What did Pa. gain?

To secure votes for the Senate version of the health-care bill, Majority Leader Harry Reid gave out a few Christmas gifts to certain senators. To name a few, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska (whose state will receive federal coverage for the future increased Medicaid costs mandated by the bill), Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida all received special benefits for their states ("What They Won: Concessions Gained by Lawmakers in Health Bill," Dec. 22). This will apparently be made up from taxes on citizens in other states.

Can Sens. Bob Casey and Arlen Specter tell us what they secured for Pennsylvania residents in return for their votes? If the answer is "nothing," we have been very poorly served. If the answer is the privilege of paying taxes for programs in Nebraska, Louisiana, Florida and others engaged in this sleight of hand, we should vote Sen. Specter out next year and Sen. Casey should resign.

DIANE BALCOM
Shaler