The Post-Gazette editorial "Better Prescription: Rendell Has Improved His Health Insurance Plan" (Jan. 20) rightly commends the governor for his efforts in balancing the need to offer health coverage to Pennsylvania's uninsured and helping physicians who devote their lives providing health care.

Gov. Ed Rendell has a history of assisting Pennsylvania physicians through initiatives to reduce liability issues, such as requiring plaintiffs to file a certificate of merit with any lawsuit brought against a licensed professional and instituting a venue rule requiring that cases must be heard in the county in which the alleged injury occurred.

Nonetheless, the cost of professional liability insurance in Pennsylvania is still significantly higher than the national average, and physicians simply are not coming here to practice medicine. Texas, Georgia and Florida have greatly improved the professional climate for physicians and have seen a physician influx. When physicians choose to practice in other states, health-care access in Pennsylvania is threatened, because as our existing physicians retire, they are not being replaced.

Physicians support increasing access to care for the uninsured and underinsured. But by creating an atmosphere of uncertainty around Mcare abatements, the governor is placing physicians in the middle of a political battle between increasing the availability of health insurance and practicing our own vocation. Both offering health insurance to the uninsured and extending the Mcare abatement program are essential to the access of health care in our state. Mcare has been successful and must continue. Without it, physicians will pass on Pennsylvania.

ADAM J. GORDON, M.D.
President
Allegheny County Medical Society
North Side

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It would be to the benefit of all Pennsylvanians, including those who smoke, to substantially increase the cigarette tax. An increase in taxes would deter children and adults from smoking, saving countless lives as well as millions of dollars.

The state currently pays nearly $2 billion each year through Medicaid programs to treat smoking-related illnesses. A higher tax also would equate to both more health-care funding and more people with coverage, under Gov. Ed Rendell's plan to use the additional revenue to help make low-cost insurance available to all state residents.

Recently, Maryland was able to give 100,000 individuals adequate health care through an increased tax of $1 per pack of cigarettes. Pennsylvania should follow in Maryland's footsteps and raise the tobacco tax significantly.

JOSHUA SEBRASKY
Legislative Advocate
PennPIRG and the PennPIRG Education Fund
Philadelphia

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I was dismayed to learn that the State Board of Education approved the high school exit exam ("State Panel Approves High School Exit Exam," Jan. 17) as the sole criterion for graduation. While testing a student is a reasonable idea, it should not be the only one.

As a former public speaking educator, I feel students should be able to express themselves in a verbal manner, also. I urge the State Board of Education to familiarize themselves with Monessen High School's exit interview process where a graduating senior (in addition to passing tests) also must participate in a mandatory half-hour interview conducted by community members, businessmen, educators, administrators, etc.

The program was developed in the early '90s, in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh's Tri-State Study Council, and has met with continued success through the years. Students at MHS are strongly encouraged to take public speaking to eliminate the fear of speaking before a group of people. Perhaps the successful model at MHS would be a better guideline to assess a graduating senior. A student who is able to speak well in public, articulate his ideas and exhibit critical thinking skills is much better equipped to succeed than a student who can merely pass a written test.

VIRGINIA MONAGHAN
Monessen

The writer was a teacher at Monessen High School for 36 years.

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Expecting a "coalition of good government groups" to make a "much-needed change of heart in Harrisburg" is to believe in fairy tales ("Reform Is Special," Jan. 18 editorial). Even if all of the desired reforms were accomplished, businesses and young college graduates would still leave our state.

Simply put, Pennsylvania has kept its 19th-century-style government with strong mayors and governors plus old-fashioned political parties controlling jobs. Now is the time to adopt a more economically competitive system of state government. The working man has everything to gain by a growing economy -- and our college kids would stay home.

WALTER E. HOPKINS JR.
Pleasant Hills

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While jogging through North Park, I could not help but notice what horrendous condition the forest trees were in. Over-mature trees are dying, uprooting and, at best, full of decay. With the financial needs of our county, our leadership should be looking at the tens of thousands of dollars of board feet growing on the stump as a revenue source for the county park.

Timber is a renewable resource. Removing the lumber-sized trees would open up the forest floor, bringing more diversity in both flora and fauna. New logging trails would be created and existing trails improved. Money generated would go a long way for park improvements and the dredging of North Park Lake.

An unmanaged forest is an unhealthy forest. We can turn that around and reduce the tax burden at the same time by responsibly utilizing county park land. What a grand idea.

SCOTT SIMPSON
Franklin Park

The writer is an International Society of Arboriculture-certified arborist.

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After living in Florida during the last two presidential stolen elections, I am vehemently against machines that can be altered and manipulated. There is enough dirty pool being played in our democracy, and the current government has practically stripped the "we" out of "we the people." I want it back!

I want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my vote, along with everyone else's, is being fairly and justly counted, and not rigged by a corrupt governmental regime. Paper ballots must be accounted for. Machines cannot be trusted, since they are developed and run by the same corporations currently running the country.

WILLIAM MANN
Morningside

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Your front-page article "Abortion Numbers for U.S. Are Lowest Since 1976" (Jan. 17) states that the number of abortions being performed in the United States has dropped to 1.2 million a year -- the lowest level since 1976. How exciting! I'll bet those 1.2 million are thrilled with this good news!

LAURA VAKERAK
Munhall

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I was born into and grew up in the Episcopal Church, and my mother's people were of the Church of England. Although I left the church in my 30s, I still have a deep affection for the traditions and beauty of services in the small parishes where I lived.

At this time I need to express my shock and dismay at so many terrible things that are happening to the church. I am old enough to remember some real Christians, among whom were the good Brother Gouverneur Hance, who along with a few other Brothers of St. Barnabas founded the home in Gibsonia that cared for incurable men and boys for so many years.

I have known saints; Brother Hance, in his jovial unassuming manner and his plain gray habit, embodied the teachings of Jesus. He simply lived his religion. He did not ask if his people were gay or black or white or of any political persuasion; he took them in and ministered to them. The other brothers were of the same character and simply did what they could.

What are all the people who are making such a great noise today doing? Brothers and sisters, please think again. Everyone is as worthy as everyone else.

LYNNE HENRY
Greensburg

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The article "Food Prices Taking Big Bite Out of Household Budgets" (Jan. 11) demonstrated the many international connections our food has. The increasing price of oil can raise the price of food, which might be shipped thousands of miles to get to our plates.

One solution to this is to buy local food, which is often not only fresher and organically grown, but also cheaper and beneficial to local farmers. You can find local food at farmers markets from May to November and at several local grocery stores, which stock local food year-round.

BARBARA GROVER
Squirrel Hill

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