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PrintFor real change, give third parties a chance
The problem with Pennsylvania politics is not who votes, but who runs ("Legislators Plan Bills to Allow Early Voting," Dec. 13). If our friends in Harrisburg want more people to vote, then move Election Day to the second Saturday of the month and extend the time to 9 p.m. This would allow qualified voters to vote and, given the Saturday date, long lines would be avoided as there would be no pre- or post-work rush at polling locations.
Real voter reform would be for our legislators to support the Voters Choice Act and allow third parties the opportunity to compete in elections. What real change in state government will we see if we have a 100 percent turnout for the lesser of two evils? I would argue, none. The corruption will continue, the good ol' boy and girl network will continue to rule, and real reform for the citizens of Pennsylvania will never happen.
It would be great if more people voted. It would be better still if more people were allowed to run for office by removing the ballot access barriers imposed on third-party and independent candidates for statewide office. We want change. Give us choices and allow us to vote for it.
JOHN G. PARKS
Pleasant Hills
Big and expensive
I think the time has come for the commonwealth to wake up to what has happened in Harrisburg. First, the Legislature is too big and too expensive; we are in an economic crisis -- prune it, Gov. Rendell.
The members of the Legislature are paid too much money for a part-time job, and who approves their salaries? They do. Who approves their perks? They do. Governor, propose the Legislature take a 10 percent pay cut, pay $200 per month for their health care, cut the car expense in half and cut the per-diem in half. If Mr. Rendell can't make that fly, people should demand that the size of the Legislature be cut in half.
The arrogance of elected officials is absolutely appalling. Unfortunately, the electorate in Pennsylvania has a very short memory.
Remember that the slots money was to provide for deep cuts in the school property tax? Well, why are the elected officials not held accountable? Oh, I forgot, the Democrats are all above the law, especially in Pennsylvania and now Illinois.
FRANK McSTEEN
Punxsutawney
Confidence breaker
As a taxpayer and a candidate for Pittsburgh City Council, District 2, I am very concerned about the way business is done in our city, as explained by Rich Lord in his Dec. 7 article ("Political Contributors Both Give and Receive").
Mr. Lord explained that dozens of businesses that make large contributions to campaigns of city politicians receive large contracts in return. The most troublesome example was the $10.5 million aid package for the Bakery Square Project awarded to developer Walnut Capital Management, whose executives gave $69,606 to city political campaigns between 2005 and 2007. That is an excellent return on a modest investment. But what is the real cost of allowing a small number of well-off individuals and corporations to, in some cases, fully fund candidates for public office?
Barry Kauffman, director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, states that this practice undermines public confidence. I believe also that large financial contributions to local races create the perception that influence can be bought and favors will be granted to the highest bidder.
As a candidate for City Council, I will work to eliminate this perception by adopting the limits imposed on candidates seeking federal offices, specifically the $2,300 cap on individual contributions and a $5,000 cap on political action committee contributions.
GEORGIA BLOTZER
Mount Washington
Important limits
While city elected officials may be asked for special favors by those who fund their campaigns, another reason to pass campaign contribution limits is that today's mayors and city council members often turn out to be tomorrow's congressmen and governors.
Today's contributions of several thousand dollars to a city official may come with the expectation of receiving a tax break worth millions. Tomorrow's contributions to that same official, once they have climbed the political ladder, may come with the expectation of receiving tax breaks, grants, contracts or other benefits worth hundreds of millions.
JAMES BROWNING
Associate Director for Development
Common Cause Pennsylvania
Harrisburg
No 'queue jumping'
Articles such as Sigrid Fry-Revere's "Organs for Sale" (Dec. 14 Forum) give organ donation a bad name.
I'm not going to debate the pros and cons of financial incentives for organ donation. But I do find several comments in Ms. Fry-Revere's piece totally false, if not downright insulting.
First, no one in this country "jumps the queue" in obtaining an organ, unless the recipient is lucky enough to know of a possible living donor. In that case, the only line that is jumped is that of languishing on the waiting list for a cadaver donor. The recipient's health insurance pays for the donor's medical expenses related to the transplant, so the recipient does not need to be wealthy to procure an organ from a living donor, and the donor does not need to be wealthy to give this most amazing and beautiful gift of life.
Regarding her comments on the black market that exists for "people of means" to obtain an organ: I don't doubt that black markets exist, but not in this country. If Ms. Fry-Revere did adequate research, she would know how organs are obtained, matched, allocated and transplanted in the United States.
I agree with her comment that even if every American signed an organ donor card, there still wouldn't be enough donors for the more than 100,600 who are awaiting an organ transplant. But it certainly would make a huge impact.
My life was saved by organ donation. I waited for two years, one month and one day to receive this most precious gift. Knowing someone has to die so you can live is a horrible feeling. Knowing that I could die while awaiting the gift of life was equally traumatic. But knowing that no one else on the waiting list had an advantage over me was comforting.
JACK SILVERSTEIN
Monroeville
Say what?
When I read that Robert M. "Mike" Duncan, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said, "Americans expect the highest degree of transparency from their elected leaders" ("Obama Aides Won't Discuss Internal Review on Governor," Dec. 13), I asked myself where has he been during the past eight years. Lying, deceiving, obscuring facts and so much more have become the hallmark of the Bush-Cheney years.
Then I read further on the same page and learned that this White House refuses the Obama family request to use Blair House prior to Jan. 15 and will not say who will be occupying this secure place prior to the inauguration ("Even a President-Elect Needs a Place to Stay"). Mr. Duncan needs to address his own party leader.
Yes, I expect the president-elect to keep his promise and will communicate my displeasure when I sense otherwise. However, I have witnessed such repugnant behavior from the present federal leadership that I look forward to having respect once again for the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and the administration he will lead.
REV. GREGORY C. SWIDERSKI
McCandless
Please notice Lawrenceville residents' needs
I am writing this as an advocate for the seniors who live in the lower and middle sections of Lawrenceville.
The closing of our only supermarket with a pharmacy in late summer has had very detrimental effects on the area. Those living in a high-rise with 50-plus residents bought their groceries and prescriptions at the now-closed franchised Giant Eagle store. Hundreds of other seniors without cars walked and carried groceries home, even if that meant having to shop three or four times a week.
No effort whatsoever has been made to assist the people here who bought houses and paid taxes all their lives. Clearly some of the people who are in charge feel they have no responsible duty to do what is right for the older generation who worked their entire lives and who are now getting a back-row seat. Why isn't the Allegheny County Department of Aging or someone else involved in trying to get help for the people who need it?
We don't demonstrate and we don't demand, but perhaps it is time we started.
Children's Hospital is moving to a $625 million facility in Lawrenceville, and what did Lawrenceville get? The loss of parking in our small business district, more traffic lights and what I'm sure will be double the traffic.
The millions of dollars that are being spent in the Penn Avenue corridor and East Liberty are causing this neighborhood, Lawrenceville, to be left completely out of the loop. It is time that someone took notice.
PAUL SMITH
Lawrenceville
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