Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.
State’s largesse shows
no signs of slowing
With the California deficit at a whopping $68 billion, the largesse of our governor shows no sign of a slowdown. He just committed almost $3 billion more by offering free health benefits to all undocumented immigrants.
California’s Constitution requires that lawmakers pass a state budget that is balanced, meaning they will be required to make changes to this year’s budget to account for the projected deficit.
Maybe they’ll cut funds from the San Francisco to Los Angeles bullet train that is now estimated to cost some $128 billion, about three times what voters signed up for? Either way, keep this in mind when you go to the polls.
Jon Rego
Clayton
Congress has established
14th Amendment case
In reference to ineligibility for elective office, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment ends, “But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.” Congress has already imposed that “disability.”
The reason for the second impeachment of former President Trump and the reason for exclusion by the 14th Amendment are the same. The key word in both is “insurrection.” When the House of Representatives voted to impeach Donald Trump, it simultaneously satisfied the requirement of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for disqualification. When the Senate voted, it failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed for impeachment, but its majority vote satisfied the requirement of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for disqualification. Hence, Donald Trump is not eligible for re-election.
Edward McCaskey
Dublin
Trump’s Jan. 6 misdeeds
weren’t ‘official duties’
Donald Trump says his actions before and during Jan. 6 were part of his presidential duties.
As president, he had tens of thousands of civil servants to execute his projects and directives. But instead of using those civil servants, as all presidents do, he summoned nongovernment people to execute his “duty.” Why would he do that if the project was a legitimate governmental function? He wouldn’t, because it wasn’t.
He summoned and riled up a violent mob to execute an insurrection. That’s not part of a president’s duties.
Jeanie Egbert
Alameda
Eliminating Electoral
College is a heavy lift
Related Articles
Letters: Violent crime | High-speed losses | Provoking liberals | Worst instincts
Letters: Water consumers | Property crime | Medi-Cal coverage
Letters: Football option | Wages over tips | Verify Trump
Letters: Dig deeper | PG&E ads | Insurance markets
Letters: No compassion | Reagan’s ‘ideals’
Re: “Why do we hang on to Electoral College?” (Page A7, Dec. 26).
Richard Maurer proposes that Congress abolish the Electoral College.
While I generally agree with the writer, there is a huge obstacle. Because the exact mechanism for the selection of the U.S. president is specified in the Constitution, any change to that method can be achieved only by a constitutional amendment ratified by two-thirds of the state legislatures.
I doubt that many legislatures will agree to give up the power they now hold.
Mark Peters
Walnut Creek
+ There are no comments
Add yours