Sounding off: Government waste, Trump, gift ban, taxes among week’s topics
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It’s about time government tightens its belt
Isn’t it crazy that people are so upset about federal employees losing their jobs because of downsizing? The government has needed to be downsized for quite some time, and we finally have a president exercising his powers to do just that. Every business at some time will go through an audit to find out where cuts need to be made. While no one likes to be laid off or fired, it happens. It’s not the end of the road.
The president does have authority over the executive branch of government. Too many employees seemed to think they didn’t have to give an account for the money they were spending, and now they have found out it’s time to face the music.
Elon Musk is serving at the pleasure of the president to audit the various departments to find ways to cut waste. That is a good thing. Every reasonable person lives on a budget. It’s time government workers learn to tighten their belts instead of just telling the taxpayers to tighten theirs.
Ida Smith
Harwick
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We don’t need a ‘businessman’ as president
The writer of the letter “Trump is a businessman, not a politician” (Feb. 18, TribLive) must have failed Civics and American History when she was in school.
First, let’s establish the purpose of a business. A business is created to provide goods or a service with the intent to make a profit.
Businesses do take care of friends and most certainly will wash the hands of someone who washes theirs. A business will certainly not look after the welfare of rival businesses! Businesses take care of the owners and the people at the top, and rightfully so.
The preamble of the U.S. Constitution states “… in order to form a more perfect Union, establish tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty … .” This is absolutely not the core of any business. So yes, I will take a politician to be in our government.
I’m not a young man, and in my lifetime, I cannot name a single instance of any businessman who would provide for my general welfare and defense, nor would I expect that. And after reading Donald Trump’s book “The Art of the Deal,” I am not even impressed with Trump as a good businessman.
Tim Babyak
Perryopolis
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The sky is not falling
Many people and some media outlets are running around saying the sky is falling. They are in a tizzy because DOGE and Elon Musk are examining records and making “illegal” cuts. One reason given is that DOGE and Musk haven’t been elected. There are 2.3 million civilian government workers looking at data and files every day, and none have been elected. DOGE and Musk are legally appointed.
Many people are drawing conclusions without having the facts. They have little or no knowledge of the project and its benefits. Likewise, most have no knowledge what the eliminated employees did, or the criticality of their roles.
The real problem facing the U.S. is debt, and taxes alone can’t address it. The fiscal year 2025 budget is over $6 trillion with a projected deficit of $1.8 trillion. This deficit will be added to the existing $36 trillion debt. We must reduce spending. Examples of reckless/stupid spending have always been identified, with little being done. Worse is that our entitlements are unsustainable. Much of it is caused by billions of dollars in fraud. Now that something is being done, people are screaming. Notice that many of the loudest are politicians and people who stand to lose something.
It’s understandable that people are upset and complain when cuts impact them. Whenever budgets or tax laws change, some will benefit and some will be hurt. You can’t please everyone, nor do everything everyone wants. However, if we do not reduce spending by a significant amount, the sky really will be falling.
Tom Cerra
Latrobe
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Pa. legislators need to pass gift ban
As a union member in Pennsylvania, I understand if I failed to meet my employer’s expectations I would be fired. Our state legislators, however, face no such accountability when it comes to accepting gifts from lobbyists.
Pennsylvania is one of only three states without a gift ban, allowing unlimited perks, from lavish dinners to cash. Pennsylvania laws should be built on the rock solid foundation of trust from the public, not donors offering perks conveniently placed on a form far from public view.
Fury at this should propel each of us to every reasonable action we can think of! The gift ban is the key roadblock to every issue we care about. How can we expect solutions when our leaders are beholden to those who wine and dine them?
For nearly 30 years, Pennsylvanians have demanded a gift ban. Leaders claim a lack of time, but this rings hollow. In September 2024 alone, 12 bills passed alongside 49 campaign fundraisers. Look at the time spent, and you will see what the priorities are.
This isn’t about time; it’s about priorities. This issue is hugely popular in Pennsylvania. House and Senate leaders must prioritize passing a gift ban. It’s the lowest- hanging fruit in addressing the influence of money in politics. It’s about restoring faith in our government and ensuring our elected officials act in the public’s interests, not special interests. It’s time to pass the gift ban and earn back our trust.
Nate Morrison
Munhall
The writer is an activist with March on Harrisburg.
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McCormick’s silence
On his own website, Sen. Dave McCormick says, “Dave and Dina are proud to support organizations that work with veterans and their families.” Yet he has remained silent on the dismissal of 1,000 Veterans Affairs workers, some of whom work the Veterans Crisis Line. His silence shows me that McCormick doesn’t actually care for our veterans.
On his website, McCormick says he will work to reign in government spending. President Trump has spent $10.7 million on golf trips, $25 million on the Super Bowl and $5 million on the Daytona 500. After only one month in office that is over $40 million taxpayer dollars spent on vacations, yet not a word from McCormick, who claims he has extensive experience eliminating wasteful spending.
McCormick says we need to revamp our education system. He is silent on DOGE cutting $600 million in contracts and grants from the Department of Education. He is committed to voting for Linda McMahon, a woman with no previous experience in education who is currently embroiled in a lawsuit involving sexual abuse of children. Why? His constituents don’t know because McCormick remains silent.
If Trump and his minions are going to take money from schools and research (to fund a giant tax cut for the rich, of course?), perhaps we can use some of that money to have McCormick’s lips surgically removed from Trump’s ring. Maybe then he’d be able to speak up. I bet even United Healthcare would pay for that procedure.
Marley Hignett
Bethel Park
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Per capita taxes no longer relevant
Has anyone taken the time to question the per capita (head) tax that we have to pay every year?
Per capita is Latin meaning “for each head.” This tax’s initial purpose was on the heads of southern slaves. This tax is also a direct tax on adults 18 and older simply for existing. Our constitutions, both Pennsylvania and United States, recognize that we have property rights which include our bodies and heads, which is the most scared and original form of property. Slavery no longer exists, and therefore this tax is irrelevant.
Government officials and subcontractors will assert that this tax gets its authority from state statutes and local ordinances. That being said, statutes and ordinances are not true law. There have been localities within other counties in Pennsylvania that have repealed the per capita tax.
It’s up to the people to do their homework and make a decision whether to continue to be a per capita tax slave.
Shelia Hanlon
West Deer
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Older people want paper tax receipts
There you go again, government — you cut off the ability for us to get a paper receipt after we pay our house taxes. The elderly don’t have a way to print out a receipt, and many cannot use a computer. I need a receipt for my company’s accounting department. My mom needs one for other things she does with taxes. Return to paper receipts!
Wendy Miller
Harrison