Questioning how Congress thinks

Questioning how Congress thinks

Why do members of the U.S. Congress, people with excellent wages and benefits, want to cut entitlement programs that have served this country well and not take pay and benefit cuts themselves? Why do congressmen and senators who authorized borrowing money from Social Security to fund whatever nonsense they came up with tell us the SS fund is going broke?

Why does our government fight wars all over the globe while not having enough money to fix our roads and fund our education system? How can our government tell us it’s good they allowed our jobs to go overseas?

How can our government look the American people in the eye and tell us it’s going broke when companies like GE with a $14 billion profit pay no taxes? Why can there be billions of dollars to bail out businesses yet we can’t afford health care for every American? And how can other industrialized nations do it while the mighty USA can’t?

And why is our government allowing our country to slowly but surely slide into Third World nation status?

Tom Hall, Lisbon

Unions have a place in industry, but don’t belong in public sector

I am a retired, lifelong resi- dent of our area and I served in the South Pacific in the Navy during World War II.

I have been a Democratic precinct committeeman, union member and business owner. I support unions in the private sector but not in the public sector. Why? Because we, the taxpayers, have little or no representation in their negotiations.

I appreciate what the public sector employees do for our community and believe they should be fairly compensated according to their abilities and responsibilities. However, as their employer (the taxpayer) I believe their income and benefits should be in line with the private sector. If they cannot accept adjustments to their wages and benefits, I suggest they look for other employment that they feel will meet their requirements.

I will not vote for any more levies as long as unrepresented collective bargaining is in force.

James Johnson, Youngstown

Kasich budget affects seniors

I want to explain some facts about Gov. John Kasich’s proposed budget and its impact on home services for older adults.

We all know that sacrifices need to be made in order to help balance Ohio’s budget. The governor’s budget calls for administrative cuts for the 12 Area Agencies on Aging throughout the state. While this will create some hardship at local levels, we are preparing to make those difficult decisions.

What we cannot accept is the proposed cuts in services for seniors on the Medicaid waiver programs like PASSPORT and Assisted Living. The governor’s budget proposes overall cuts of 10.4 percent in 2012 and 6.4 percent in 2013. The main concern is the cut in what the budget refers to as PMPM — or per member per month. In 2011, the average per member per month cost was $1,344. The budget proposes these plans be reduced to $1,205 in 2012 and $1,127 per person per month in 2013. This concerns us because these proposed cuts in services likely will push older adults already receiving home care into a nursing facility.

It is a fact that home and community based services (the PASSPORT program) save taxpayers’ money. The average annual cost to Medicaid for a person receiving home care is $20,000, while the average cost for a nursing home is $60,000.

Taxpayers only have to do the math to figure out that cutting too deeply into this program initially may save money on paper, but ultimately will cost Ohioans more in the long run.

While cuts in sacrifices may be necessary in order to balance the budget, cutting care plans for older adults is not fiscally prudent. We urge legislators to amend these cuts to seniors.

Joseph Rossi, Niles

The writer is chief executive officer, Area Agency on Aging.

Overlooking good job prospects

We read with dismay about our area’s declining population and the quote: “The reason for the decline is economics. There are no jobs here.” Or: “People are going where they can find good, steady work that will provide them with benefits, and right now, we have not been creating those jobs.”

Yet we have an under-utilized resource requiring no additional tax dollars, the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, to help overcome the jobs issue.

My wife, daughter and I each have four-year degrees from fine institutions. However, the best prospects may be for our son who is a senior in the Precision Machining program at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center. He will enroll at YSU next fall for Mechanical Engineering Technology (two- or four-year degree).

Local companies are clamoring for his services, both now and while he attends YSU. These employers need machinists, draftpersons and other trained personnel immediately. The positions pay good wages with comprehensive benefits, along with overtime opportunities.

Remarkably, the Precision Machining program was slated for closure due to lack of students (there are fewer than 10 in the class this year). Fortunately, a concerted effort by business, education and citizens has prompted 15 tenth graders to sign up for next year. The program can accommodate 25 per grade level, so openings still are available.

Let’s make best use of our existing programs and dollars.

John Stamateris, Poland

Shutdown effects defy logic

There is something both tragic and infuriating about the projected effects of the a federal government shutdown, as summarized on the front page of your April 8 edition:

Most military employees would receive IOUs in lieu of money.

Congressional members would be paid on time.

So here’s one possible solution: Let’s bring the troops back from Afghanistan and other places in harm’s way and ask them to run Congress. And let’s send every member of Congress over to Afghanistan to fight.

In both cases, I suspect that a budget agreement would be reached within hours.

Robert A. Hogue, Youngstown

’Tis the season to be alert

The weather is starting to get nice. And motorcyclists are once again getting the itch to get their bikes out and ride, to work or just for pleasure. The weekends especially will find groups of riders out for fun and/or on charity rides.

I would like to remind those who do not understand the love of riding to be aware of the two- and three-wheelers on the road. When you come to a stop sign or traffic light, please look twice and possibly save a life. A motorcycle is a little harder to see and I would ask you all to be more aware; take a couple extra seconds to check for bikers. All we want to do is share the road and enjoy a safe ride.

And bikers, you also have a responsibility. Dress for safety and be extra aware at crossroads. Use your common sense and be as respectful to the four-wheelers and big rigs as you want them to be to you. They aren’t always looking for us, so we have to exercise more caution.

Let’s all share the road responsibly.

Gail Taylor, New Springfield

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