Letters: ‘Dishonest’ bill would make fair districts impossible; Penn State professor should be reinstated

‘Dishonest’ bill would make fair districts impossible

I’m writing to express my opposition to the HB 2207, the Republican plan to change the way state legislative districts are drawn.

For two decades, Republicans in the PA House and Senate have benefited from some of the most gerrymandered legislative districts in the country. Now they are angry because the Legislative Reapportionment Committee is about to adopt fair election districts that only give them a slight advantage and doesn’t prioritize incumbent protection.

The only process to draw election districts Republicans will accept is one that makes it impossible for them to lose control of the PA House and Senate. House Bill 2207 would create a fake “citizens redistricting commission” that would be under control of legislative leaders. And it gives the incumbent House and Senate members the ultimate power to draw their own districts.

This bill is the most cynical, dishonest, and unprincipled piece of legislation in the history of the PA General Assembly. If only one party can win elections, we do not live in a democracy but under tyranny.

Our state representative must vote against House Bill 2207.

Penn State professor should be reinstated

We write as Penn State faculty who participated in the Student-Faculty Unity Rally to Vaccinate Penn State at Old Main on Aug. 27, 2021. Around 200 people, mostly faculty and students, attended the rally, which was disrupted by a student counter-protester who arrived shouting, holding a sign with threatening and homophobic images. This counter-protester circled through the crowd, pushing through students and faculty, and forced his way to the front to scream over the speakers. Many were afraid he posed a threat to our safety. A group of rally participants, including our faculty colleague Oliver Baker, attempted to peacefully usher this student away from the speakers to a safe location, but the student became increasingly aggressive and physical. Other witnesses shared that he pushed Dr. Baker and shoved others trying to assist. The counter-protester only left when university police arrived and escorted him away.

None of us were surprised that Professor Baker stepped up to help: It is part of his character to intervene for a just cause. Yet the university administration is now threatening to terminate him for his attempts to protect the safety of peaceful attendees — even though most charges against him were dismissed, and he was found not guilty of the one remaining charge in a court of law. The administration’s actions are inexcusable and an indication that it aims to punish those who call into question and challenge its unsound health policies. We call on the university administration to reinstate Professor Baker and end this injustice.

Trio shows all that’s wrong with today’s politics

It’s sad what’s become of the three elected representatives most closely identified with Centre County: Glenn Thompson, Jake Corman, Kerry Benninghoff.

Each has succumbed to the perks of his office and has put vicious and dishonest party politics ahead of state and country. If you want to know what’s wrong with American politics today, you need look no further.

Thompson, in Congress since 2002, voted for Trump’s tax cuts for the 1%, but prides himself in how many times he voted against the Affordable Care Act, which would provide health coverage to millions of Americans, including many in his rural District. He’s proud of how many Eagle Scout badges he’s handed out, but violated his oath of office by voting against certifying the electoral votes, and thereby voted for the insurrection.

Corman, State Senator since 1998, has killed every attempt at openness and disclosure of lobbyist payments to legislators. Despite zero evidence of fraud, he continues his sham audit of the last election, while teeing up to steal the next one.

Kerry Benninghoff, State Representative since 1997, joined Corman in meddling with the election results. Now he’s claiming the redistricting committee he served on is unfair and wants a PA Constitutional amendment so that future redistricting will be done only by the PA Legislature, the most partisan body possible. He’s the poster child for gerrymandering.

Collectively they have been in office for 70 years. Collectively they are doing their best to destroy American democracy.