Pete Wilson

Re Gov. Pete Wilson’s veto of the bill to require a study of the three-strikes law (Sept. 15):

You have to wonder why California is leading the nation in prison construction but at the same time we have some of the lowest educational test scores in the nation. Prison construction and maintenance are financed by our tax dollars, as is education. But there is only so much money to go around. Wilson apparently thinks it is wiser to spend our limited public funds to warehouse men and women at a cost of more than $20,000 each per year.

Fact: 80% of the people sentenced under three strikes are convicted of nonviolent crimes. With prison management becoming a burgeoning industry, and with millions of our tax dollars invested in prison construction, perhaps there is a financial reason that Wilson refuses to allow the three-strikes law to be evaluated. California, you are being hoodwinked. Wake up.

SYDNEY WILLIAMS

Los Angeles

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“Wilson Fires New Salvo in Union Fight” (Sept. 11) has finally clarified Gov. Pete Wilson’s hatred of working folks and his opposition to their attempts to fairly bargain over wages and working conditions. Your report that Wilson has accepted honorary chairmanship of a national right-to-work campaign proves what working families and union representatives have known for years--Wilson is wholly owned by the big business bosses. The National No Rights at Work Committee (Wilson calls it the National Right to Work Committee) has been working against workers’ rights since its inception in the ‘50s.

The committee is funded by ultra-right, moneyed interests that have opposed every attempt of employees to organize. Wilson has mirrored its actions in California with his gutting of the labor commissioner’s budget, elimination of overtime pay after eight hours of work, support of Prop. 226 and refusal to bargain with the state employees over pay raises.

RICHARD SLAWSON

Executive Secretary

L.A./Orange County Building and Construction Trades Council

Los Angeles

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I believe that Wilson is still running for president. Not directly, but through the back door. He must know that he hasn’t a chance to be elected president. He has demonstrated his new plan by promoting Props. 187 and 226, by resisting gun control efforts, by promoting draconian changes in the welfare system and by his refusal to grant state workers a pay raise. His latest effort of requiring state and school agencies to publicize a 20-year-old Supreme Court decision which gave union members the right to refuse to pay that part of their union dues that was used for political activities may be part of that plan.

These acts appeal to far-right conservatives who have a lot of money and have greater influence in party conventions. They might accept a Wilson “compromise” nomination for vice president. Then if their ticket got elected and if the president became unable to serve, their man would be in the catbird seat. Of course, there is a consolation prize. Wilson as president of the Senate could break tie votes and make other satisfactory decisions.

CARLYLE SMITH

Sun Valley