The PSU struggle deserves a blue-white tribute

What could be more fitting than a tribute to Penn State wrestlers and coaches at Beaver Stadium on Blue-White game day!

Don Kassab, State College

Don’t re-elect the ‘Pennsylvania Seven’

Eight Republican members of Congress from Pennsylvania participated in the months-long coup attempt against our democracy, which led to the January 6, 2021, uprising at the United States Capitol.

Seven of those lawmakers — John Joyce, Mike Kelly, Daniel Meuser, Scott Perry, Guy Reschenthaler, Lloyd Smucker and Glenn Thompson — are now up for re-election.

How dare they!

Heading into the Nov. 3 election, poll after poll, Biden had a double-digit lead. New evidence also reveals that Trump‘s own data expert told him he was going to lose.

After the election, at least 11 aides and close confidants told Trump there was no fraud and there was no way to void the election. The conservative Supreme Court rejected Trump’s absurd legal argument. Several senior Justice Department officials, including AG Bill Barr, reviewed the fraud allegations and determined that the allegations were false.

The coup attempt and January 6 insurgency were based on lies and unsubstantiated accusations of voter fraud by the Trump administration, and irresponsible acquiescence by Republican members of Congress. They fanned the flames of unrest and are responsible for helping to create the divisions that currently plague this country.

None of the Pennsylvania Sevens have explained or apologized for voting to reject the state-certified results of the Pennsylvania and Arizona state elections that led to the deadly insurgency. Not one confirmed his oath of office.

If your representative is Joyce, Kelly, Meuser, Perry, Reschenthaler, Smucker or Thompson, do not send him back to Congress. Send him packing!

Gary Gittings, State College

Benninghoff ‘hissy fit’ delayed the process

It’s good news that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed challenges to the State House district lines as established by the Legislative Redistribution Commission (LRC). Finally, candidates know their districts and can start circulating their nomination petitions to start their campaigns.

Approval of district lines should not have gone to court at all! Recall that Republican Legislative Leader Kerry Benninghoff was actually on the five-member LRC panel, but was outvoted on the exact map that was just approved.

It should have ended. But Benninghoff, unwilling to accept an honest vote (sound familiar?), had a nervous breakdown and sued to overturn the map approved by his own commission, delaying the whole process. Fortunately, the Supreme Court is made up of adults and dismissed the Benninghoff case.

Kerry Benninghoff has served in the state legislature for 25 years — and he still hasn’t learned what democracy is or how to play well with others.

It is long past its expiration date.

Gina Leon, State College

Vote against veterans

What is the value of American veterans to the country? Not so much if you check the voting records of GT Thompson (15th District) and Fred Keller (12th District), our congressional representatives.

A bipartisan bill has passed the House that would expand health care for veterans who were exposed to toxins while serving. Some veterans have had cancer, chronic bronchiolitis and emphysema, as a result of serving the country in unhealthy environments. Critics of the bill fear too many veterans would qualify and it would cost too much. There is a simple and obvious solution to this “problem”. The real question is why wouldn’t a country use all of its resources to protect the soldiers who would fight and die for us? Is the “value” in lives or money? A good question for Thompson and Keller, “Why did you vote against veterans health care?”

It’s like… like… I can’t even think of a metaphor for the actions of these reps.

Janet Friel, State College