Letters: Mayors support Lipinski
September 22, 2012 12:32AM
Updated: October 24, 2012 6:14AM
In the 16 months since the state Legislature passed the new congressional map, there has been a lot of discussion about what the new representation will mean for Will County.
As mayors of municipalities in Will County, we wanted to share with your readers our very encouraging experiences with one of these congressmen, Dan Lipinski. Congressman Lipinski has not only shown great interest in our communities, but has already been helpful in addressing major issues that face our residents.
Congressman Lipinski regularly meets with us and, most important, local residents. He has not only visited with us in our city halls to ask about local issues and how he can help, he has attended many parades, community picnics, festivals, Rotary Club and chamber of commerce meetings, veterans events and senior programs. He even held a job fair at Lockport Township High School.
Dan Lipinski’s position as northern Illinois’ most senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will certainly benefit the area.
Already, he has helped get Metra and CN to improve on-time performance on the Heritage Corridor and he is working to add service to the line.
Last year, he brought the head of the FAA’s Airports Division to Lewis University Airport to meet with local officials and discuss plans for the airport’s future and how it can stimulate further economic growth and job creation in nearby communities.
The visit by Christa Fornarotto, the FAA’s associate administrator for airports, was the first by such a high-level FAA official in memory. And early next year, thanks to passage of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill that Lipinski helped write earlier this year, $2.4 million in federal money will be spent to resurface a runway at our airport.
The future success of our communities and of Will County is critical to each of us. Dan Lipinski has shown us that he understands the concerns of local residents and will stand up for all the constituents in his congressional district. We understand he is scouting several sites for a district office in the area, which is further evidence that Dan Lipinski is making Will County a top priority.
Crest Hill Mayor Ray Soliman
Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves
Lockport Mayor Dev Trivedi
Romeoville Mayor John Noak
Birth control hypocrisy
Wheaton College wins the gold medal in the Olympics of hypocrisy, sanctimony and general false piety, for protesting the Affordable Care Act and its provision that employers provide birth control with a doctor’s prescription. Wheaton College made quite a stinky to-do about it. “Freedom of religion,” it cried.
But wait, Viagra anyone? Right-wing Christians generally expect wives to be submissive to their husbands in every way, if you know what I mean.
If Viagra-type products are provided by insurance, and wives are not allowed contraception choices, it basically means women are expected to be barefoot and pregnant — accentuate barefoot, since the economics of current times cannot support large families.
What a sexual double standard, but I digress.
As Wheaton College indignantly got its breeches in a bunch, it turns out it had been providing exactly such contraception for years to its employees. With a hasty, red-faced retreat, the college covered it up.
It still doesn’t want to discuss it, and it isn’t the only one. I could not find a single Christian publication that featured Wheaton College’s double-speak.
We expect institutions of faith to be honest and direct, but this story is as old as the hills. It reminds me of Jesus’ admonishment to the scribes and Pharisees, when he scolded them for pretending to be holy rather than keeping their hearts full of love and compassion.
Gloria Weidner
Wilmington
Blame the Republicans
In their arrogance, Republicans have shot themselves in the foot and handed Obama an election victory in November.
Over the past few days they have had their chance to cozy up to the Ron Paul supporters in hopes of bringing them into the fold. Instead, they have insulted them, ridiculed them, broken their own convention rules and made last-minute changes so their voices could not be heard.
Paul supporters are not going to vote for Romney. They actually see little difference between him and Obama. Instead, a lot of them won’t vote at all, and many of them will vote for Gary Johnson. So many, in fact, that it will tip the scales in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Nevada and Colorado.
Don’t blame the Paul supporters when this happens! Blame a Republican establishment set on warmongering, corporatism, deficit spending and a lack of respect for civil liberties.
Matt Sterba
Troy 21 precinct committeeman
Shorewood
