It's not workers who are wasting taxpayer dollars
This is a response to letters from Robert P. Volk ("It's Time for Pa. Leaders To Share in Pay-Cut Pain," June 24) and Tony Pittore ("Cut State Salaries Across the Board," June 25 Web).
I work in the state's Department of Public Welfare. My annual salary is around $40,000. DPW has experienced crippling staff cuts and drastically increased workloads. Our most recent union contracts have included a 2 1/2-year wage freeze, increased contributions to our health-care benefits, increased copays and a reduction in our employer's contribution toward our health benefits in order to save the commonwealth close to $220 million. We've been under a hiring freeze since October 2008. In the current economy, the demand for our services has never been higher.
SEIU 668 members have offered suggestions to the commonwealth that would save close to $1 billion. They have all been ignored. We've done our part to save taxpayer dollars. Technology "upgrades" by Deloitte Corp., which cost more than $500 million, can best be described as disastrous to both state employees and the needy. They have not provided better efficiency and improved customer service. Deloitte's contract was, of course, a no-bid contract. It is the subject of a state auditor general's investigation.
SEIU 668 member salaries are not wasting your tax dollars. Reduce the state Legislature. Reduce the number of management-level employees in state government since there are many less workers to manage. And trim the real fat in the state's budget. But I can assure you that SEIU 668 members who work in DPW county assistance offices are a bargain.
JIM FRANCISCUS
Stanton Heights
Places to cut
The PG is wrong again, but a little correct on the June 18 editorial page. Totally wrong of course is the PG favoring a state income tax increase ("Taxing Times"). Typical for the PG! Somewhat correct is its stance on alcohol sales ("Liquor Stickler"). The following suggestions may be preferable for both situations. Know that some of these ideas are borrowed from others such as the PG's own Brian O'Neill.
There are no temporary tax increases -- think of the temporary Johnstown Flood Tax. We're now decades past with the tax still being collected. Do the following: Sell the state liquor stores for $1 billion to $2 billion. Sell beer and wine in many different stores, as they do in most states.
Cut the budget 10 percent across the board. Cut the Legislature by at least 40 percent, including the staff and budget. Return all but a few million dollars of the legislative "slush fund" or "walking around money" to the state operating budget. Use 50 percent of the Rainy Day Fund. Mandate that legislators pay at least 50 percent of their health benefits. Eliminate out-of-state travel for legislators and staff. Eliminate state-reimbursed lunches and dinners for legislators and staff. Eliminate paying for legislators' vehicles. Change legislative pension programs to 401(k)-type plans. Mandate a 10 percent reduction in state employees' salaries with the top 100 paid employees and all legislators being reduced by 20 percent. Cut the legislators' per diem by 50 percent.
When times are tough and lean, taxpayers cannot ask their employers for more money. The taxpayers have to do without.
I am sure there are many other ideas and ways to save money. Think PennDOT, etc. What do you think, taxpayers?
G. EDWARD BRADLEY
Peters
Sensible approach
Your June 22 editorial criticizing Rep. Tim Murphy's views on the cap-and-trade bill just passed by the U.S. House of Representatives is off the mark ("Climactic Vote"). Rep. Murphy supports the development of clean energy resources and dedicated funding toward research and development of renewable and alternative energy.
What he is concerned about, as are we in the steel industry, is the unintended consequences that would come with the cap-and-trade plan as currently written, especially the high increase in energy costs to every consumer and the potential loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs. Climate change is a global issue that requires global solutions. Successful climate legislation must not send manufacturing jobs overseas to countries with lax environmental enforcement.
It is particularly disappointing that with such an important issue, that the House leadership rushed a 1,200-page bill on a fast track to a vote. A common-sense approach, such as Rep. Murphy advocates, is needed to give all sides the opportunity to be heard and in the end produce real improvements for the environment while also balancing the economic impact. We will push for this type of approach as the bill now moves to the Senate.
THOMAS J. GIBSON
President and CEO
American Iron and Steel Institute
Washington, D.C.
A jobs killer
Regarding "Climactic Vote: Local Congressmen Should Support the Energy Bill" (June 22): Much of what is mentioned in this editorial is incorrect or dangerous. As a design engineer working for a local company that designs and manufactures coal mining and other earth-moving equipment, I have an understanding of the technologies developing in the power generation industry
This editorial dealt with U.S. House Bill H.R. 2454, known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. This bill, also known as the "cap-and-trade" bill, would grant government "carbon credit" assignment powers to companies emitting carbon dioxide. The intent is to cap the amount of carbon dioxide emitted yearly or purchase or trade additional credits from companies that have not used up their allotment.
H.R. 2454 is really a jobs-killing tax. The Heritage Foundation estimate that the average household of four would see "energy costs go up $436 that year, and they eventually reach over $1,241 in 2035 and average $829 per year over that span." On the jobs-killing portion, a similar Senate bill, "Lieberman-Warner," again quoting a Heritage report, "In the first 20 years ... would have destroyed nearly 3 million jobs, caused some manufacturing sectors to cut jobs by 50 percent and generated up to $300 billion per year in government revenue while reducing income by nearly $5 trillion." Rep. Tim Murphy offered an energy bill that doesn't raise taxes or kill jobs!
BRETT PASQUINELLI
Greensburg
A better way
In the June 19 PG, letter writer Michael Meloro states his opinion that Rep. Tim Murphy has taken the wrong position on cap-and-trade legislation ("Murphy's Stand"). The climate-change legislation referred to is, in fact, nothing more than a pollution tax.
Rather than investing in clean energy technologies, this bill punishes heavy manufacturing and carbon intensive industries with an end goal of eliminating coal as an energy source.
Mr. Murphy voted against the bill because he knows the devastating impact it will have on Pittsburgh jobs and our local economy. There is a better way to clean the air and move to alternative energies, which is why he wants to invest in our clean energy future by putting billions in federal revenue from offshore oil and gas exploration into the research, development and deployment of clean energy that includes our nation's most abundant resource: coal.
The work being done at the National Energy Technology Laboratory in South Park is leading the way in clean energy research and demonstrates that we can use coal without emitting carbon.
RONALD J. DEMICHELI
Bethel Park
The writer is president of the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1916, which represents employees at the National Energy Technology Laboratory.
It's time to send a message to North Korea
One of the players aggressively went all in with its chips based on its hand in a fearsome and challenging game of no-limit stakes. It was a risky move because this player had the most to lose and the opponent was the chip leader in this deadly game.
The player who laid it all on the line showing stupid courage against adversity is North Korea. Last week, it foolishly challenged the biggest chip holder in the world, the United States, to a risky game of dare. I am sure that we believe it is bluffing.
But, what if North Korea is not? Do we have a wartime president? This is the million-dollar question. We have not seen President Barack Obama show any signs of being tough on hostile nations until recently regarding Iran. North Korea is definitely the aggressor, and it is up to us to fold or call. The only question is what are the cards that we are holding?
I am not a big supporter of war, but against some enemies, it is necessary. There will never be a middle ground because they will die trying to do it their way. It is time to send a message.
RICHARD PELLEGRINI
Freeport
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First Published: July 1, 2009, 4:00 a.m.
