Re: “Initiative reform: First show us the problem” (editorial, 2-17) and “State legislators should leave the initiative process alone” (Pam Roach Viewpoint, 2-26).

State Sen. Pam Roach and The News Tribune may not think there is any problem with our initiative process, but this voter sees a red alert. The initiative reform bill (SB 5297) is a mere baby step towards keeping our treasured initiative process from becoming an auction misused by wealthy special interests to impact the voters. The initiative should be strengthened, not discarded.

The basic problem is the current cancerous takeover by corporate money, which is furthered …

Read more »

Re: “Obama won’t defend law banning gay marriage” (TNT, 2-24).

The idea of having a president who refuses to defend our laws is repugnant to me. If the president is against a certain law he has the right to asked that it be changed, but no president should just refuse to do his job.

What if the next president is apposed to the new health care law? Would it be OK to just not enforce it?

We are a country of law, and one does not get to pick and choose which ones to obey and which not to. That …

Read more »

I’m grateful to the state Senate and Cascade Bike Club for Senate Bill 5326, which penalizes motorists should they injure pedestrians and cyclists. Our nation’s “Complete Streets” movement seeks to accommodate nonmotorized commuters, so this legislation is timely.

Roads have not been built only for drivers but for horses, walkers and dogs, cyclists and, recently, wheelchair users. The carbon mobile will be replaced because we have consumed beyond peak oil.

Yes, the car provides convenience, but increasing numbers of vehicles idle in traffic, wasting time and fuel. Meanwhile, walkers and cyclists move forward, exercising and doing their best …

Read more »

There has been speculation about homeowners losing their mortgage interest tax deduction. No one says anything about all the people getting a deduction for second homes and RVs. Does the RV business really need the government to prop them up?

I don’t see why the public should have to give those who have the money to buy what they call second homes this tax break. I can’t even imagine how much money this has cost in tax revenue. Why do we have this tax loophole all these years, and it never gets mentioned?

Re: “We must make hard choices now” (letter, 2-27).

Despite decades of conservative propaganda, there is no evidence to show that the tax level has anything to do with the level of general prosperity.

After the Reagan/Bush administration ran the federal debt up by twice over, President Clinton balanced the budget and ran up a net surplus in eight years amid general prosperity and without changing tax levels appreciably.

When George Bush took over in 2000, he lowered taxes on the wealthy and ran up a huge deficit for Obama to inherit. Given that, it is a little peculiar to …

Read more »

Re: “Obama won’t defend law banning gay marriage” (TNT, 2-24).

I praise President Obama for his step forward for equality by no longer defending the Defense of Marriage Act.

My beautiful, intelligent daughter would not have awakened one morning deciding it would be “fun” to be gay to endure potential discrimination, physical abuse and worse. Now living in Australia, she and her partner, as do all residents, have a civil union which includes social security and federal tax filing.

She told me years ago she wanted what my husband and I have: marriage (48 years), children and a house with …

Read more »

As a leader in the women’s community and former coordinator of a women-in-business program for Tacoma, I find the recent reports about Tacoma Public Schools paying Seattle Public Schools for business-related contracts unusual.

We have organizations in Tacoma that could have done this work for Tacoma schools. In fact, the State of Washington provides these services free.

Who recommended that our school district contract out this service? Was it put out to bid?

It is a federal responsibility that those who receive federal funds fully implement laws and regulations guaranteeing equal opportunity. I am not concerned about the intent of …

Read more »

The feel-good story of Bear the Dog (TNT, 2-19), reunited with his California owner, reminds us to microchip our pets. Within days, Bear was identified using his microchip.

In contrast, it took the U.S. government more than seven months to identify Rennison Castillo as a naturalized American citizen and Army veteran (TNT, 2-25). An immigration judge, the U.S. Attorneys’ Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement didn’t believe him and “were disrespectful.”

U.S. Attorney Philip Lynch apologized for the bad treatment of a citizen and veteran. But didn’t Castillo deserve humane treatment simply because he is a human being?

Never was …

Read more »