Legislators put constituents at risk

I am dissatisfied and disgusted by our state and federal representation. Their first and most important job is to create a budget and manage spending. I blame both Republicans and Democrats equally. All they do is point fingers at each other, the bottom line is you’re putting your constituents at risk and peril.

Bruce Link

Bethlehem Township

Congress should get back to work

It is very interesting that Rep. Mackenzie is touring the Lehigh Valley and talking to employees at Lehigh Valley International Airport. Some of those employees work for the government but are not getting paid during the shutdown. The congressional calendar shows that the House of Representatives is supposed to be in session this week, but our representative is going around blaming Democrats for the shutdown. This would be good if he had any skin in the game but Congress is still getting paid for being on vacation and not doing their job. I think Mackenzie should get with his colleagues and tell Speaker Johnson they need to get back to work.

John Duffy

Heidelberg Township

Reelect Monica Hodges for South Whitehall commissioner

In a tumultuous political environment, we must stay laser-focused on “kitchen-table” topics when voting for our local officials as these issues directly affect our daily lives.

In local elections, the issues consist of providing local services, maintaining and updating infrastructure, guiding land development and zoning, and giving first responders what they need to keep themselves and the community safe.

It’s important to vote for the person, their character and integrity. Vote for the person who is responsive to the community, has a proven record of accomplishments and is trustworthy. Vote for the person who is doing everything he or she said they’d do for the community. Vote for the person who has stepped up and shown up.

Monica Hodges, a commissioner elected in 2021, has a proven record. She has promised fiscal accountability, balanced growth, support of public safety and transparency of government. She has kept the promises she made. She has prioritized residents. She has earned community trust.

Keep South Whitehall on track! Don’t get lost in party noise. I encourage all residents to vote for her. Vote for Monica Hodges on or before Nov. 4.

Thomas Czajkowski

South Whitehall Township

Keep politics out of South Whitehall

As a former supervisor in neighboring Hanover Township, Lehigh County, I recognize strong local government when I see it — and South Whitehall is a clear example. It’s well-run, efficient, fiscally responsible and resident focused. That’s good governance.

Roads, zoning, parks and public safety don’t follow party lines — and they shouldn’t be governed by them either.

Commissioners Monica Hodges and Chris Peischl embody that kind of leadership. They serve with integrity, transparency and clear focus on residents — not parties. Let’s not inject partisan division where it doesn’t belong. Local government works best when it stays local — and nonpartisan.

We should resist efforts to divide our communities with political branding that does little more than distract from real issues. South Whitehall doesn’t need new “balance.” It already has a leadership team that puts people before politics. Keep it that way.

Vote Hodges/Peischl.

Frank Dreisbach

North Whitehall Township

Negotiate reopening government now

I read with interest The Morning Call account of Rep. Ryan Mackenzie’s visit to Lehigh Valley International Airport. What I found most encouraging in the report was Mackenzie’s support for extending the health care tax credits for at least one more year. He said Republicans are open to negotiating an extension of the credits — but only after the government is reopened. Why hold up reopening the government when such negotiations take place? Do it now! The people of this country want both: extension of the health care credits and reopening of the government. And we want them both now.

Cathy Gumlock

Bethlehem

Supreme Court decision weakens the Constitution

On July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court fundamentally altered the Constitution in Trump v. United States, in which it grants presidents absolute immunity from criminal prosecution. A president could be prosecuted for “unofficial acts,” and perhaps noncore constitutional acts, but these are undefined, vague concepts. Even so, a president would likely declare all acts “official.” Almost 250 years of statutes and legal precedents that constrained presidents have been significantly weakened, even nullified. With no fear of criminal prosecution, a president could march troops to the Capitol; indict or incarcerate political enemies, including judges; send masked militia to terrorize and arrest citizens; incarcerate political enemies; purge voting rolls, even nullify elections; shake down businesses, law firms and universities; and withhold congressionally appropriated funds. The one person who controls a national police force and the military is that very individual who, history tells us, must be constrained by the deterrent of prosecution for criminal actions. Impeachment with conviction is now the only remedy. But that’s a much-too-late after-the-fact partisan exercise. No president has ever been convicted. Recrafted by a rogue court, the U.S. Constitution no longer reflects the democratic republic envisioned by the founders.

Jack W. Paul

Bethlehem

Legislators should lose pay over budget delays

Human services usually paid for by the U.S. and Pennsylvania governments may be unavailable during the budget delays at the state and federal levels. If Pennsylvania counties want to continue to provide those services, they may have to increase property taxes temporarily.

Until the federal shutdown and state budget impasse are resolved, legislators, the president and the governor should be docked a 50% cut in their pay. These budget delays are so ridiculously absurd that we need to begin to start playing hardball.

Grant Stevenson

Allentown

ELECTION LETTERS 

Letters to the editor about candidates and issues in the Nov. 4 general election must be received by 10 a.m. Monday.  Election-related letters will not be published after Oct. 30.

The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week. Submit a letter to the editor at letters@mcall.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.