Sen. Mark Hatfield

I’m amazed that Sen. Mark Hatfield (R-Ore.) was under such pressure from the young conservatives in his party that he considered resigning from his Senate post before casting a vote that would go against them (March 8-9). It’s even more amazing that this group has considered stripping him of his committee chairmanship for casting such a vote in a free society!

There’s an ill wind blowing if all Republicans in the Senate march in lockstep to the right-wing’s tune. Hatfield has voted independently throughout his Senate career and the Republicans in Oregon voted to return him to the Senate for five terms. I think that speaks for itself.

ELLIE BERNER

San Diego

Sen. Hatfield’s actions regarding the balanced-budget amendment epitomizes what has been wrong, and what continues to be wrong with Congress: If it is not dominated by special-interest groups, it is being lost in partisan politics.

The senator indicated he would have offered his resignation because of his vote, due to his loyalty to Sen. Bob Dole and the party. What about the good of the country? What about his own constituents? Was this amendment good for the people as written?

GARY VELASCO

Covina

It is amazing that the most important legislation hurriedly attempted in the first 100 days would not have been effective until 2002!

LES STOCKTON

Santa Monica

It is difficult to understand Congress devoting all this time to passing a balanced-budget amendment when the most pressing need of the country is an amendment that bans TV cameras from the courtroom.

DON OWEN

Bishop