Letters: End Trump’s influence in PA; ‘With liberty and justice for some’

End Trump’s influence in PA

Donald Trump said “I’m very pro-choice” in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” in 1999. In 2012 he reversed his position on abortion, and stated “I am pro-life, and pro-life people will find out that I will be very loyal to them, just as I am loyal to other people. I would be appointing judges that feel the way I feel.” That strategic reversal (and his claim that Barack Obama was not a U.S. citizen) was attributed to his decision to run for political office, not to a change in personal philosophy. Now our Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, in spite of Americans (and the citizens of most modern nations) overwhelmingly supporting reproductive “choice.” Ignore, for a moment, an attempted coup, two impeachments, support for racism and nationalism, and other insults to the majority of Americans. Trump now dominates Republican politics using lies, threats and strong-arm tactics supported by funds that he fraudulently obtained premised upon his “Big Lie” that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Please join me in the current election cycle in seeking to root out and eliminate Trump’s corrupt influence on Pennsylvania politics and government. Over 90 state and federal politicians from Pennsylvania have been identified as supporting Trump and his “deplorable” agenda. Do some research to see who these Trump supporters are: a few notables are Mastriano, Perry, Borowicz, etc. Let’s vote out the self-serving politicians who support Trump and elect honest politicians who advocate for their constituents.

Mark Ralston, Centre Hall

‘With liberty and justice for some’

On the day after the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade, I ate at a diner that displayed an impressive plaque of the American flag. A line from the Pledge of Allegiance was printed on each of the red stripes, and I was struck by the noble goal of the last line, “with liberty and justice for all.”

The conservative Supreme Court justices and most Republican legislators have now agreed that women are officially second-class citizens who cannot be trusted with their own reproductive health care decisions.

Thus, we should consider revising the Pledge of Allegiance to indicate the diminished status of women, perhaps reciting, “with liberty and justice for some” or “with liberty and justice for all, except, of course, for women.” Other excluded groups may need to be added as the Supreme Court continues its work.

Brenda Hameister, Centre Hall

Help fix a broken Harrisburg

The chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the PA House, Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin County, said he wouldn’t allow bills “like that” out of his committee. “That” bill would allow police officers to use extreme risk protection orders to secure guns if people pose a danger to themselves or others. Such a “red flag” law is supported by 80% of Pennsylvanians.

How can one man stop a bill with broad bipartisan support? Why are 252 legislators prevented from representing their districts? Why are there no public hearings on legislation Pennsylvanians want?

Harrisburg is broken.

Committee chairs can, at their discretion, allow bills to die in committee, move them to other committees, or not allow discussion or votes. That’s why Pennsylvania’s full-time legislature, one of the largest and highest paid in the country, ranks 45th for passing legislation. (Taxpayers shell out $51 million yearly on legislator perks.)

These “rules” are not law, nor are they in the PA Constitution. At the start of each two-year session, party leadership pass these rules of procedure. These individuals, each elected by less than 5% of Pennsylvanians, control Harrisburg. One frustrated representative says he has as much power as a paperweight.

Whatever bills you support (whether school funding, lead-exposure amelioration, rural broadband access, legislator gift bans, or red-flag laws), your legislator is blocked from doing anything to pass them.

If you’re outraged by this situation, sign the petition at www.fixharrisburg.com and let your legislator know you’re watching!

Help fix Harrisburg!

Willem van den Berg, Howard