Rep. Brad Klippert wasted taxpayer money and other Tri-City Herald letters to the editor

Klippert view too narrow for district

Beginning in 2011, the state of Washington converted to an all-mail in voting process. While there may have been some minor voting irregularities in the system, they were no more frequent than previous system of in-person and mail/absentee voting. The Eighth District state legislator (Brad Klippert) and two of his fellow legislators attended the Mike Lindell cyber symposium at the expense of the Washington taxpayer is a waste of taxpayer money. The Eighth District people elected Klippert to represent the people for the good of the people, and I see no useful purpose in attending a symposium that alleges widespread election fraud. He seems to be channeling his inner Greene, Boebert, Gosar, etc. to curry the favor of the former president. The people need legislators who have a 360-degree view of all the people they represent. Not just representing those who think like Klippert. The Eighth District needs to vote him out, and his run for the Fourth District Congress must be defeated.

Paul Brenberger, West Richland

Luxury tax could help homeless

Homelessness is a problem that gets worse every year, and the only way to help is by our community coming together. The county passed laws to put up signs on most corners to persuade the people to not give money directly to the homeless. However, we don’t know where the money goes to if we send it to a foundation.

But numbers are still on the rise every year, so it’s safe to say they aren’t doing enough. There are too many people in Tri-Cities who are able to help but don’t. Why should we have people in mansions eating plenty of food every day while there are hundreds of homeless people in Tri Cities fighting for every meal and a place to sleep?

To help the problem, I propose when rich people from Tri-Cities buy expensive things like jewelry, fancy cars, etc. — things they don’t need but want — they should pay an extra fee to go toward helping the homeless, since they clearly have extra money. It hurts my heart to see people fighting for their lives every day and we, the people, who can do something about it, just turn our shoulders on them.

Jacob Moody, Kennewick

Trump was cure for all nation’s ills

Make America great again. He set out to do the impossible, secure the border, bring American jobs back from overseas, lift up America’s working class, to restore the America’s working class, to restore the American dream, taking on all challengers from Moscow to Beijing to the DNC. Under him, we had historically low unemployment, energy independence, secured our borders, made our military the strongest it has ever been.

International rivals feared us, which meant America was safe again. He even issued executive action to make Insulin affordable, which President Biden in his first four hours of office canceled. Now the Democrats have introduced a bill to lower them, so they can take the credit. When the COVID=19 pandemic hit, he was the first to ban travel from China. The Democrats and media instantly pounced, decrying xenophobia, while also denouncing him for acting too late. His decision saved lives. Months later, media kingpin Bob Woodward flipped the facts and put Fauci and others in the role of advocating the travel ban. Why? Because it had been proved to be the right call and wanted credit for it. The Swamp has continuously fought him from both sides of the aisle, along with the media. Again why? Because he did not come from them, was not one of them and would never be their puppet. Trump was a true patriot.

Ira Johnson, Kennewick

Bringing down public debt

I wanted to report back that I found a better web site: Go to treasurydirect.com, then click under the “Government” tab to find “Public Debt Reports” and “How to Make a Contribution to Reduce the Debt.” The public debt reports are now shown by fiscal year, not calendar year. My idea for a Day’s Pay voluntary donations from Hanford area citizens doesn’t appear to have been followed in FY 2020 or FY 2021.

I donated a Day’s Pay in FY2021. It’s never too late for citizens to make these voluntary donations.

Fiscal year to date totals by year:

2022 $34,767.03 October; 2021 $1,268,950.35; 2020 $1,615,198.54; 2019 $4,991,215.70; 2018 $775,654.63; 2017 $2,611,428.24; 2016 $2,718,154.76; 2015 $3,864,661.38; 2014 $5,103,452.84; 2013 $1,763,754.56; 2012 $7,749,618.27; 2011 $3,277,369.23; 2010 $2,840,466.75; 2009 $3,063,057.05.

John Noble, Kennewick