By Tribune-Review

Published: Sunday, January 20, 2013, 11:20 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The ink wasn't even dry on the Keith Rothfus' election certificate when he took one for the team — not his voters of 12th Congressional District team, but for the “Club for Growth” team run by his mentor, Grover Norquist. Thanks to Raymond Anthony for pointing that out in his Jan. 14 letter, “Rothfus' first vote.”

During the campaign, Rothfus apparently never visited Millvale, Fawn Township, Tarentum or other Alle-Kiski Valley communities devastated by Mother Nature in recent years. If he had, he would have told Norquist to “visit my turf and see why I can't vote against aid to victims of Sandy.”

Who does Rothfus owe allegiance to — Norquist or the residents of the 12th District? Never mind, his vote answered that.

Like Mr. Anthony said, God forbid this area gets hammered again by Mother Nature — the Allegheny doesn't spill over its banks or heavy snow creates the kind devastation it has in the past in so many municipalities of the 12th District. Can you possibly imagine our former congressmen, Mark Critz or Jason Altmire, voting no on an issue like aid to those victims still homeless?

No matter how you try to color it, Mr. Rothfus, your first vote was embarrassing to the people of your district. Of the more than 400 representatives, you were one of only 60 who voted no. Whatever your rationale and your priorities, clearly Western Pennsylvania wasn't among either.

Last fall's TV campaign ads were quite negative, but even more accurate. When we need assistance pumping out basements, let's make our first call to Rothfus; our second to Norquist.

Gerald R. Shuster

Kittanning

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