Even in prison, Householder a burden on Ohio taxpayers | Letters

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder gets 20 years in prison at our expense. No doubt that is cheaper and better than having him and his Columbus cronies cook up more nefarious backroom-special-interest deals. Just think of all the money he'll be saving us now.

Paul Elliott, Loveland

Time to turn southern border over to private sector

As if the southern border crisis isn't enough evidence of how little attention our government is paying to the country's national security, we now find out that in 2022 there were over 850,000 foreigners who overstayed their visas. This comes barely two decades after Islamic terrorists exploited our inefficient system for tracking visa overstays and perpetrated the events of 9/11. We've spent billions of dollars attempting to correct the problem, but it's apparent that our government, the same one that wants to take over our nation's health care system, isn't up to the task. Maybe it's time to turn the project over to the private sector.

Stan Schauffner, West Chester Township

Supreme Court's ruling in LGBTQ case is a farce

The U.S. Supreme Court delivered several landmark decisions last week. The abolition of affirmative action in college admissions, the voiding of President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program and prioritizing the right of a website designer to refuse her services to a same-sex couple. All of these decisions will significantly change the American scene as long as they stand.

The cable news networks will debate the wisdom, fairness, equality and other future implications forever. And part of that debate will be how much the influence of political leanings had on the conservative members of the court. But, as we hear the give-and-take of "experts," depending on which news outlet you favor, I think it must be noted that one of these decisions demonstrates beyond any doubt where the Supreme Court’s head is.

The LBGTQ decision is a farce by all standards. First, there was no actual "perpetrator" who requested the website designer to design a site. Second, the Supreme Court does not accept "theoretical" cases. There must be an actual situation to be reviewed. Third, the lady who referred the case to SCOTUS has no legal standing to bring any legal action to any court at any level.

But the real "tell" here is that the Supreme Court addressed a fictitious situation without looking at any facts − because there were no facts to review. The conservative members simply responded with negative attitudes about the gay community and the political perspective they personally hold.

Try to imagine any court at any level considering even a traffic ticket charge without at least investigating the basics of what happened. You can’t − and yet the Supreme Court of America did just that. Even the most diehard conservatives need to be concerned because the court is clearly abandoning standards and doing its own thing.

The next time it rules could impact your life and livelihood.

Mike Hauer, Villa Hills

Democrats won't face facts about student loan forgiveness

The reason it's hard to have a serious conversation with Democrats is because they don't like to face facts. On July 28, 2021, Nancy Pelosi, then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, said, "People think the President of the United States has the power of debt forgiveness. He does not. That has to be an act of Congress."

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the Biden debt forgiveness plan for that very reason, Democrats are trying to stir up uninformed young people by blaming "that awful Supreme Court." How disingenuous.

Sally Smithson, Walnut Hills

Issue 1 would make it hard for citizens to reverse bad laws

We learned recently that Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose admitted that the Aug. 8 special election is 100% about abortion. Passing Issue 1 on Aug. 8 would make it difficult to later pass a citizen-led initiative attempting to guarantee the reproductive rights of women.

But passing Issue 1 would also mean it would be more difficult for citizens to reverse any laws created by our heavily gerrymandered Ohio General Assembly. For example, House Bill 51 recently received its fourth hearing in the Ohio House’s Government Oversight Committee. Should it become law, HB 51 would prohibit local law enforcement from assisting federal officers in any attempt to enforce federal firearm rules that were not consistent with state law. Along with excluding local police from such enforcement, HB 51 would exclude classifying pistol braces as dangerous ordinance under Ohio law. The effect would be to ensure the sale and use of pistol braces in Ohio. The Biden administration is attempting to enforce an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms-enforced rule classifying pistols braces, which essentially turn pistols into automatic weapons, as dangerous ordinance. One such equipped "pistol" was used during the 2019 mass shooting in Dayton that ended only after nine people were killed and 17 more were wounded.

Local law enforcement may not be able to prevent the use of pistol braces until another such incident happens. Parents, make sure that we have a fair chance of preventing such an incident. On Aug. 8, "Vote No on Issue 1."

Dan Shatzer, Forest Park

Cast your vote to save lives, not destroy them

Thank you for printing the two articles regarding abortion, pro and con, in the Sunday, July 1, Enquirer. The patient navigator for Planned Parenthood pointed out the amount of money that had to be spent on out-of-state abortions. The money need not be spent if a pregnant woman kept her baby. There are many services and organizations available for pregnant women, many of them free of charge.

She also wrote that all people deserve access to abortion. Patient navigators like herself are working to ensure everyone can access the health care they need and deserve. This should include the baby in the womb, who doesn't deserve to have life taken away. This is a baby, a life. Abortion is murder. Why would you continue to fight for the fundamental right to abortion, which is a right to murder?

The OBGYN who wrote the alternative point of view has it right. As a physician, she swore to save lives, not take them. This is the way it should be. And yet, when anti-abortion people stand up for what they believe, they are labeled the extremists. I hope and pray that Ohio makes the right decision in November to vote "No" on the proposed amendment. Let us save life, not destroy it.

Arlene Doerger, Cleves

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Even in prison, Householder a burden on Ohio taxpayers | Letters