As a historic force for equality and democracy, the labor movement supports campaign finance reform. I am equally committed to that goal. As our national organization says, "The integrity of our election system [must] be preserved and all Americans [should] have full confidence that their vote and voice will be heard." And it is only through constant revision and improvement of our current system that we can continue to move toward that ideal.

However, to be effective, campaign finance reform needs to be done right. Last week Mayor Luke Ravenstahl vetoed a campaign finance reform measure, approved by City Council in a 5-4 vote, because it would give an unfair advantage to independently wealthy candidates ("Mayor Vetoes Cap on Campaign Donations," June 10). The bill is right in spirit but wrong on the details. It does not limit self-funding, allowing independently wealthy candidates to self-finance unlimited campaigns. Meanwhile donations from common working people who pool their limited resources into political action committees are capped.

Mayor Ravenstahl was right to veto this particular bill because it would do more harm than good to the democratic process it is meant to protect. In doing so he has made an important contribution to the ongoing process of improving our election system. We should view his veto not as an obstacle to progress, but as a cue to put our heads together and create a better alternative, one that truly does ensure that every vote and voice is heard.

JACK SHEA
President
Allegheny County Labor Council
Downtown

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Pat McMahon, Local 85 president for bus and trolley operators and maintenance employees, stated publicly that he is willing to meet early with Port Authority management to discuss contract terms, and after following proper procedures, if he is at an impasse, he will not rule out a strike ("2 Sides in Transit Talks Drive Opposite Directions," May 23).

Since Mr. McMahon took over as president, he lost the cost-of-living adjustment (which was taken away and put on the shelf). He lost the benefit of retirement after 25 years of service. And employees, as a start, must now pay 1 percent of their health benefits. (It is not going to stop at 1 percent.)

When management got up from the bargaining table, they threw a 3 percent raise at Mr. McMahon for his membership. But since some of it has to go toward their payment of health care, it wasn't a 3 percent raise.

He is at least a contract late on striking. If he didn't go out after giving all this up, what makes him think the authority is worried about him striking now?

I don't want to compare what we used to have (before Mr. McMahon took over as Local 85's leader) with other workers' benefits. We could debate on and on whether we deserve these. The point is, over many years our previous union leaders bargained hard for these benefits and Mr. McMahon gave them back without striking one day.

The public wants my brothers and sisters to work for less, and from Mr. McMahon's past performance, he is not going to let them down.

RON FRANCIS SR.
Ben Avon

The writer is a retired instructor and driver for the Port Authority and a former international delegate and former recording secretary for Local 85.

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The article "Head Injuries Soar Since Repeal of Helmet Law" (June 13) failed to point out some trends among not just helmet use, but health care in general.

In a 2006 National Highway Transportation Safety Administration survey, 14 percent of helmets worn were in noncompliance with U.S. Department of Transportation standards. So, even if someone was wearing a helmet, it could still result in the same type of injury as someone without a helmet.

Another point is with the increase in fuel, newer and inexperienced drivers are hitting the road on motorcycles. Because of this, it will not be a surprise when the rate continues to increase.

Lastly, the cost of health care is rising rapidly whether you are in a motorcycle accident or if you are going for an annual physical. What is the baseline the study is using for the cost of health care? I did not read the study, so these questions may be answered in it.

I am not advocating for or against a helmet law. I am saying that people are putting themselves at greater risk -- and driving up health-care costs -- by talking on a cell phone while driving, being obese or smoking, for example, than are people who are not wearing helmets. We need to take a step back and look at all the facts and at the bigger picture before laws are re-enacted.

BETH KLEBACHA
Shadyside

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While the Post-Gazette touts a metropolitan-style government consolidation of the components of Allegheny County and fosters the growth of Pittsburgh as the vibrant hub of Western Pennsylvania, it is busily morphing itself into a second- or third-class city daily newspaper.

June 10 marks the date the already-lackluster Business section of the Post-Gazette discontinued daily consolidated and mutual fund stock reporting ("Changes in Stock Market Coverage," June 10).

Not all of your readers subscribe to keep up with Tony Norman, Mary Worth or the vitriol of Rob Rogers; nor are all your readers subscribers to Internet sources.

It appears time to seek financial information beyond the scope of Post-Gazette offerings.

My loss, but also yours!

