Letters: Upset with Congress; focus on families, not abortion; praise for firefighters

Questions for Rep. Erin Houchin

To Rep. Erin Houchin:

“Integrity matters more,” Rep. Kevin McCarthy wrote in a letter notifying House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) of his decision. Please clarify, Rep. Houchin. Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Paul Gosar, George Santos/Devolder .... all assigned to committees! These are legislators of integrity? You gotta be kidding me!

More clear evidence that Speaker McCarthy is so tightly bound to the Fringe Fascist Faction of your party that you have no hope of ever passing any legislation. None. NADA. This will be an embarrassing two-year term for you.

Jeff Kaden, Bloomington

Where are the solutions that would make abortion unnecessary?

No one wants there to be a need for more abortions. Ideally, people who get pregnant would find the support they need. The nine months that a body hosts the developing fetus is only the beginning and there are so many challenges that arise in caring for and supporting a child throughout life.

The cost is great in terms of financial, emotional, and physical resources — and it’s not just the parent who bears those costs as the child grows. Why don’t those who call abortion “wicked” ever suggest how children might be cared for more effectively? If they are so supportive of these “innocents,” what are they doing to make it easier to provide food, shelter, and nurture to those children?

Lawmakers: how about giving incentives and more options for care, including education? Instead, a full-time parent does not even earn Social Security credit. The way that our society does not support families creates housing and food insecurities, as well as health problems and much suffering. Do something about it, please, instead of demonizing abortion.

Joelene Bergonzi, Bloomington

Firefighters do a lot more than save people from burning buildings

Everyone knows that firefighters save people’s lives by dousing fires and rescuing people from burning buildings. But what most of our community is not aware of is the many less spectacular activities that firefighters do to save lives or better living circumstances of our less fortunate neighbors.

I refer to such activities as “Heroes Helping Hoosiers Food Drive” that ended just after Christmas, the coat collection drives every year at various stations, and opening the fire stations as warming centers when the weather is threateningly cold.

There’s also a “Shop with a Firefighter” event sponsored by the firefighters union where children can pick out coats and toys, public educational events such as teaching children fire safety, “Touch-A-Truck” for children, and many other community outreach programs too numerous to mention here. I want to thank each and every Bloomington firefighter for their tireless compassion and generosity throughout the year, and wish you all a safe 2023.

Mary Blizzard, Bloomington

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Letters: Upset with Congress, focus on families, firefighters praised