Letters: Fear tactics being used to discourage abortions

Pro-life advocates, acting from actual beliefs or politically expediency, are using shame and fear tactics to try to scare pregnant women into not choosing abortions. That approach is almost understandable when it’s from an unsanctioned point of view. Such an approach becomes disturbing when taken by an agent of the government and especially under the guise of "public health."

The Public Health Policy committee, an agent of Ohio’s 135th General Assembly, has under consideration a bill (HB15) exactly of that nature. It goes into detail of how ultrasound equipment will be used to assure that a woman has listened for any fetal heartbeat, and the bill requires assurances that she has been informed of "the possible increased risk of breast cancer that is associated with women who have undergone an abortion.: The same assurances are required regarding "the short-term and long-term risk of psychological or emotional harm, including depression, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder, and guilt, that the woman may endure from undergoing an abortion."

Nowhere in this law does it even allude to any increased risk to a woman’s physical and mental health that may occur should she choose not to, or is not legally permitted to have an abortion in a timely manner. One would have to be purposely avoiding such information, or without reason denying or ignoring it, should they choose not to acknowledge it.

We need to elect people as our representatives who rationally consider what they advance. There can be different points of view on how to address situations; there should not be different points of view regarding known facts.

Dan Shatzer, Forest Park

Ohio Jewish group joins fight for abortion access

The Ohio Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, working with local synagogues and Jewish organizations, is proud to join Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom in the fight for abortion access. This effort is in strong alignment with our Jewish values and honors our sacred commitment to understand every life as holy. Judaism places the value of saving a life above all else; this is why we insist on access to lifesaving medical care and bodily freedom for all.

Jewish law permits and, in some cases, even requires abortion care to save the life of the pregnant person. Interfering with abortion access, therefore, transgresses the religious freedom of the Ohio Jewish community.  We know the passage of this ballot measure will take a village and Ohio’s Reform Jews are prepared work hand in hand with our partners and our communities to secure Ohioans’ right to abortion. Each day we wait to take action is another day that individuals are forced to travel great distances to receive health care, put their physical and emotional health at risk, and lose the right to make decisions about their own bodies and families. The time is now.

Rabbi Meredith Kahan, Rockdale Temple, Amberley Village

Government intrusion into education, health care is frightening

I am deeply troubled by the increasing trend toward government intrusion into education and health care. Ohio's proposed "Ohio Higher Education Act," Senate bill 83, would significantly alter and limit the autonomy of Ohio's public colleges and universities.

To put government control over the integrity and professional expertise of educators and academic administrations would begin a process that frightens me. I fear a downward pull towards autocratic domination of our nation; Florida and Texas, seem to be setting a precedent that Ohio legislators want to follow.

I urge readers to monitor this legislation and voice your concerns if you believe, as I do, that this would start a dangerous trend.

Marion DiFalco, College Hill

Duke Energy's bill revisions raise some questions

Two months ago, I received a communication from Duke Energy congratulating me on my reduced electrical energy usage. My reduced energy consumption earned me an even-billing amount reduction of +/-20%. A month later, a second communication arrived sharing with me that Duke had reviewed my account. That review resulted in yet second even-billing revision. The second revision resulted in an increase of more than 30%. That increase put my even billing at an amount greater than my original even billing.

This "revision of a revision" causes me to wonder. How can Duke's internal accounting procedures be so dysfunctional? Second, of greater importance, are such "revisions" how in a time of inflation and supply chain issues Duke chooses to improve its revenue stream without having to submit rate increase requests to various state regulatory agencies?Ken Corbus, Newtown

How can educators justify censoring opposing viewpoints?

I commend the Enquirer for printing Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s op-ed on some members of Xavier’s faculty and student body attempting to censor state Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters. Yost’s piece is outstanding. I suggest the Enquirer solicit a response from one of the faculty members who prefer censorship to try and rebut Mr. Yost. It would be interesting to see how an "educator" can justify censoring someone with an opposing viewpoint.

Jack Felton, Green Township

One-party rule breeds corruption

The conviction of Larry Householder and Matt Borges partially unveils the wholesale corruption and disregard for citizens that dominates the Statehouse and the Governor's Office. This is what happens when one party enjoys a super majority; when the rule of law becomes optional. This historic betrayal and lawless behavior by public officials backed by big business will only accelerate until party balance is restored in state government.

