Childish rebuke

Regarding "RAD to Investigate Carnegie's Claims of Library Budget Deficit" (Oct. 22): Based on her response to the Regional Asset District's decision to review the Carnegie Library's budget projections, I see that Rep. Chelsea Wagner is from the "Don't get mad, get even" school of policy-making.

Rep. Wagner calls on RAD to reduce the library's funding in order to punish the library for making unpleasant, unpopular, but fiscally sound decisions. Assuming RAD follows her playground rules advice in 2011, Pittsburgh will then face another set of debates about two to three more branch library closings, cutting additional staff and reducing even more hours.

Perhaps Rep. Wagner should have been more aggressive in ensuring adequate funding of libraries at the state level before voting to pass what will be a catastrophic budget for libraries throughout Pennsylvania.

RICHARD KAPLAN
Highland Park