Even in light of the "bonusgate" scandal where mixing legislative and political business has corrupted state government, the governor apparently wants to continue the Democrats' record of dirty politics. In the Jan. 13 article "Rendell Vows to Press Ahead on Health Care," Gov. Rendell threatened to campaign against House and Senate Republicans if they do not support his heath-care plan.

He states, "You will find me in every contested electoral district, Senate or House ... I will hit every district time after time after time."

In an era of much-needed reform and bipartisanship, this blatant political bribery is despicable and insults the intelligence of the people of Pennsylvania. Not only does his proposed plan place our health in jeopardy, he continues to play political games with the future of our health care.

It is clear that health care is not a priority for Mr. Rendell but rather another platform for his political agenda. By blackmailing Republican legislators, Gov. Rendell is abusing his power to prevent lawmakers from truly improving health care for all Pennsylvanians.

This is simply unethical and sadly typical of the Rendell administration. Let's hope our Republican candidates are smart enough not to fall for his political shenanigans.

KEVIN GOSSETT
North Fayette

---

I would like to respond to my fellow Catholic, Lillian L. Meyers of Bethel Park ("Wrong Message," Jan. 13 letters): Ms. Meyers' understanding of the church's teaching on homosexuality appears to be a simplistic mile-long but only one-inch-deep understanding.

The family unit is the basic piece of the human condition. To distort God's plan of human physical union and intent of the two procreating, destroys the basic building block of society. You would not build a bridge with concrete that is not intended to stay together because of a fault in its basic structure.

The first paragraph of her letter refers to homosexuality and the last to homosexuals. She has, evidently, never heard of "Hate the sin, love the sinner." Her biggest mistake is to try to use human finite intelligence to understand the ways of an infinite God.

JOHN A. BAUER
Reserve

---

I am a retired nursing home worker, and I am writing in response to the article "On the Mend: From a Nursing Home to a Home of Her Own" (Jan. 6). This is a story that I heard too often when I was working, but many didn't have such a happy ending.

Nursing homes provide essential services but are not always the best option for older people. Home care allows individuals to receive services in their own homes, allowing them to maintain the lifestyle that they have become accustomed to. Clients regularly talked about going home, but the limited understanding and availability of home-care services kept nearly all of them in the nursing home until they passed away. In fact, in the 37 years that I worked in the nursing home, I saw only 15 people return to their homes.

Like many of our growing aging population in Allegheny County, I want the choice to stay at home. Our elected leaders need to take a serious look at funding home care, so we can have a choice, but first we need to ensure that the options are available.

VONCIEL CAVER
East Liberty

---

I am writing in response to the articles that show that home-care services and treatments at home seem to be on the rise. One article said Medicare wants to allow us to diagnose sleep apnea at home ("Medicare May Allow Sleep Apnea Diagnoses From Home," Jan. 9), and another that kidney dialysis treatments are now able to be given at home ("Patients Can Learn to Do Time-Consuming Dialysis at Home," also Jan. 9).

Yet why are so many individuals ending up in nursing homes when they want to live at home, as we saw from the article "On the Mend: From a Nursing Home to a Home of Her Own" (Jan. 6)? It is great that Ann Gilvarry is now in her own home. But was she given the opportunity to have home-care services from the start?

Our long-term care budget in Pennsylvania is putting too much money into funding nursing homes. This has to stop, and we need to start looking at the new trend of health care: that more and more services and treatments will be delivered at home. We all deserve a right to stay in our homes and receive quality services!

BARBARA A. MONROY
Shaler

---

Regarding "The Importance of Libraries" (Jan. 13 Forum): What a wonderful summary of the services and benefits provided by a public library to its community! Walk into any library in Allegheny County and you will experience many of the mentioned variety of activities, collections and staff available to you -- lifelong services that are free for the asking!

Yes, Andrew Carnegie started the legacy here in Allegheny County by building many independent libraries/community centers for his workers. Six of the seven communities outside the city of Pittsburgh still sport these glorious buildings as something of which they are proud -- and have done so for more than a hundred years. The other libraries in the county, while not from Mr. Carnegie, came from the same determination and desire to provide a free library in the community for the people.

In the 21st century, free library service continues and is better than ever with the addition of the Regional Asset District tax dollars and libraries' membership in the Allegheny County Library Association and the EiNetwork.

So, as you answer the call to add your contribution to the Libraries for LIFE campaign, I ask that you remember also to contribute to your own community's library. We all need and can use capital dollars, because outside of library service, nothing is really free!

For a list of the independent community libraries in the county, go to www.aclalibraries.org and click on member libraries.

JO ELLEN KENNEY
Director
Carnegie Library of McKeesport
McKeesport

---

As a 30-year member of the United Steelworkers of America, I was interested to read that our union president, Leo Gerard, is so committed to the continued support of Andrew Carnegie's libraries ("The Importance of Libraries," Jan. 13 Forum).

In light of the fact that his membership at U.S. Steel hasn't had a decent contract for 25 years, and that the company is making more profit than ever, I sincerely hope that Mr. Gerard is equally passionate about securing a fair and equitable contract for the thousands of dues-paying members when the current contract expires this summer.

WILLIAM G. MERVIS
Munhall

---

In his Jan. 8 letter, Dr. Ken Thompson reminded all of us who live in the Pittsburgh region to "roll out the red carpet" for Pittsburgh's 250th birthday to "good friends and family" everywhere ("Who Is Coming to Pittsburgh's Birthday Party?"). It's good advice.

Our region has made a remarkable comeback over the past 25 years. There are 70,000 more employed people in southwestern Pennsylvania today than at the peak of industrial employment in 1979, our riverfronts have been transformed with parks and new development, and our rich array of cultural and outdoor recreation attractions prompted Frommer's to list our region among 13 "top destinations" worldwide to visit in 2008,

People across our region have taken this to heart, responding to a Homecoming & Reunion initiative organized by VisitPittsburgh in celebration of Pittsburgh 250. Dozens of conferences, conventions, business meetings and family reunions are on the way. Together these meetings will bring more than 50,000 visitors to our region.

Many of our guests will be national and global thought leaders who can become influential ambassadors for our region, among them the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, the Public Relations Society of America, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, the International Women's Forum, the International Urban Parks Conference and the National Tour Association.

2008 is not only Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary, it also would have been the year of Fred Rogers' 80th birthday. I can think of no better way to honor his memory and celebrate our region than to invite friends and family in the broadest possible sense to visit our neighborhood this year.

BILL FLANAGAN
Executive Director
Pittsburgh 250
Downtown

---

We welcome your letters. Please include your name, address and phone number, and send to Letters to the Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. E-mail letters to letters@post-gazette.com or fax to 412-263-2014. Letters should be 250 words or less, original and exclusive to the Post-Gazette. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and accuracy and will be verified before being published.