Service more than adequate
While I am pleased that the Herald-Standard has gone on record as agreeing that I merit the Democratic party’s nomination for re-election as state representative to the 49th Legislative District, I am disappointed at the paper’s choice of the adjective “adequate” to describe my record. Obviously, the Herald-Standard wants to leave the impression that my record is passable or sufficient at best. I do not agree. During my 22 years as a legislator I have built connections and experiences in both Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. that have served this district and its residents well. In fact, I have delivered over $112 million in state funding into the district for numerous projects and grants since 1983.
Recently, I obtained over $600,000 in state grant funds for the construction and completion of a state of the art two-story, fireproof concrete structure or “burn building” for firefighting training purposes on the campus of California University. In addition, I secured over $8.5 million in capital funds for the construction of California University’s Eberly Science and Technology Building.
I have also obtained $212,000 in state funding for police equipment and automobiles, $1.5 million in state funding for the fire departments, $2.5 million in state funding for community recreational facilities, $150,000 for playgrounds at recreational facilities, $75,000 for public libraries, and $64,000 for senior centers.
As Democratic chairman of the State Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, I have pushed for legislation to create agritechnology cause zones, and supported dedicated funding for construction of agricultural education centers in both Fayette and Washington Counties.
I also am responsible for my annual Turkey Giveaway to local service organizations to help feed thousands of the district’s needy at Thanksgiving though my relationship with the Ag Coalition Committee of PennAG Industries and their generosity.
I care about our kids. I have supported various innovative education programs including one that focuses on the causes and eradication of truancy and how the community can band together to help school districts combat the problem. I have, and will continue to fight to bring equity to the students in the district through advocating for state subsidy funding for basic education programs, retirement contribution, special educator programs, vocational-technical school payments, student transportation and debt service reimbursements according to our district’s ability to pay.
I am sensitive to the needs of our senior citizens, and led the fight to support designating tobacco settlement funds for PACE and PACENET, expanding prescription drug assistance, in addition to helping to expand in-home services to help more seniors live independently longer.
I am a tireless advocate for those residents who are the greatest at-risk and who need my help the most. To this end, I was responsible for designing and implementing Poverty Summits I and II – group discussions that focused on identifying the needs to develop programs specifically geared toward reducing poverty in Fayette County. I was also the creator and founder of the Governor’s Action Team that has helped to secure thousands of jobs for Pennsylvanians all over the state.
While I have not tried to list everything I have accomplished as a state legislator, what I have described shows that I’ve done more than what the Herald-Standard deems an “adequate job” to make a better way of life for the people who live and work in my district.
Thank you for letting me set the record straight. One last thing, while I am flattered that you believe I am 51 years old, this home-grown boy who was born and raised in Brownsville, will be 54 years old in August.
Rep. Peter J. Daley
California
Consider the unborn
When we make our choices as to who will represent us in the government offices, there are many issues to consider. I want to ask voters to please remember the great importance of the sanctity of life and unborn babies.
Each day throughout our state and our great nation, many innocent and very helpless but very beautiful unborn babies are destroyed; their lives are ended because of a so-called “medical procedure” called abortion.
The abortion issue is very strong and highly debated, and each of us has the right to decide whether we are for or against it. Everyone’s opinion is equally important. We must always respect the woman’s rights. That is very important.
It is true that the men of the world cannot even begin to imagine the discomfort and intense pain that women must endure during pregnancy, especially during childbirth. That is something that is truly worthy of our understanding and total respect.
But we should also always respect the other life that is a part of that wonderful and very miraculous event.
Abortion is something that does create varied opinions as to whether it is a moral or ethical procedure. But one thing for sure, is that it has devastated the lives of many unborn babies who had the right to be born and come into the world just as we did.
That “right to life” and that creation are given by God, and no mortal person or law can take that away. I know that there are times when the procedure may be medically necessary, such as to protect the life of the mother, but abortion should not be used as a solution to birth control. That is something that is happening many times, each and every day.
Whether the unborn is called a baby or a so-called “fetus”, it is living and it has a right to that life. The unborn are our future citizens, scholars and some will be our future leaders.
But they are helpless and cannot defend themselves. So we must speak and act for them.
So please, whenever you go to vote your choices, please remember those unborn, and their own “right to life.” Where would you be if you were aborted?
John Stossel
Uniontown