Cut the pork first

Before Gov. Ed Rendell and the state Legislature raise our taxes, they could show the courage of their convictions by cutting some of their own costs.

This would be the perfect time to cut the size of the Legislature by 50 percent and decrease the size of the offices and administrative staff of those legislators remaining. Also, let's cut all their favorite causes that return money to themselves and their families and the endless string of commissions they are paid.

Cut all state pensions by 10 percent and provide no pay raises for a few years. Lastly, dismantle the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and let PENNDOT run the turnpike.

Once this has been done, perhaps we could accept higher taxes and trims in important programs. But let's cut the pork and graft and excess first.

It would be refreshing if our elected representatives actually put the good of the commonwealth and its citizens ahead of their own interests. It would be refreshing if we all took enough interest in our government that the elected officials would know there would be repercussions for their actions from an informed and active electorate.

 

DEMETRIA MARSH
Sewickley