Balancing the books

Re "Obama sets stage for budget battle," Feb. 15

To say this administration spends money like a drunken sailor is unfair to sailors. The proposed $3.7-trillion budget has a deficit of $1.1 trillion. For the mathematically challenged, nearly 30% of the money the Obama administration proposes to spend is borrowed.

How can the president call that kind of spending a tough choice? Where are those who said that George W. Bush's $400-billion or $500-billion deficits were wrecking the economy?

Why not spend only the money the government takes in, just like the citizens have to do? Take it from a guy who does that now: It's not tough; it's prudent and necessary. If I need extra money and print it, I'll go to jail for counterfeiting, as well I should.

Keep up this type of reckless spending and say hello to our new Third World status.

Tim Luckett

Rancho Cucamonga

That was an interesting photo of Obama explaining his proposed budget to Baltimore schoolchildren. I guess he was practicing talking to the House's GOP majority.

Bill Dietsch

Santa Barbara

Re "California would feel the squeeze," Feb. 15

Obama's budget would do more harm than good for California. The administration proposes cuts to everything from reimbursements for incarcerating illegal immigrants to water treatment projects; this adds more pressure to our fragile economy.

As the funds provided by the federal government decrease, more working-class people will have to do without the programs they once depended on and the cash-strapped state will have to make do with even less.

It makes me wonder how many more cuts California can take; this state has dealt with budget cuts for years, and the same patterns of fiscal mismanagement keep occurring year after year.

Katrina Rehrer

Chino Hills

Attacking women's rights

Re "House Republicans see timely target in Planned Parenthood," Feb. 11

This article underscores House Republicans' attempts to push an ideological agenda under the guise of saving money. The proposed bills would actually end up costing money, because for every dollar invested in family planning, $3.74 in Medicaid-related expenses is saved, according to the government.

Indiana Republican Rep. Mike Pence's legislation would block funding that provides basic preventive healthcare. Americans elected these leaders to fix the economy and create jobs, but instead they are using this opportunity to push a social agenda.

In these hard economic times, cutting money-saving preventive healthcare programs affects millions of low-income women and their families across the country.

Elizabeth Tauro

Pacific Palisades

Pence and others in Congress are linking themselves with a discredited activist group, Live Action, to disable Roe vs. Wade without the lengthy process of a court or legislative battle. This is bad public policy.

Planned Parenthood uses no federal funds for abortion-related services. In fact, many Planned Parenthood clinics provide no abortions at all; what they do provide is a broad range of reproductive health services for men and women.

Eliminating the national family planning program would result in millions of women across the country losing access to such basic healthcare as cancer screenings, contraception, HIV testing and counseling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and annual exams.

The long-term effects on our healthcare system would be enormous.

Julia Springer

Summerland, Calif.

Because Planned Parenthood supplies basic healthcare as well as needed family planning services to women, it is an indispensable organization.

I consider the Republican position on defunding it a direct attack on women. Bravo for Democratic support of women's rights!

Dorothy Boberg

Northridge

They play, then we pay

Re "The story behind a congressman's downfall," Feb. 13

The damage done by Washington politicos engaging in improper sexual activities has repercussions beyond the loss of public confidence. The latest Republican scandal concerns the Craigslist toe-tapper Christopher Lee.

New York must now hold a special election to replace the contrite Lee. That cost must be borne by the taxpayers. The government response for future misbehavior by elected officials might be that if a person leaves office for reasons of moral turpitude, he or she should bear at least part of the cost of a special election.

The possibility that an elected official's behavior will no longer get a free pass might be an inducement to grow up.

Larry Stauch

Fullerton

Your article on the resignation of Lee neglects to mention that the former congressman is a supporter of "don't ask, don't tell" and of preventing federal dollars being used for abortions. He earned an 88% approval rating from the American Conservative Union for his votes.

This is interesting because it points out what is rapidly becoming a truism: The more fervently a legislator advocates meddling in the personal lives of others, the more certain it is you'll soon hear his belt buckle hitting the floor under tawdry circumstances.

Steve Hoffmann

Redondo Beach

Library aid

Re "No on Measure L," Editorial, Feb. 14

Your editorial mentions the value of the Los Angeles public library system to rich and poor alike, as well as the devastation that it has suffered in the city's budget crisis.

It's baffling, then, that you advise a no vote on Measure L, which would amend the charter to raise the amount of revenue dedicated to the library.

You say that the City Council and the mayor "should be able to find a way to meet the library system's needs without being forced to do so." That was certainly not the case last year, when the library suffered layoffs and shortened hours. Unless Measure L passes, the situation for L.A. libraries will only get worse.

Gandhi said that the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Similarly, the greatness of a society can be judged by how well it supports its public library. Los Angeles needs a strong library.

Eva Mitnick

Venice

A magical actress

Re "Actress starred in musicals, comedies," Obituary, Feb. 13

Heaven has gained a dazzling new light as we mourn the passing of an exceptional talent and genuine star, Betty Garrett. As one placed onto an ongoing blacklist, her courage to overcome the virtual destruction of her career and rise from its ashes has been a great inspiration to me for many years.

To those of us blessed with the curse of being singers or dancers, her film and stage performances are still magic as she walks on the stars above us.

Craig Carr

West Hills

GPS talk

Re "They drive us up the wall," Column One, Feb. 9

I named my GPS Agnes because she irritates me so much. I do have to admit she took me through Italy all right, although with some detours, and I always have an interesting itinerary when I use her.

We've had some interesting arguments, until I realize I'm talking to a gadget and I start to laugh. It makes the trip interesting though.

Jo Ann Michetti

Rancho Palos Verdes