Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Cuts in flags, markers dishonor our veterans
Are American Legions going to be compelled to pick and choose which veterans to honor?
To recognize the sacrifices of our veterans on Memorial Day always has been a great honor for American Legions, but that tradition is threatened. Due to budget cuts, the county is not providing Legions with the flags and flag holders needed to recognize all of our deceased veterans in cemeteries throughout the region.
Legions will, this year, get a reduced allotment of flags to place on graves and no flag holders at all. After further inquiry, the reduction will be between 5 percent and 10 percent. (It is still undecided.) In the case of Andrew Lawrence American Legion Post 644 in Swoyersville, that will be approximately 95 to 195 fewer flags this year. It is unthinkable that some graves will be left unmarked. What if it turns out to be your family member, friend or fellow comrade?
It is time to unite against this disgrace. Contact your elected officials. Together, perhaps we can stop this slap in the face to our veterans and their families.
Yes, these flags can be purchased; but American Legions are nonprofit organizations that depend on donations and fundraising. This added, unexpected burden cannot be afforded by most posts.
Cindy R. Kuhns
Commander, Post 644
Swoyersville
Shout and jump for joy, for Easter has arrived
Please do not report Easter as a “solemn commemoration,” as was written Monday in “5 Things You Need to Know This Week.” The word “solemn” implies an observance that is somber, serious and grave. Easter is not solemn.
Easter is when Christians shout, “Alleluia!” Alleluia means, “Yippee!”
So solemn does not apply. Easter egg hunts and candy have spun off of Easter because Easter is a celebration. If the writer is looking for a solemn commemoration of the death of Jesus, Good Friday would work.
Solemn is healthy and appropriate at times. But keep the solemn talk away from Easter.
When Christians attend services on Easter morning, they will be shouting for joy.
By the way, the Christian Sabbath is on Sunday, because Easter happened on Sunday. Sunday is the day Jesus rose from the dead. That makes every Sunday Easter. Every Sunday morning is a celebration of his empty tomb. So pass the candy and shout.
Robert G. Wood
Pastor
Dallas United Methodist Church
Private lottery manager will help secure revenue
When it comes to creating a more secure financial future, there’s just no substitute for planning ahead.
That’s exactly what Pennsylvania aims to do through Gov. Tom Corbett’s initiative to ensure Pennsylvania Lottery-funded programs for older adults can keep up with the huge wave of baby boomers nearing eligibility age.
To be better prepared to serve those residents, we’re exploring establishing a private-management agreement for the lottery. The Pennsylvania Lottery performs well, but we must find ways to maximize its performance. We need to tap private-sector innovation to make all parts of state government work more efficiently and effectively.
The Pennsylvania Lottery is the nation’s only lottery that exclusively benefits older residents, and that will not change. It supports vital programs that include low-cost prescriptions, property tax relief, free and reduced-fare transit, long-term living services and a myriad of social, educational and recreational programs and services provided through 52 Area Agencies on Aging and hundreds of senior community centers.
Pennsylvania is home to nearly 2 million people older than 65, more than 300,000 of whom are 85 or older. By 2030, nearly a quarter of the state’s population will be older than 65, and the 85-plus population is expected to grow by 80,000 people.
Over the last five years, lottery net profits have grown an average of only 0.3 percent per year. In addition, the lottery’s net revenue is projected to grow about 1 percent, on average, per year through fiscal year 2014-15, which is not likely to keep pace with cost increases and demand for current programs.
A private-management agreement offers the potential to secure a more predictable and reliable funding source, which would ensure the continued strength and availability of Pennsylvania’s services for older adults.
The decision to establish a private-management agreement will not be made quickly or on a whim. First, we’re asking interested parties to demonstrate their operational integrity, financial stability and lottery management experience. Then, we’ll engage in a phase of due diligence in which prospective bidders would gain an understanding of the lottery and the state would assess the capabilities of prospective bidders and explore a private-management agreement. If the state determines a private-management agreement is in the best interest of the lottery, prospective bidders would be invited to submit financial bids and a private manager could then be selected.
Importantly, the Pennsylvania Lottery would not be sold. The commonwealth and Department of Revenue would maintain ultimate control and authority over the Pennsylvania Lottery to ensure responsible growth and advance the lottery’s unchanging mission to fund programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians.
Given the respect and confidence that players, retailers and other stakeholders have in the lottery’s integrity, value and success, we take seriously our responsibility to ensure the Pennsylvania Lottery can continue to deliver on its promise to serve the needs of older adults.
Dan Meuser
Secretary of Revenue
and
Brian Duke
Secretary of Aging
Harrisburg
County council resolution disapproves of Act 13
Act 13 amending Pennsylvania’s Gas and Oil Act was recently passed by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Tom Corbett. Act 13 has many aspects that are detrimental to our communities and residents.
Each county can decide if it wants to impose Marcellus Shale impact fees on gas drillers. Soon the Luzerne County Council will consider that option.
Regardless of whether the council decides to impose impact fees, it already has passed the following resolution:
“That the Luzerne County Council publicly state its disapproval of the enactment of Act 13 by Pennsylvania’s legislative and executive branches, and
“That Luzerne County support the efforts of other governmental entities and other organizations to challenge the constitutionality of Act 13.”
We urge others to express their opinions on this matter to state legislative officials and the governor.
James Bobeck
Chair
Linda McClosky Houck
Vice Chair
Ed Brominski
Elaine Maddon Curry
Harry Haas
Eugene Kelleher
Tim McGinley
Rick Morelli
Stephen A. Urban
Stephen J. Urban
and
Rick Williams
Luzerne County Council
Send us your opinion
Letters to the editor must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number for verification. Letters should be no more than 250 words. We reserve the right to edit and limit writers to one published letter every 30 days.
• Email: mailbag@www.timesleader.com
• Fax: 570-829-5537
• Mail: Mail Bag, The Times Leader, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 1871 1