Jul 23, 2008 5 min read

Have the taxpayers finally had enough of these politicians in Harrisburg and their arrogant ways? When will the voters finally say, “We have had it” and start throwing out these career politicians and electing new people? First it was the late-night pay raise that they tried to sneak through and the voters erupted and removed some of them; now we have Bonusgate, which I hope turns into Prisongate.

Millions of taxpayer dollars were stolen by these arrogant politicians while the general public struggles with high gas prices, high food prices, high energy cost, high health care cost, high education cost, etc.

What do these politicians sacrifice? They have lucrative expense accounts, cars bought by the taxpayers, gas paid for by the taxpayers, the best insurance money can buy, a lucrative pension plan, all paid for by the taxpayers, and yet they steal from us millions of dollars that are sent to Harrisburg.

I only hope and pray that the attorney general sweeps up a lot more of these corrupt politicians in his investigation.

Can you imagine that our hard-earned tax dollars are sent there and it was used for sexual favors, basketball game dinners that cost a hefty price, and worst of all, staffers paid hefty bonuses to campaign instead of doing their jobs.

Top politicians in the Democrat party want us to believe that they knew nothing about this, and yet they were joined at the hip with the majority leader in the house, a total disgrace.

Why aren’t these politicians part time? They only work part time. As long as the voters continue to elect these same career politicians, this type of activity will continue. When will we finally get our fill?

A clean sweep is what is needed in Harrisburg and the only way that is going to happen is when the taxpayer finally says in the voting booth, “We want a change and when you have served us for two terms, you also are gone.”

Galvie Gardner

Brownsville

Time for more regulation

Every day when you read or watch the news there are stories about the oil/energy crisis and, more recently, the rising costs of food and other items.

I used to fault oil companies, oil producers and stock market speculators, but more and more I am faulting our representatives, in Washington D.C. and at other levels of government.

I have a problem with oil companies and record profits. I have a big problem with speculators, who are contributing about 25 percent of the cost of oil as a result of speculation.

I hear about cars that will be running on electricity, going a whopping 50 miles before needing recharged. Come on, you can do better than that, a good number of people commute farther than that to get to their jobs. Let’s not forget their costs. I believe the technology is already available for the production of better personal transportation, at reasonable costs,

I heard that Congress took a break for a week, and that they have not come to grips with the energy problem yet, and that the other party is killing initiatives from both parties.

These are not new problems, yet year after year, things are not improving.

If the automobile industry cannot come up with realistic answers, the government needs to give them an incentive to, and not necessarily tax breaks. If oil companies and stock market speculators will not act reasonably, the government needs to strongly regulate them. Which I really hate to say because big government really is not a good idea, but if people cannot act reasonably, then, unfortunately somebody needs to intervene.

So when is it going to happen, “Mr. Representative,” before your next vacation or never?

Paul J. Tomecek

Adah

Greg Hopkins has it right

I find it hard to believe that a Marine officer like state Rep. Bill DeWeese doesn’t know what goes on in his command, especially when it is his chief of staff in the spotlight. I go along with the Greg Hopkins statement in the Washington Observer-Reporter on July 12, that when DeWeese maintains he didn’t know anything about this scandal, “You’re either not telling the truth … or you’re an incompetent leader.”

As for the legislative intern from Rices Landing, doesn’t her name ring a bell in Greene County politics?

Joseph J. Lemenovich Jr.

Vestaburg

More on wind turbine project

It was quite troubling to read in the July 17 edition that PPM Atlantic Renewable Energy Corp. has offered to pay scholarship money to Fayette County because their wind project was not approved by the county zoning hearing board. This type of payment, as Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink noted, is just a gratuity that has nothing to do with the laws of Fayette County.

Offering scholarship money cannot be used to address height and setback issues, for which the special exception was denied. If the zoning says no towers greater than 250 feet, then there is a legal process which should be followed. Offering and/or accepting scholarship money in exchange for the variance is simply not comprehended within the law.

Another concern regards the role that Gary Verkleeren, senior business developer for PPM Atlantic Renewable/Iberdrola Renewables, plays as a member of the Fayette County Planning Commission. While he does have extensive experience in wind development, his personal involvement in this wind project would surely affect his role as a member of the planning commission.

Verkleeren is quoted as saying, “I live in Fayette County, the project was conceived to benefit Fayette County. We wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t for the greater good.” It might be better said that this project was conceived to benefit wind developers who live in Fayette County.

Laura Jackson

Everett