Letters to the editor
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Pa. must improve municipal pension stability
The underfunding of pension plans is a growing problem for a cross-section of Pennsylvania's municipalities. Correcting the problem is at the forefront of the agenda of the Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania, an organization with a respected history of public policy research and analysis to improve Pennsylvania's business climate and quality of life.
The current recession is turning the existing pension problem into a crisis as market declines erode the value of existing plan assets. Existing law will require municipalities to base 2010 pension plan contributions on asset valuations in place in January 2009 when markets were at their lowest. Quick action is needed to avert the resulting higher taxes and/or reduced services. To that end, we support prompt action on Pennsylvania House Bills 1874 and 1884 to begin to address the municipal pension problem.
Consider the following:
• Unfunded pension liabilities statewide are more than $5 billion.
• Pittsburgh's pension plans are the most underfunded of 10 cities reviewed in a recent Pew Charitable Trusts report.
• Even before the economic downturn, 190 pension plans in 169 municipalities statewide were less than 70 percent funded.
HB 1874 and HB 1884 provide distressed pension plans varying levels of voluntary and mandatory remedies including fund aggregation, reduced amortization payments and asset smoothing tools. For critically distressed plans, state intervention (but not state assumption of costs) is mandatory.
These bills, now under active consideration in Harrisburg, address steps necessary to improve the stability of municipal pension plans across the commonwealth. We heartily support their prompt consideration and the passage of legislation that addresses the funding crisis that stands on our doorstep.
LAURA ELLSWORTH
Chair
Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Downtown
To end wars
Dan Simpson's July 29 column ("Where's Our Peace Dividend?") phrases the United States' ongoing commitment to being the world policeman quite accurately. We have invested billions upon billions in fruitless global conflicts and have little to show for it.
What we have to show for it is a continuous loss of life and a national debt that is crippling the country. Americans love to express their patriotism for country but few are willing to send their children to war. Americans love to brag about the firepower of our armed forces but complain endlessly about the taxes that pay for it.
I have long said, if you want to end these senseless wars, just institute a pay-as-you-go program. Every taxpaying American family should get a monthly bill from the government to pay for these wars and a draft notice for the eligible children of that family. If we do that, wars will quickly be a thing of the past.
MICHAEL J. KOZY SR.
Crafton
Fallen Heroes Fund
I am writing in response to a letter from April Weitzel ("Why Cap the Fund?" Aug. 3).
The Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union wants to assure all individuals and companies and those who have held fund-raisers that contributions made to the Pittsburgh Fallen Heroes Fund for the families of Officers Eric Kelly, Stephen Mayhle and Paul Sciullo will continue to post to their specific account at the credit union, as long as contributions are made.
The total will be distributed as in the past to each of the families as requested.
We'd like also to thank everyone for their compassionate support and generosity.
SANDY LAZZARA
Chief Executive Officer
Greater Pittsburgh Police FCU
West End
Unfair to accused
I, for one, think it's time to rethink your policy of not naming alleged victims of alleged sexual assault and continuing to name the alleged perpetrators even though they could and should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
This policy gives the alleged victims a free pass as far as their reputations are concerned while doing untold damage to someone who may be innocent.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is the latest example of your policy that is intended to generate newspaper sales. In this case he may lose more than just money; his reputation is also at stake while the alleged victim goes on her merry way at no cost to her if he is proven innocent.
Alleged victims should have a price to pay if it is proven that they are liars, and it could start with a change in your policy. Where is the fairness in this unbalanced reporting?
BOB WAGNER
Coraopolis
No longer needed
Regarding Steve Hallock's Perspectives piece ("Support Public Broadcasting," Aug. 5): Rather than spend more federal dollars to support the Public Broadcasting Service, it's time to abolish public broadcasting because it has outlived its original purpose.
As Mr. Hallock notes, the Public Broadcasting Act was signed into law in 1967. What he fails to mention, however, is that public broadcasting was authorized based on the recognition that there exists a limited spectrum of wavelengths over which traditional "broadcasting" occurs. Public broadcasting was created to preserve space on that finite spectrum for noncommercial programming.
Jump ahead 42 years, in an era where the current technology easily provides 250-plus cable television stations and unlimited satellite and HD radio stations, and suddenly the justification for spending federal dollars to preserve space on the broadcasting spectrum falls apart.
Rather than spending more dollars on public broadcasting, let's acknowledge that it is no longer needed and pull the plug altogether, particularly in this year of astronomical deficits. Of course, pulling the plug on PBS stands no chance with the Democrats firmly in control of the federal government. Perhaps a new tax will work?
MICHAEL SWEENEY
Mt. Lebanon
Our libraries are invaluable assets and must be properly funded
I'm writing to underscore the critical connection between the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's system of libraries and the city of Pittsburgh's public education system. These two organizations have the unique responsibility of helping people learn -- before, during and after formal schooling. Our public libraries are a support system to lifelong learning.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's system of 19 neighborhood branches, an important part of the region's educational backbone, now finds itself facing a potential reduction of 25 percent in operating revenues. A cut in funding from local tax revenue and state support and an overall lack of sufficient dedicated funding threaten this fundamental resource.
Last month, the library system hosted town hall meetings where the public provided ideas and expressed their concerns about the potential for cuts in services, branches and people. Our libraries host more than 2.6 million visitors a year, more than any sports or entertainment venue -- all with approximately $20 of funding per capita (compared to Cleveland's $100 per capita funding for its public libraries).
As a member of Carnegie Library's board of trustees, I represent the school district's interest in supporting an effective library system that is such a valuable taxpayer resource for improving the quality of life in our city. In fact, we are seeing evidence that the Pittsburgh Promise scholarship program is helping to improve prospects for our younger people and attracting families back to city living.
There are serious consequences to the potential socio-economic and educational impacts that could arise if we are forced to diminish accessibility to our public libraries. Let's protect our libraries from being victimized by the recession and a lack of dedicated funding.
THERESA COLAIZZI
President
Pittsburgh Board of Public Education
Oakland
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First Published August 14, 2009 12:00 am
