Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 20, 1994 TAG: 9402210317
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Jan. 13 news story by staff writer Leslie Taylor, ```No idea what I'm going to do''': Some 200 students of Career Training Centers arrived for classes to find the centers closed. No more money. Several students were within weeks of achieving the certificate that would secure them employment and a ticket off welfare.
Immediately above that news story was ``Teen-birth battle begins'' by staff writer Beth Macy: Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge seeks some of the monies ($4 million asked) going to other parts of the state for programs aimed at preventing teen pregnancy.
That same day, an editorial, ``Don't kill Office on Youth,'' expresses fears that a state-funded agency of one full-time and one part-time staff might be cut. This office works to coordinate and find grants for youth-concerned agencies to provide training programs, life skills, court services and more. Efforts to respond to youth at risk.
It's ironic that these all appeared the same day. Then, in the Feb. 5 edition, there appeared a news story, ``Roanoke runs out of federal subsidy for child day care'' by staff writer Leslie Taylor. This is a child-care subsidy for low-income women who are working, but can't afford all of the day-care costs. With no subsidy, they'll leave hard-to-find jobs and be again on welfare.
What's going on? Good programs helping youth and families get off welfare, be employed, try to make it on their own - and there's no more money? Then we ask for more money for yet another program? I have nothing but good things to say for Planned Parenthood and know it could handle programs that would help young teens find options to pregnancy and welfare. But another $4 million when solid, working programs are drying up and leaving young lives stranded?
ELIZABETH B. NICHOLS
GOODVIEW
Allen committed to keeping promises
GOV. GEORGE Allen's decision to make good on his campaign promise to compensate Virginia's federal retirees for the illegal state taxes they were made to pay on their annuities prior to 1989 is fair and forthright.
Unfortunately, this newspaper (Jan. 10 editorial, ``Wimpiness on retirees' taxes'') characterizes his decision as ``wimpy'' and calls on him to break campaign promises made to federal retirees. The grave and costly injustice done in this illegal taxation would only be compounded if the governor were to take this newspaper's advice.
The argument that reimbursing federal retirees would make it harder to fund ``such public purposes as education, prisons, transportation or economic development'' conveniently ignores the fact that for a number of years illegal taxes collected from Virginia's federal retirees' annuities were used for public expenditures to benefit all Virginians. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled these taxes to be illegal, Virginia became obligated to provide some form of relief. Of course, the state did nothing. Gov. Allen's decision to comply with the court's ruling is a refreshing change from the position of his predecessor and his gubernatorial-campaign challenger.
Contrary to this newspaper's editorial, the federal pension-tax issue is a matter of fundamental equity. State retirees were exempted from paying state income taxes on their annuities while federal retirees were illegally taxed. Virginia's federal retirees don't want to bankrupt the state or be a burden to other taxpayers. All they want is that which they have legally coming to them.
Your editorial states, ``Perhaps, eventually, Virginia may have to pay up. But why cry `Uncle Sam' before you have to?'' Justice will only be served when federal retirees receive a fair and equitable settlement. Gov. Allen's decision to move forward with a timely settlement should be applauded, particularly in light of this newspaper's seeming disregard for justice and the keeping of promises.
AL J. GOLATO
Vice President
National Association of Retired Federal Employees
WASHINGTON
Sylvia Clute's 'fresh air' campaign
IN THE past, the drawn-out Robb-Wilder drama-scandal crowded off news pages in Southwest Virginia the name and activities of Sylvia Clute. She has no scandal to give her publicity and name-recognition with the public beyond the Richmond area where she's made her mark of distinction. She's running for the Senate this year.
She has diverse experience in the public and private sectors. She was in the Peace Corps, worked in labor relations for the federal government, was the first female attorney employed by Reynolds Metals, has a private law practice in Richmond, and founded and served as chair of the board of the Women's Bank with spectacular success.
Her new, creative ideas for developing jobs relating to the environment will be helpful as the nation realizes that industry and environmentalists can cooperate to the benefit of both, giving a healthy world for future generations. She believes this will be achieved by developing the skills of all our populace. She says, ``I want to bring us together in a partnership among individual citizens, neighborhoods and government and reclaim our circle of safety. Successful programs that bring neighborhoods together ... must be expanded.''
Watch for more information about Ms. Clute and note what a breath of fresh air and ideas she brings to the political scene to recover the good name of Virginia.
CAROLYN P. WHITE
BLACKSBURG
An honor to vote for Col. North
WHY ARE liberal Democrats so up in arms against Col. Oliver North? They elected Don Beyer as lieutenant governor, and everyone knows he spent $1 million or more in television ads lying about Mike Farris. As if Sen. Robb's character flaws weren't bad enough, he allowed his aides to illegally tape Douglas Wilder's telephone conversation.
When political leaders such as Sen. John Warner lash out against their fellow party members, they aren't worthy of our votes!
This situation with North was difficult as he was obligated to remain loyal to his commander in chief. He's a hero who loves God, his country and his family. I feel it will be an honor for me to serve as a delegate in the Republicans' June convention, and our state would be best represented with North's leadership.
ERNESTINE B. FRITH
RADFORD
Take closer look at gun-death figures
IN THE Jan. 28 edition of this newspaper, a news article gave a figure of 38,317 firearm-related deaths in 1991 (``Guns race automobiles in death toll'' from the Knight-Ridder Newspaper).
I believe this is a meaningless figure. In the first place, the article doesn't give a source for the figure. If from Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics, it's no doubt correct. If from some organization such as Handgun Control, Inc., it's suspect.
Although nearly all in the news media, in their unseemly anti-gun frenzy, welcome such figures as aiding their abolish-guns cause, this total should be examined. How many of these deaths are justifiable homicides by police in exercising their duties, or justifiable homicides by people defending their lives and those of their families? How many are suicides? How many are murders of gang members by other gang members? Are these totally undesirable?
The news media should be careful about making a part of the Constitution obsolete. When the Second Amendment is gone, you can be sure the First will be the next target of those who think free speech isn't in their plans for the future.
ANTON M. DECKER
MARION
Taxpayers paid for child abuse
RECENTLY I discovered that I had been involved in child abuse (Feb. 3 Chicago Tribune story, ``19 kids found living in squalor''). Keeping 19 children in subhuman conditions and bringing another into those same depraved conditions! At least 25 human beings were living in a one-bedroom apartment, the children huddled together like litters of unwanted pups with only soiled diapers or underwear.
The apartment rented for $380 per month, of which the full amount was rarely paid. The little bit of food in the place was fought over by the children and the dog. There were six women involved with these children, at least three presumably receiving forever-ongoing welfare checks and food stamps. Presumably, the 20th child (probably the other 19 as well) was delivered free of charge to the mother through Medicaid.
Other than the ultimate child abuse (abortion), these children were abused in every sense of the word. My tax money also may have gone for drugs. (At least one child was a ``crack baby.'') Then my tax money went for the welfare agencies running this operation and also for the police whose resources are being severely strained by the drug scene. Does any of this make sense?
WALLY GEIGER
TROUTVILLE
by CNB