Obama’s healthcare summit; Cuban ‘justice’; opposition to the nomination of Sharon Browne

The speaker’s ethics

Re “Pérez has ties to deep pockets,” Feb. 28

California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez needs to be out. Now.

There are way too many links to impropriety noted by The Times -- union “mentors” investigated for corruption, bills introduced for the benefit of corporate campaign contributors -- for him to make even an attempt at an impartial job performance.

This state is too deep into the morass to have an obviously corrupt speaker leading the way into our dicey future.

Peter Duffy
San Clemente

Grading the health summit

Re “The way forward,” Editorial, Feb. 26

President Obama’s healthcare summit served three purposes: to meet his transparency obligations, to enlighten Americans about the importance of passing legislation now and to move at least one Republican to support a “bipartisan” bill without a filibuster.

The future of Obama, Congress and the Democratic Party will now depend on performance. Only enactment of real healthcare reform through the reconciliation process and with a true “public option” will keep the current leadership in place.

Bruce Cort Daniels
Running Springs

The Times’ assertion that the healthcare summit proves the Democrats are on the right track is ludicrous. The summit was a failed attempt to showcase a lack of Republican cooperation.

If Democrats had any real leadership capability, they would have invited the Republicans from the start to support facilitation of a true bipartisan bill. Instead, Obama and the congressional majority apparently assumed they had a clear mandate that allowed them to ignore the folks across the aisle.

Your endorsement that the Democrats should move forward, employing reconciliation if necessary, is reckless. Polls show vast majorities against this bill, largely because of cost uncertainties.

John Davidson
San Juan Capistrano

Congress should take a well-recognized cue with respect to healthcare reform.

It is said you can find a million reasons why you can’t get something done. But the message to Congress should be as the Nike ad says: Just do it.

Sid Pelston

Marina del Rey

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The healthcare summit failed because all of the participants had preexisting conditions: Half of them were Democrats and the other half were Republicans.

Sam McCarver
San Juan Capistrano

Sad story? Yes, but . . .

Re “Why keep him locked up?,” Column, Feb. 24

Thank you for providing a real-life example of how government-run healthcare works. While in prison, Kevin Jackson has been trapped in a government-run healthcare system. Under this system, serious symptoms were ignored and diagnostic testing and treatment were delayed. Jackson was not provided with timely, life-extending chemotherapy because of “bureaucratic and logistical delays.”

Steve Lopez would like to send Jackson home to die because, although he has been convicted of three serious offenses, he has a really sad story and it will save the state money.

I agree it is a sad story, but releasing Jackson will not save taxpayers money. Once released, he will rely on emergency room visits for healthcare -- providing him with access to the best and most expensive care our nation has to offer, even without insurance.

Richard Harbaugh
Irvine

Prisoners in Cuba

Re “Cuba’s deadly justice,” March 1

As a Cuban American, I want to thank The Times for bringing to light the torture of Orlando Zapata Tamayo and the realities of “the real Cuba.”

Were it not for Amnesty International, Americans would not be aware of the torture and human rights abuses suffered by Cuba’s prisoners of conscience.

We can only pray that President Obama will address this before offering another olive branch to the murderous Castro brothers.

Valentin Quintana
Torrance

Your editorial lacks integrity. Guantanamo torture was denounced by the people in this country? I am sure the Cuban people denounce their government’s actions too.

Where is the American government denouncing torture and prosecuting those accountable?

Address your editorial to both governments.

Victoria Afonina
West Hills

Opposition to a nominee

Re “Liberals only need apply?” Editorial, Feb. 25

A broad and diverse group weighed in with the Senate to oppose Sharon Browne’s nomination to the board of the Legal Services Corp.

Browne’s track record conflicts with the Legal Services Corp.’s mission of equal justice for disadvantaged Americans.

It is not simply her years of litigation against programs that benefit the poor; nor her statements that women or minorities shouldn’t have full access to equitable employment practices, education or government contracting; nor her views that provisions of the Voting Rights Act should be eliminated; nor her hostility to immigrants’ rights. Rather, it is because she was a plaintiff, and then a lawyer, in litigation that prevented the State Bar of California from advocating for more funds for legal services for poor people.

Opposition to a Legal Services Corp. nominee is not reflexive, as your editorial implies -- in fact, it is unprecedented. This is the first time that Alliance for Justice, or the American Bar Assn. committee that reviews nominees, have recommended that the Senate oppose a nominee to the board.

Nan Aron
Washington
The writer is president of Alliance for Justice.

A cellphone law that works

Re “A dropped call,” Editorial, Feb. 25

Boy, did The Times get a wrong number.

In a recent editorial, The Times opposed my Senate Bill 1475, which would strengthen California’s hands-free cellphone law.

Since the first day it took effect, the law has been a lifesaver. Compliance has been good, but it certainly could be better. SB 1475 would increase the fine for violations from $20 to $50 -- and add a “point” on motorists’ driving records -- to encourage even more drivers to follow the law.

Every day, as a result of California’s hands-free law, folks are sitting down to dinner with their families who otherwise wouldn’t have made it home.

If a $50 ticket can motivate more drivers to follow the law, it will make a good law even better.

Joe Simitian
Sacramento
The writer is a Democrat representing Palo Alto in the California Senate.

Confronting child abuse

Re “In Paradise, a bit of hell,” Opinion, Feb. 26

After reading Jaime O’Neill’s Op-Ed article, I nearly vomited. To read about such atrocities against children sickens me to the core. After teaching elementary school for 32 years, I am now retired -- but the occasional nightmares about child abuse have not gone away.

I understand O’Neill’s acute dilemma regarding when to call the authorities when child abuse is suspected. However, as he ultimately realized, it is better to make an error than to allow someone to destroy their child.

I have received a couple of Christmas cards from a father whom I turned in to Child Protective Services. He says that he is very grateful that I got him the help he needed. I sincerely hope so. Child abuse must be confronted.

Paul Deragisch
Bermuda Dunes