L. LEIGH STEINBACH
Mt. Lebanon

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My husband and I are longtime subscribers to the Post-Gazette. We went to a meeting at South Park High School addressing the possibility of strip mining in Allegheny County's South Park. A large number of concerned citizens attended and the meeting culminated in assurances by Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato that he now considered "the mining issue essentially dead" ("Strip-Mining Proposal for South Park Is Dead," June 15).

Many of us there would have been unaware that such a vital issue was under consideration had we not learned of it through your news articles. Thank you and keep up the good work!

CAROL PROBST
Bethel Park

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The unexpected death of Tim Russert on Friday is a tragic loss not only for his beloved family, but for all Americans (" 'Meet the Press' Moderator for Nearly 17 Years," June 14 news obituary). As a political journalist and host of "Meet the Press," he combined a superb intelligence, a quick wit and a keen ability to keep his guests engaged in meaningful discussions. No shouting matches, mudslinging or hidden agendas were tolerated! He sought the truth for all of us, while not allowing any scathing comments from his guests.

Limbaugh, Coulter and O'Reilly (to name a few) should watch some of his "Meet the Press" shows. Maybe they could somehow comprehend how a true journalist behaves and conducts himself. I doubt it. None of them has any of the fine attributes that Tim had, not to mention the intelligence.

How sad for all of us. We are losing our "truth seekers" when we need them the most.

JOAN HUBER
Moon

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In all the condolences and eulogies for NBC's Tim Russert, I hear such a deep mourning -- people love that extraordinary man, and my own admiration/respect for him has something to do with love as well. I'm reminded of words from an old professor: "... and the world is not the same as when he came."

We have grieved and celebrated many extraordinary public figures -- certainly Jack Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and the agonizing loss in each of those murders is nonpareil -- and there have been deaths of other people who have made such a difference in our lives and the destiny of our country. However, something about Tim Russert is so close, so personal in this world of instant communication, in this time of incredibly complicated politics.

Tim Russert brought us more than "the news." He gave us integrity, ethics and perspective -- honesty and sanity -- in broadcasting the facts, and he provided the opportunity to think!

His absence will be keenly felt. There has, indeed, been a death in all of our families.

LOIS I. GREENBERG
Castle Shannon

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We receive more letters than we can fit into the limited space on the editorial page, so we'd like to share some additional letters with our Post-Gazette Web site readers.

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Yes, the nearly insane war drums are beating ("Ominous Notes," June 11 editorial), and some of the more "paranoid liberals" even think that President Bush would create some national emergency such as a war on Iran or some "terrorist-level" threats to hold off the election and the end of his presidency.

I've got a better idea: Let's support U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich's call for impeachment, simultaneously with indicting Vice President Dick Cheney -- as the "eyes that see through the lies" (a Kucinich slogan) called for last year.

We'd solve so many problems: end the threat of another immoral, illegal, insane war. We'd also end this horrific presidential administration and prove that Americans aren't misogynists by celebrating competent, proven House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's move to president, and then, of course, another historic moment in January, when our first African-American president takes office. I may be dreaming, but it's better than living in a nightmare!

JEANNE CECIL
West View

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Regarding "Proposal to Take Politics Out of Redistricting Stalls" (May 29) by Tracie Mauriello of the Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau: The Pennsylvania government is incredible. It will not yield to fairness for us, the citizens of Pennsylvania because of fear.

It is difficult to explain to people why gerrymandered districts rob us of our vote, but for anyone reading this, please look into it and react. You can go to the following site to join a group of citizens fighting to make Pennsylvania proud again: killgerrymander.wordpress.com. Let's fix this place!

RICHARD LOLLA
Malvern, Pa.

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I am commenting on your June 13 editorial "Culture of Corruption." I'm surprised that you're surprised. As long as you're a candidate with a "D" instead of an "R" behind your name, you get voted into office as if it's a birthright. Corruption? Why look at the state level when you can look locally at our mayor's office?

We had a previous mayor who almost brought this city to its knees with back-door deals and shenanigans by making sweetheart deals with a fireman's union. We have a current mayor who skips out on a meeting with Hill District leaders to fly to New York City; who fails to show up for a scheduled ceremony to lay a wreath on Memorial Day, instead attending his second Penguins playoff game in Detroit while taxpayers paid for his bodyguard; and who reportedly crashed a golf event so that he could meet Tiger Woods.

And you're asking about corruption at the state level? This is business as usual. Now the boy-who-would-be-king won't cap campaign contributions.

