Letters to the Editor | June 19, 2025

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and his fellow Democrats have excoriated U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s security guards for having the audacity to remove him from her news conference in Los Angeles last week for rudely interrupting her to ask a question and continuing to shout at her as he was ejected. As Padilla well knows, the protocol at any news conference is to wait until the speaker has finished his or her remarks and then invites questions from members of the press (or other attendees) who are first acknowledged by the speaker. He later justified his interruption because Noem’s remarks “were too much to take.” Either Padilla and his supporters apparently think the rules don’t apply to him, or they thought Noem was testifying before Congress, where members routinely interrupt a witness to ask hostile questions.

Paul Kamenar, counsel, National Legal and Policy Center, Chevy Chase, Md.

The shameful treatment of U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla was further compounded by ABC’s reporting (via the news ticker) on Good Morning America the day after the incident with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The ticker referenced Padilla’s forcible removal and followed up with, “Critics say Sen. Padilla charged at Secretary Noem and did not immediately identify himself.” This is demonstrably untrue, as there is a tape of what happened that includes the senator identifying himself — and which ran on ABC News. So, how is the inclusion of that falsehood anything other than pandering? And how do we get major news outlets to fulfill their obligation to report the truth and leave the rumors and falsehoods to the current administration? I get they’re afraid of backlash, but standing up for what’s right is part of their mission and obligation. Isn’t it?

Paula Boffa-Taylor, Philadelphia

In a recent letter to the editor, Marc Stier of the Pennsylvania Policy Center states that research shows business taxes are not deterrents to economic growth. Quite the opposite, he adds. The city wage tax, currently about 3.5%, generates approximately $2 billion per year. May I suggest we double it to 7%, raise an additional $2 billion, and increase per-child spending in Philadelphia to $42,000 per student — up from the current $32,000 — for each of our 200,000 students? Then, Philadelphia will truly prosper.

Jeff Yass, Bala Cynwyd

Why isn’t Donald Trump attacking conservative institutions? Of course, it’s because he agrees with them. But maybe there’s another reason? Take Hillsdale College. It does not accept any financial support from the government, not even Pell Grants. It provides its own scholarships to needy students. Its only sources of funding are tuition and charity. Other colleges and universities are funded in the same manner, but they also accept money from federal and state governments. Of course, I can’t speak for Trump, but it’s possible he may believe the government should have a say in how its money is used.

Martin Cohen, Melrose Park

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