Mac Swinford, Columbus

Deters and DeWines have a long history together

The appointment of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters as Xavier University's "justice in residence" has caused an uproar. There are several reasons for this, some hinging on his relationship with the DeWines.

Deters has made large donations to both DeWines election campaigns. Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Deters’ brother Dennis Deters to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in 2019 after he lost a race for a judicial position he was appointed to in replacement of Pat DeWine. In 2017, Justice Pat DeWine asked Deters to give his son an internship in the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office, and he did, leading to an ethics complaint that was later dismissed. In January 2019, Deters hired Justice DeWine’s senior staff attorney, Mary Stier, as an assistant prosecutor in the Hamilton County appellate division making a salary of $100,000.

Also in 2019, Justice DeWine’s wife filed for divorce. His wife accused him of adultery, according to court documents, though she didn’t elaborate in the documents. Justice DeWine in court filings denied the allegations of adultery. But Stier and Justice DeWine are currently in a relationship, the justice confirmed via a statement in an email to The Enquirer. Stier is now back at the Supreme Court, working as a senior judicial attorney for Deters. She started Jan. 7, 2023, the day Deters took the oath of office.

Joe Deters is the first justice in 30 years to be appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court with zero judicial experience. This doesn’t look good for any attempt to fix gerrymandering in Ohio. Pat DeWine has refused to recuse himself from redistricting cases, despite ethics experts saying he has a glaring conflict of interest; his dad being on the Redistricting Commission. So you can guess that Deters will not recuse himself either.Then there is 2004. That’s the year Deters stepped down as Ohio Treasurer after two associates pleaded guilty in pay-to-play scandals at the treasurer’s office and the Hamilton County Republican Party. One of those associates was Deters’ former chief of staff and campaign fundraiser Matt Borges, who was convicted recently for felony racketeering in Ohio’s billion-dollar bailout and political bribery scandal. In the previous scandal that led to Deters’ resignation, Borges pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of improper use of a public office.

David Woodburn, Pleasant Ridge

Name calling doesn't resolve differences

Thank you for the letter to the editor "Calling Deters petitioners 'woke' is lazy, mean-spirited." Name calling doesn't resolve differences but increases hostility. We may never agree on certain details but can hopefully find commonalities if we stay respectful and thoughtful. The democratic process of petitioning is one way Xavier University members not in control but empowered by their involvement can let their views be known and considered. How do you balance out the voice of someone appointed to "justice in residence" if that person doesn't seem to reflect the values of the university? I support those at XU raising these concerns.

Deborah Jordan, East Price Hill

Too many politicians make statements without supporting facts

Public speakers should do their homework before making public statements.I found U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson’s statement, "The American people are sick and tired of DOJ, the state of New York and others ignoring actual crime," hard to believe. So, I did some research and, in fact, 59% of American voters think Donald Trump "Definitely/Probably" committed a crime at any point in his presidency, and 34% think "Definitely/Probably Not."

I would also like to clarify for all that Trump is being investigated in New York for the crime of using campaign finances to hush up a porn star. This case would not occur if he had not paid her off with his supporters’ money (and also deducted the payment from his taxes).With regard to Rep. Thomas Massie’s comment, "Disbarred attorney Michael Cohen is the least credible witness," I find a twice-impeached president the least credible candidate.

As a retired consumer and market researcher, it sickens me to see such broad claims (and decisions) made by our government officials without supporting data behind the claims. You would have been fired so fast from the Fortune 500 company I worked for.Robin Cox, Anderson Township

Critics of Xavier petitions should be careful of own hypocrisy

Let me get this straight − Mr. Joe Deters is invited to fill an honorary position by Xavier University, an appointment that some at the university object to. To voice their objections, they start a petition drive, one of the purest forms of democratic civic engagement. Petition drives are hard, requiring much time and energy with no guarantee that the petitioners will prevail. Please take a moment to contrast their peaceful, democratic efforts with those who attacked the Capitol, or with our former president imploring his supporters to "beat the crap" out of his detractors. Ponder for a moment the efforts currently underway in Columbus to strip the state’s school board of any and all decisions regarding academic content while moving such decisions to the governor’s office. Lest we forget, Merrick Garland’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court was never even given a hearing. Those who condemn the petitioners at Xavier should perhaps be more careful. Hypocrisy is not a way of getting back to the moral high ground.

John Dallman, East End

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Letters: Fear tactics being used to discourage abortions