First-Class Fares

In the April 5 article regarding California lawmakers traveling first-class at taxpayer expense, Rep. Howard Berman (D-Mission Hills) is quoted as saying, “We’re talking about something that costs about $250 total [per trip]. To me, it’s not worth a story.” It is just such arrogance on the part of elected officials like Berman who have never worked at a real job that has turned off American voters.

It is time the California electorate yanked the trough from in front of Berman and other representatives such as Pete Stark (D-Hayward), George Miller (D-Martinez) and Julian Dixon (D-Los Angeles).

WILLIAM H. SHAW

Los Angeles

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Has The Times investigated the widespread abuse of the franking privilege by many congressional members in indirectly promoting their own reelection?

The article about the choice of members of Congress to fly first-class, including Matthew Martinez (D-Monterey Park), publicized an abuse that is less known, but we always receive pamphlets that are self-aggrandizing. Martinez is an expert in this abuse.

JOSEPH H. JACKSON

San Gabriel