The Legislature's productivity has gone downhill

I suggest some researcher at Pitt or Carnegie Mellon compare the productivity of the Pennsylvania Legislature of 1971-76 with the productivity of the Legislature of 2001-06.

Thirty years ago, two or three legislators shared one secretary. There were no home office expense allowances and the pay was $7,500 per year. But, I hypothesize, the legislative productivity 30 years ago was much greater than the present group with their personal staff, subsidized home offices and car.

Landmark legislation passed 30 years ago included approval of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, an entirely new Crimes Code based on the Model Penal Code of the American Law Institute (Philadelphia) and a new Judicial Code; amendment of hundreds of laws to recognize 18-year-olds as adults; passage of all the enabling legislation for the New Stanton Volkswagen plant; and, for better or worse, an income tax because Gov. Raymond Shafer left the state $500 million in the hole.

What I have listed are only random memories of 30 years ago; systematic examination of that period would yield much more. Of course, in those days we were not playing the childish "gotcha politics" of today. We had genuine friendships across the aisle, including going to dinner together. This created a climate for productive legislation.

I honestly think having all this staff around to spoon-feed the legislators makes them less informed. Furthermore, the proliferation of staff creates the danger of more mischief.

I would like to see some rigorous researcher empirically examine my hypothesis to see if it is true or false.

BILL SHANE
Indiana, Pa.

The writer represented the 62nd Legislative District from 1971 to 1976.

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Yes to accountability

We currently have 5 percent or better unemployment. We have one of the highest corporate taxes in the country. We currently are still paying the unemployment taxes enacted in the '80s as a temporary fix, per capita taxes, occupational privilege, property, local and state taxes and, of course, the sales tax.

Here is my concern: We the people of the commonwealth keep electing people to office who are more interested in their self-serving interests than ours. We the people need to wake up and start making these people more fiscally responsible with the revenue they are already generating. Raising taxes and enacting new taxes are the only fixes these people know, but they enjoy some of the best pay and benefits for their failed positions and policies while we suffer.

I think the next law they should enact is their pay being based on their performance and positive productivity. I would be willing to bet that when that law passed, there would be a lot of openings in Harrisburg.

FRANK THOMPSON
Hermitage

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Voters, listen up

Taking off from D. Kelly of South Park ("Politicians, Listen Up," June 14 letters), our smug and arrogant senators and legislators do not care about us. They are working as a group, and they do it their way. Unless we vote them out of office, we will have the same do-nothing state lawmakers we have today. They were scared for a short time, but we as voters sent most of them back to Harrisburg. Now they are secure to go about business as usual.

They will introduce bills for eliminating property tax, better health care, new gun laws, cheaper turnpike fares and whatever, knowing full well they will never come out of committee. They beat themselves on the chest like King Kong, saying, "Look what I am trying to do for you." The whole time they know it is a smoke screen.

Look out for the pension raise that is being kept quiet right now. They are waiting for us to go back to sleep.

They will listen only when another 100 or more are told to get another job.

Do not vote for any incumbent.

THOMAS WORRALL
Wilkins

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Honor preferences

Over the past two months, there's been much media attention and public debate about whether nursing homes and other health-care providers will receive their fair share of rate increases in next year's state budget. Unfortunately, absent from the debate are the desires of senior citizens and children and adults with disabilities who must rely on a long-term health-care system. Quite simply, they want to remain at home, living as independently as possible.

Decades ago, the only option for our elderly was nursing homes. It's different now. Not only is our state blessed with many home-care agencies, but also there are assisted living facilities and personal care homes. Other community resources include adult day services, family caregiver assistance, Meals on Wheels and senior centers that enable individuals to remain in the community.

Lawmakers need to acknowledge the impact of rising fuel prices on home health care by approving a Medicaid rate increase so we can continue to care for Pennsylvanians where they want to be cared for -- in their own homes.

Gov. Ed Rendell has stated that nursing homes have received a 22 percent increase in funding since he took office. Yet, home-care providers have received just one increase in the last 16 years.

Instead of arguing about which health-care provider is justified in getting a rate increase, we need to honor the preferences of the majority of people who want to stay at home. We urge all of our elected officials to keep these facts in mind as they craft the state budget.

MARIA S. BERZONSKI
Regional Administrator
Personal Touch Home Care of PA Inc.
Oakland

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Cut the lobbyists

Why is the Port Authority, a government-related agency, spending so much money on lobbyists, when the taxpayers elect and pay members of Congress, the General Assembly, county and city governments to do that job ("3 Firms to Handle Port Authority Lobbying," June 19)?

Are the elected officials from Allegheny County not capable of representing the interests of the people of Allegheny County and their Port Authority?

Something is seriously wrong with government if the government itself must hire lobbyists to adequately present its own position to itself.

MICHAEL P. HORNICK
Ohioville

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Key to communities

As a present or past board member of five area nonprofits and executive director of another, I applaud the sentiments conveyed by Diana Bucco and Amy Hart ("In Defense of Nonprofits," June 18 Midweek Perspectives).

In addition to providing vital services that governments or for-profits are unable or unwilling to provide, nonprofits face strict standards to ensure validity of the tax exemptions they receive.

One such standard requires that nonprofits annually meet key "tests" with regard to funding received through donations from the general public. This standard -- that a significant number of ordinary people find the nonprofit's work to be important enough to warrant a personal donation -- helps ensure that nonprofits meet essential needs as determined by the community itself. Additional standards established by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations, organizational boards and associations and other agencies also ensure that nonprofits meet the exemptions they have earned.

On a personal note, having annually interviewed 80 to 100 nonprofit volunteers, employees and service recipients on The "Saturday Light Brigade" radio program since 1978, I have observed firsthand the commitment and effectiveness of nonprofits in improving conditions for specific individuals and neighborhoods as well as our region's overall quality of life.

LARRY BERGER
Executive Director
SLB Radio Productions Inc.
North Side

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Time marches on even in the 'Neighborhood'

Hat's off to the Post-Gazette editorial board. Thank you for the beautiful manner in which you handled the closure on the "Neighborhood" in the June 14 editorial "Not a Beautiful Day."

I was personally moved by your sensitive handling of the story regarding PBS's decision to remove "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" from its weekly lineup of children's shows.

Although the move may certainly be viewed as harsh by many, the reality of the situation is, as you so aptly explained, that time moves on and change is inevitable.

Hey, who's going to argue with Tennyson: "The old order changeth, yielding place to the new"?

We can only pray that the "new" will portray some of the class, good taste and artistry of the old.

I am proud and honored to have been a part of such a wonderful time in the history of children's television.

JOE (HANDYMAN ) NEGRI
Scott

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