stating, "All [patients] would have to do is say they were raped and go through the whole rape exam, the whole treatment" just to get the morning-after pill.

Let's have a show of hands of who's going to put themselves through such humiliation; rape survivors go through this exam only when they have no other option for providing proof and evidence and to get the treatment they need!

I support the CARE act that would require hospitals to tell rape victims about the morning-after pill to prevent pregnancy and to provide it to those who want it. Kudos to the legislators for sponsoring this act. Now let's make it happen.

JUDY MEIKSIN
Squirrel Hill

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About fish choices

I commend you on your recent coverage of the differences between farmed and wild salmon ("The Salmon Scene: Fresh, Farmed and Wild," Oct. 27 Food & Flavor). It's important for people to be aware of the environmental and health aspects of popular seafood items. However, there were a few inaccuracies in the safe seafood chart that accompanied the article.

While some mackerel species are high in mercury, levels are low enough in Atlantic (or Boston) mackerel for frequent consumption. The same can be said for sablefish (black cod). Both fish should be highlighted for their heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Finally, there are several high mercury species that were not indicated on your list, namely Chilean seabass, grouper, marlin, orange roughy, Pacific rockfish, wild sturgeon and bigeye and bluefin tuna. Frequent consumption of these fish could result in excessive exposure to this dangerous neurotoxin.

These issues can be confusing, which is why Environmental Defense produces an online guide to fish that are low in mercury, high in omega-3s and eco-friendly. Such choices include wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, farmed oysters and sablefish. For more information on making seafood choices that are good for you, your family and the environment, visit www.oceansalive.org/go/seafood.

TIM FITZGERALD
Oceans Program
Environmental Defense
New York, N.Y.

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The mercury threat

I agree that when purchasing fish, it can be difficult to make choices that will help to keep our families and our environment healthy ("The Salmon Scene: Fresh, Farmed and Wild," Oct. 27 Food & Flavor).

Mercury in fish is a serious health threat. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that one out of every six women of childbearing age has enough mercury in her body to put a baby born to her at risk of learning disabilities and developmental problems. This means that 630,000 American newborns every year could be affected.

Most of the mercury in the United States comes from coal-fired power plants, and Pennsylvania is the third-largest emitter of mercury pollution. This pollution runs into our lakes and streams and eventually ends up on our dinner plates.

Beyond limiting our fish consumption, there are steps we can take as a community to help protect ourselves and others from toxic mercury. Affordable technology exists right now to significantly reduce the amount of mercury coming out of power plant smokestacks.

Reducing mercury emissions by 90 percent would cost the average household only about as much as a cup of coffee a month. That's a price I'm willing to pay to help protect our children from this dangerous poison. It's time for Pennsylvania to take the lead and issue regulations that put children's health first.

RACHEL MARTIN
Wilkinsburg
Editor's note: The writer is an organizer for the Sierra Club.

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This 'savior' has made a mess of things

Regarding David Brooks' Nov. 4 column ("Savior of the Right"): Whatever Mr. Brooks is drinking, he should buy a few rounds for those who President Bush has rolled over in his quest to govern by his gut. Why analyze and agonize over finding compassionate answers to problems of the United States and the world when all he has ever done is do whatever the oil and drug industries, the National Rifle Association and the religious right want him to do (via spinmaster Karl Rove giving him the words)?

He governs by lies, deception and terror (such as Saddam has weapons of mass destruction, there is a flu pandemic coming ... ). To suggest that future presidents will be judged by the bar Mr. Bush has set is truly disheartening. The only true gift he has is the ability to run for office. He is a good candidate who, once anointed, turns into a witch.

He is deathly afraid of taking questions from anyone who has not submitted them prior so his handlers can give him the answers. Mr. Brooks conveniently left out any mention of all the problems the Republicans are having: Bill Frist, Tom DeLay, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove -- and what Mr. Bush knew.

One of the worst legacies Mr. Bush will leave is the tremendous debt that he is willing to dump on our grandchildren so his backers can continue to enjoy low taxes and excessive profits (oil company profits in the billions, never before seen or imagined before he took office).

FRANCIS X. COOPER
McCandless