I'm not a Republican because I am enamored of the party ... I am a Republican because I see it as the only way I can bring competition and some semblance of a race to any election year.

You have a governor who basically made up an office in the Liquor Control Board for an "overseer" type of job, when not too long before he said the LCB needed to lower costs. This state is run on fictional jobs by politicians rewarding their cronies.

When will it stop? When you start punishing politicians who were caught making back-door deals with unions and when people stop voting for a "D" behind a name and look at the man instead.

TONI STAAB
McKees Rocks

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I read with interest and empathy the side-by-side Page One articles in the June 6 PG -- the elderly black gentleman rejoicing in Barack Obama's campaign victory ("Obama Backer, 93, 'Never Thought I'd See It' in His Life") and the elderly white woman saddened by Hillary Clinton's loss ("Clinton Supporters Come to Grips With Finality"). As an older woman who marched at Selma four decades ago, I identify with the feelings of both of these people.

For me, the good news is this: a gain by any minority is a gain for all minorities. Both blacks and women gained in enhanced public awareness throughout this campaign. And both benefit from the success of either candidate.

The second piece of good news in this campaign is the role of youth. My generation and the generations of your two news subjects were necessarily very gender- and race-aware because of the culture in which we grew up. The cultural restrictions are not totally gone, but much of the new generation does not feel that pressure.

The tremendous rallying of younger folks in this election year gives me great hope for the future of all of us.

SISTER PATRICIA McCANN
Oakland

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Such a sad state of affairs for the elderly, their families and anyone who may require the use of a nursing home facility in the future. I read two articles in the June 6 PG regarding incidents at nursing homes ? both outrageous.

The first incident occurred at an Indiana Township home ("Nurse Accused of Molesting Nursing Home Parkinson's Patient," June 6 Web). Marc Lane is charged with forcible involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault on a 65-year-old man with Parkinson's who uses a wheelchair. Despicable!

The second article referred to an Oakmont nursing home worker who is charged with forcibly removing a wedding ring from the finger of an 87-year-old Alzheimer's patient, then pawning it for $5,200 (it was worth $25,000). The story noted that Jami Batista Young is also accused of breaking the finger of the patient during the theft ("Police Say Nursing Home Worker Removed Ring From Woman, 87," June 6 Web).

I know there must be many more such actions taking place that are not discovered or reported. What happened to respect for the sick and/or elderly? What happened to the caring and compassion that health-care workers are supposed to have for their patients? I feel bad for anyone who is facing the daunting decision of placing a loved one in a home. The least of their worries should be whether their mother, father, sister or brother will be molested or robbed while in the trusted care of others.

PATRICIA A. MULLEN
Carrick

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It would be fitting, for the legislators who permitted longwall mining under I-79 in Greene County to have this done beneath their homes. So, when their foundations begin to crack and sink holes appear in their front yards, they will find empathy with motorists who must travel this route.

Greed always trumps common sense.

I also love the "Clean Green Coal" billboards in Western Pennsylvania. Who actually believes this?

NICHOLAS R. MARAVICH
Virginia Beach, Va.

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In response to Vice President Dick Cheney's tasteless joke referencing the stereotype that West Virginians engage in incestual relationships ("VP Cheney Insults West Virginia," June 3 Web), the state's governor, Joe Manchin, stated, "I truly cannot believe that any vice president of the United States, regardless of their political affiliation, would make such a derogatory statement about my state or any state, for that matter."

Gov. Manchin should not be surprised by anything that this vice president says. He has demonstrated that he shoots from the hip and has no concern for how he is perceived throughout our nation and the world. Let us recall that Mr. Cheney on the floor of the U.S. Senate told a distinguished member, "Go f--- yourself." Rather than apologize for the remark, this man of "family values" was smug, indicating that he felt better after saying it.

Far be it from this president to chastise Mr. Cheney. After all, George W. Bush was caught on tape saying to Mr. Cheney that a prominent news reporter is a "major league a--hole" and at a G-8 summit meeting, using hard profanity in conversation with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The American people would like to believe that their leaders are individuals of dignity and refinement, qualities which, sadly, are nowhere to be found in the administration of "The Decider."

OREN M. SPIEGLER
Upper St. Clair

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We welcome your letters. Please include your name, address and phone number, and send to Letters to the Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. E-mail letters to letters@post-gazette.com or fax to 412-263-2014. Letters should be 250 words or less, original and exclusive to the Post-Gazette. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and accuracy and will be verified before being published.