Letters: Reasons for opposing SPPA; Credit goes to Biden

Reasons for opposing SPPA

My vote against the SPPA centers around three themes: principle, control and environmental impacts.

On principle, consultants hired with taxpayer money must meet the highest standards. The legal team drafting SPPA contracts exceeded their hard budget limit of $165,000 by 51% ($83,342). This overrun lacked a thorough explanation, and raised serious concerns about process integrity. Budgets exist for a reason, and exceeding them without specific, tangible justification undermines public trust. Retroactively approving overspending without accountability sets a dangerous precedent.

The Borough could generate nearly 63% (1.7 MW) of its annual energy needs through solar panels on municipal property, as others in the region have done. By signing this 15-year SPPA, the Borough is relinquishing significant control over its electricity consumption. This set 15-year contract limits flexibility to pursue potentially cheaper or more effective energy options, if they become available in the future.

The proposed solar project will spread across more than 100 acres of Centre County farmland. Alternatives, such as rooftop solar, have proven successful without occupying valuable land, as shown by the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority. A constituent recently asked, when considering official action, if I am acting as a good ancestor to our Earth. I believe I am by opposing this project and advocating for other renewable energy solutions that preserve our farmland.

While I know my vote will not be supported by all, please know it reflects due diligence and a prioritization of ethics, accountability and sustainability.

Credit goes to Biden

Joe Biden has been a good President. He deserves a lot of credit. Not long ago, most analysts predicted a recession by now. Instead, we are the only major economy where output is above pre-pandemic trends. Unemployment is 4%, well below the average of the last 30 years. Inflation is set to return to the fed’s target of 2% annual pace. The only concern seems to be that this is too good to be true.

But, it is true.

Surely, Donald Trump will take full credit for our strong economy in 2025, but credit goes to Biden. The question becomes, how will Trump keep the economy strong?

He has vowed to unleash a wave of deregulation, aka “drill baby drill,” and reduce taxes. That would bring more debt. When he raises tariffs, and returns millions of illegal immigrants (promises of his election campaign) he raises the cost of imports and reduces the number of workers. These moves will increase inflation.

But 2025 will be a good year, economically, and then it’s a “downward” trend.

So, thanks Joe. You’ve done well, made some very tough decisions, and got most of them right.

Thompson doesn’t care about workers

In his latest email to constituents, Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson once again shows that he sides with business over workers.

He criticized the Biden administration’s actions in getting the Department of Labor to finalize a rule that increased the threshold for overtime pay to salaried employees, claiming it will burden businesses and employers throughout Pennsylvania. He then applauded a U.S. District Court decision against the rule, arguing that current law offers “benefits to lower-level employees, and that any significant changes to these standards should be reviewed and approved by Congress.”

So, why isn’t he doing anything in his capacity as a member of Congress to improve benefits for those “lower-level employees”? Thompson continually laments the high cost of living and regularly — and inappropriately — blames the Biden administration for pandemic-related price increases. But, when he has the opportunity to help his working-class constituents, he does nothing.

Since he’s been head of the House Agriculture Committee, big agribusiness has grown fatter while family farmers and people of his district suffer. It’s no surprise that Thompson’s largest donors are corporate agriculture firms — or that Thompson’s controversial Farm Bill provides generous farm subsidies (corporate welfare) to America’s wealthiest farmers. Commodity crops such as peanuts, rice, wheat and cotton, are poised to receive the highest subsidy increases of all while small farmers, consumers and those in the SNAP program who need food assistance are short-changed.

Why are we paying him $174,000 plus benefits and expenses?

Reject the MAGA plan

The topsy-turvy Trump administration plans to replace dedicated civil servants with loyalists and billionaire donors.

The MAGA plan?

Tear down the smoothly functioning Civil Service System established decades ago to eliminate corruption, nepotism, cronyism, and unqualified employees in the agencies of the United States and establish a Trump-MAGA Deep State.

Ask your Senators to reject Trump’s unqualified appointments to our military, national security, and law enforcement agencies.

Seniors who worked their entire lives for the American dream may soon see that dream disappear as their Social Security retirement is ripped away to benefit the wealthy.

Ask your Senators and Representatives to protect and fully fund Social Security and Medicare.

Seniors have paid into these programs their entire working careers and do not deserve to have their hard earned benefits cut.

Trump’s tariffs will drive up prices on everything from Easter eggs to elevators.

Ask for responsible fiscal policies and a rejection of tariffs on our close trading partners.

I hope my predictions of hard times for the average American under the MAGA Deep State is wrong.

American’s must make it clear to our elected officials that Trump’s “make the rich richer” plan is not what we voted for.