Letters to the Editor | June 26, 2024

The image of the U.S. Supreme Court has taken quite a hit recently. That could be rectified fairly and reasonably. How about having a court with an even number of justices and no more than half appointed by presidents from the same party? If a seat suddenly opens and the current president’s party already has half the seats, then the ranking member of the opposition in the House gets to nominate the replacement. Shouldn’t we do everything we can to best assure the chances of the highest court not ruling based on political considerations? Why would anyone from either side of the political spectrum object to such a structure?

Joseph Goldberg, Philadelphia

When Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Dobbs ruling, many pro-choice advocates bemoaned the decision, fearing new restrictions in access to abortion. However, the Supreme Court decision has resulted, counterintuitively, in even more abortions. Researchers estimate there were 1,037,000 abortions in the formal health-care system in 2023, an 11% increase since 2020 and the first time the nation recorded more than a million abortions since 2012. Most of these were the result of medications to induce abortion; one report found that medication abortions rose to 63% of all abortions in 2023, up from 53% in 2020.

I believe the court’s recent decision in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which allows continued access to the medications used in abortions, is deeply flawed, because it fails to take into account the many ways that those substances produce harmful effects. Under current FDA prescribing rules, medication can be used to end a pregnancy until 10 weeks’ gestation and can be prescribed through a virtual appointment. Two pills commonly used together for medication abortions can also cause a host of side effects, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. As a pro-life physician I object to the availability of these drugs for abortions, but since they are currently legal, do we really want women to decide for themselves on prescription drugs without an examination and fully informed consent that may have life-altering side effects?

Lester Ruppersberger, former president, Catholic Medical Association

Illegal dumping has been on the rise in Philadelphia in recent years as the city’s waste management system continues to recover from the pandemic. Waste being deposited in undesignated areas is increasingly prevalent in low-income neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s new $6.3 billion budget allocates millions of dollars toward sanitation efforts, including millions to combat illegal dumping. Parker’s plan would create a new cleanup project, hire more cleanup ambassadors, and extend resources to develop dedicated cleaning crews for each Council district. It is imperative the mayor continues her advocacy for street cleanup efforts in the coming year. The health of Philadelphia residents should be at the forefront of the minds of policymakers and elected officials statewide. Without continued efforts to end illegal dumping, people’s exposure to health hazards and unsanitary conditions will continue to increase. Thanks to The Inquirer for continuing to raise awareness about illegal dumping and its effects on our city.

Claire Campbell, Philadelphia

The last time a cost-of-living adjustment, known as COLA, was given to public sector employees in Pennsylvania was in 2001, although our legislators always find a way to give themselves a yearly raise. In November 2023, the House passed H.B. 1416 with bipartisan support giving only some beneficiaries an adjustment. Senate Bill 864 is more comprehensive. Both bills need to become a part of budget negotiations. The state budget is supposed to be finalized by June 30, so this is a critical time.

Every retired public sector employee who receives a state pension needs to contact his or her representative and senator and let them know that you expect them to vote for this long overdue raise. Those of us who retired before 2001 are working with 2001 dollars in a 2024 economy. Even newer retirees should be upset that our legislators think that letting 22 years pass without any adjustment is acceptable. Prior to 2001, these increases were issued every four or five years. The many thousands of us in this situation can be a powerful voting bloc if we make our voices heard.

Judith Farber, Philadelphia

A recent article paints a deeply distressing picture of thousands of Philadelphia students suffering from excess heat in our public schools. Sleeping through class is described as a survival strategy in the 67 district schools that still have no AC. With global temperatures steadily rising, the detrimental effect of heat on learning has been documented in a spate of studies. Early dismissal — a strategy increasingly employed by city schools — only worsens students’ heat-related learning deficits.

One solution is the use of geothermal energy to cool city classrooms. Several Philadelphia buildings, including Bartram’s Garden, the Ronald McDonald House, and German Society of Pennsylvania, currently use geothermal energy for both heating and air-conditioning. Based on a key recommendation in the 2021 BGW Business Diversification Study, PGW has been allocated $500,000 for a project to explore the provision of geothermal energy to its customers. This project was supported by the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability, as well as by many area climate and environmental groups. However, PGW’s launch of this project has been slow.

Public schools provide an ideal testing ground for geothermal, given their urgent need for air-conditioning and the availability of playgrounds, parking lots, and sports fields in which to perform the required drilling. As City Council examines PGW’s capital budget proposal, it should look at these two issues in tandem. PGW needs to reduce its carbon footprint, and Philadelphia’s students urgently need PGW to explore providing geothermal cooling of their classrooms.

Elaine Fultz, Philadelphia

Donald Trump and his followers fulminated against Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over the former president’s recent New York trial. They claimed Merchan was hostile to Trump because the judge’s daughter is a “Democratic political operative.” The collective GOP hand-wringing over Loren Merchan’s employment, and its supposed effect on her father’s impartiality should, barring hypocrisy and cowardice, result in similar GOP concern over the ProPublica report that nine witnesses in Trump’s criminal cases received emoluments such as large raises from his campaign, a severance package with an attached NDA, shares in Trump media, and new jobs with higher salaries. While this reeks of interference, the GOP can be trusted to claim that these were normal transactions, not evidence of wrongdoing. It will argue these incidents were as completely innocent as was Trump in the New York trial. Ignoring the possible corruption of witnesses underscores the amorality of Trump, his campaign, and his apple-polishers.

Stewart Speck, Ardmore

Senate Bill 269 was a simple tax credit for Pennsylvania EMTs. It emerged from the Senate Finance Committee on May 1 and was amended in Nominations and Rules to cut all Pa. personal income taxes from 3.07% to 2.80%. By its very nature, a flat tax is regressive and thus unfair to lower-income taxpayers. Only 11 states have flat income taxes, Pennsylvania is next to the lowest. Republican Senate leaders spent the last three months insisting that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposals would bankrupt the state in less than six years, then pivoted to pass the tax cut bill with no chance at public input or reasonable discussion.

Senate majority leaders’ top donor, Jeffrey Yass, has built a fortune by avoiding taxes. Yass’ donations are funneled through multiple PACs and Super PACs. He’s the sole donor to Students First PAC, which has given Majority Leader Joe Pittman and appropriations Chair Scott Martin $250,000 each so far this election cycle. A 10% cut on Yass’ $1 billion yearly income would be a handy $100 million, a good return on his 2023-24 $19 million investment in Pennsylvania campaigns.

Nancy Krablin, Downingtown

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