Letters: Hypocrisy and public trust; Respect for Marriage Act votes indefensible

Hypocrisy and public trust

Once again Congressman Glenn Thompson has displayed his hypocrisy.

In a statement on his website he calls for the resignation of PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian because she spent money on a proposal, subsequently shot down by the courts, to add tolls to certain bridges in Pennsylvania to raise badly needed money for repairs.

Further, according to Thompson, she refused to take questions from legislators at a “field hearing.”

Thompson concludes that Secretary Gramian “has violated both the law and the public’s trust and should resign immediately.”

But just eight months ago Thompson voted against President Biden’s infrastructure plan, which PennDOT described as “the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century.” Keep in mind that Pennsylvania has over 3,300 bridges and over 7,500 miles of highway in poor condition. Now Thompson blasts PennDOT for trying another way to find the money. Does he think the bridges will repair themselves?

Worse, Thompson thinks we forget that on Jan. 6 he voted against certifying the electoral votes and the peaceful transfer of power to a legitimately elected Joe Biden. He voted to destroy American democracy and refuses to take questions explaining why from the public at an open town hall meeting.

Thompson has a lot of nerve calling for Secretary Gramian’s resignation for violating the law and the public’s trust. He’s guilty of far worse.

Thompson is the one who should resign. Immediately.

Respect for Marriage Act votes indefensible

This week, the House of Representatives passed the Respect for Marriage Act, which would provide federal protection for same-sex marriage. Marriage equality became the law of the land after a 2015 Supreme Court decision. However, the court’s recent reversal of Roe v. Wade indicates that marriage equality might be next on the chopping block; the Respect for Marriage Act would protect against such a move. However, Representatives Fred Keller and Glenn Thompson voted against protecting the right for same-sex couples to marry.

Keller commented on his nay-vote, saying that the bill “deals in issues that are best left to the states” and that “it is not the role of Congress to legislate and control all aspects of Americans’ daily lives.”

Keller’s logic behind the bill proves deeply troubling. If marriage equality became a “states’ rights” issue, many same-sex couples would find themselves as newly second-class citizens in the places they call home. The outcome would give rise to an administrative nightmare for state governments and throw the health insurance policies, inheritance plans, and mental well-being of same-sex couples into jeopardy — not to mention what should be our right to marry who we love in whatever state we want.

In opposing the Respect for Marriage Act, Representatives Keller and Thompson signified their disregard for the dignity of gay and lesbian Americans, including myself. The Supreme Court’s recent reversal of Roe v. Wade demonstrates that our rights are hanging on by a thread, and our representatives in Congress seem ready to cut away.