Our Westmoreland County commissioners let us down when covid-19 hit. Instead of helping to deal with the virus, they followed the Republican Party lead and politicized a public health issue, not encouraging us to wear masks even though doing so saves lives. It has been reported that had we had competent national leadership, 200,000 American lives could have been saved.
Now the Republicans are at it again, this time with our voting rights (“Westmoreland commissioner says county voters want end to no-excuse mail-in ballots, another disputes that,” March 23, TribLIVE). Doug Chew wants to make voting harder, and state Republicans have proposed at least 11 bills restricting voting. Nationwide as of February, 43 states have 253 proposed voter suppression bills. Some of these bills will allow state legislatures to have the authority to nullify elections, to take away our votes and place in leadership someone of their, not our, choice.
We know there was no massive voter fraud. None of the multiple court cases showed misdeeds. Many citizens work diligently to make certain we have free and fair elections.
The Republican responses to the covid-19 virus and the election results show a willful disregard for our wishes, health and well-being. They are not concerned with working for the American people but with maintaining their power.
We must end this abuse of power. Write to your government officials. Let them know we want voting rights expanded, not suppressed.
Katie Forsythe
North Huntingdon