Thought experiment for Gene Barr, president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, who, according to the article “Is extra $300 in federal unemployment assistance stopping people from applying for jobs?” thinks we should take “that extra $300 (per week of unemployment benefit) and offer it to jobless workers as a one-time bonus for returning to work”: How well would you fare, working 40 hours per week and making $7.25 per hour? Could you support your family and current lifestyle — and save for things like your retirement or your kids’ higher education — on a gross income of $290 per week, minus income tax? I think not.

Enough is as good as a feast, Mr. Barr. Pennsylvania citizens who, unlike you, haven’t had the good fortune of higher education, are no less deserving of an honest and more comfortable living than you are. Show some compassion.

Susan Wilson, Greensburg

Kelly and Reschenthaler’s loyalty

Regarding Reps. Mike Kelly and Guy Reschenthaler, the cancellation of Liz Cheney and their support for Sean Parnell (“Parnell is the leader Pa. needs in Senate”): Two weeks before Election Day, I stood in line at the Butler County courthouse because my mail ballot was delayed, and I did not want to be quarantined out of voting. I have supported conservative and progressive candidates and vote on qualifications, not allegiance.

For two months Messrs. Kelly, Reschenthaler and Parnell gave legitimacy to every allegation that undermined the election, while saying scant criticism about the dystopian hand-to-hand combat waged on behalf of the former president on Jan. 6. When pressed to offer a remedy, their numerous attempts to dispute the outcome had one common denominator: disenfranchisement of voters, like me, their constituent.

So at an impasse between elections, the car salesman and JAG attorney wage culture war to defend America against various enemies, perceived straw men and cancel culture (and throw support to Parnell and his thin civilian resume and war hero status).

Gentlemen, I never saw such loyalty when the standard-bearer was named Bush, or McCain, or Romney. Why now? And to fire an accomplished senior leader for criticism of a former reality show host and real estate developer with impulse control issues says more about your idol than it does about intellectual integrity or service.

It’s great to rail against real and perceived enemies, to say what you’re against; but sometimes it would be nice to know, in clear terms and no cliches, what exactly are you for?

Peter Sylves, Zelienople

DC deserves statehood

More than 200 years ago, our ancestors fought a revolution over taxation without representation; they fought a revolution for the right to create a democracy, and as a result, the United States of America was born. But to this day, the residents of Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, are denied a vote in Congress. They are denied the right of full representation and participation in our government despite paying more total federal income taxes than residents of 22 states. This is the essence of taxation without representation, and it is going on in our country in 2021. It is time to right a wrong and stand for the values upon which we as a nation were founded.

The residents of D.C. have not just paid their share of federal taxes, but also have given their sons and daughters to defend and protect the very rights that they themselves have been denied for so long. Yet despite paying their taxes and sacrificing their blood, the District, during the covid-19 pandemic, was denied emergency funds under the CARES Act.

Since its founding, our country has enlarged itself through authorizing and admitting other lands to statehood. When Hawaii was admitted, it had a population of 600,000. D.C. has a population of 712,000.

Act now to give D.C. residents the right to participate fully in our democracy. Help us all live up to the ideals of democracy and to evidence true and just equality by voting now for D.C. statehood.

Mary Hofford, Irwin

Pa. needs a gift ban for lawmakers

Pennsylvania legislators have a strong sense of entitlement. The recent article “From frames to furniture to food, here’s how Pa. lawmakers spent millions of taxpayer dollars” shows how generously the state taxpayer supports the perquisites of legislators in running their offices.

If that isn’t bad enough, legislators also feel entitled to receive unlimited gifts. In 2018, legislators only reported 3% of the $1.5 million in gifts and hospitality reported by lobbyists, reflecting the lack of meaningful enforcement for failing to report gifts. Pennsylvania is one of only eight states with no specific law limiting gifts to public officials, and year after year the Legislature has refused to take up bills to change this.

Passing a gift ban is long past due. In the 2019-20 session, House Bill 1945, a gift ban bill, passed the House State Government Committee but was never called to a vote on the floor of the House. In the current session, the similar Senate Bill 401 Gift Ban has been introduced in the Senate.

I strongly urge Sen. David Argall to move this bill forward in the Senate State Government Committee and Sen. Jake Corman to support action on this bill before the full Senate. The time for action is now.

Claus D. Makowka, Shadyside

Why all the fuss on mail-in ballots and voter ID?

So many letters about mail-in ballots. If we are unable to get to a voting place, we request mail-in ballots. This a fact, and it won’t change.

We go to the grocery store, drug store, gas stations, liquor store, mall and other stores, so we can go to vote — right?

We need an ID to get vaccinated, drive a car, fly on a plane, buy liquor, open a bank account — can’t we use this same ID to vote? Why all the fuss?

Frances Olyarnik, Hempfield

Biden’s policies are destroying the country

Now you have gone and done it! I’d like to thank my fellow Americans for electing a president who is rapidly destroying our country.

In a little more than 100 days, Joe Biden’s policies have created the greatest border crisis in American history, destruction of energy independence, upheaval in our labor markets, inflation and much more.

Biden has allowed over 500,000 illegal border entries. He has enticed desperate parents to send their children to the United States for citizenship. This flow has enabled criminals, terrorists and drug smugglers to cross our borders because border agents are overwhelmed.

Between the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline and the recent cyberattack that crippled the Colonial Pipeline, Biden is very weak on energy. We all stand to lose.

Laid-off workers are getting so much in unemployment and it’s been extended, so they refuse to go back to work. Companies are reducing hours and closing because they can’t get employees and/or they can’t afford the employees. There are delays in virtually every industry for major items waiting to be produced.

Real inflation using the traditional measurements from the 1980s and 1990s is running at a range of 8.4% to 12.2%. The replacement inflation rate is running at 22% based upon raw goods. I believe the stock market is on the verge of collapse. Government spending is out of control, and our debt is so high that we can’t afford to raise the interest rates high enough to stop inflation.

Look at what you’ve done. Thanks for your brilliant vote for our future.

Ray Schratz, Butler

Sickness in Republican Party

Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from her Republican leadership post in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 12 because she had the courage and integrity to criticize President Trump. She said he is a danger to our democracy.

There is a sickness in the Republican Party, and its name is Donald Trump. This sickness affects the mind and body. It causes people to ignore science and forget their common sense. This sickness encourages violence, racism and hate. Lies are now truth. Facts that are proven true, such as the 2020 election results, are called false. And if people don’t like the results of the election, the sickness leads some of the Republicans in Arizona to pay for a third audit. I expect this audit will prove to be a waste of your donated money, since two prior audits did not turn up any fraud.

This sickness in the Republican Party needs to end. We need our two- party system and our three branches of government to work together peacefully. We can’t let our democracy end because one party wants more power and is willing to be led by one someone who I believe is one of the most proficient liars in politics. It’s time for responsible Republicans to reclaim the Republican Party.

My wishes for both parties are:

Republicans: Please reconsider your total support of Trump. And please increase spending for infrastructure and the environment.

Democrats: Please compromise more. Many people like your efforts to stimulate the economy, but paying for it worries a lot of us.

Alexis Shipman, New Kensington

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