Government can always use good audit

Editor: In a recent letter titled “Stop stereotyping public workers.” William Mitchell said, “While he may have been talking about the “D.C. establishment, he lends support to a broad public perception of government workers of all levels.”

Steve Hansen hit the nail on the head. The fact is an audit for proficiency of any entity of government would show middle and top management top heavy, and taxpayers could save millions of dollars with the recommendations of a good audit, if those recommendations were implemented.

Another fact Steve Hansen touched on, some government workers are not educated to the extent that would merit the pay they are receiving.

JOHN SLAUGHTERBACK Lodi

Is saving lives important to Republicans?

Editor: Critics claim that “Obamacare” is too expensive and unpopular. Tell that to a Republican legislator who returned to his district for the summer break to face angry protesters.

Although an effort to kill the program failed, the vote he cast (and his position on global warming) enraged constituents in the small Northern California city where he addressed the public. According to an Aug. 8 article by Yahoo News writer Andrew Bahi, the bitter attitude of some in the crowd came out in a curse of sorts:

“As members of Congress return to their districts for the customary August recess, at least one California lawmaker received a hostile reception back home.

“Rep. Doug LaMalfa, RCalif., appeared at a town hall in Chico on Monday. While LaMalfa won reelection easily last year, he was met by critics of his vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act and defund Planned Parenthood, as well as his denial of man-made climate change.

“The most heated moment, according to the Los Angeles Times, was when a man told LaMalfa, ‘May you die in pain.’ The speaker appeared to be protesting LaMalfa’s vote to advance the American Health Care Act, which later sputtered in the Senate.

“Other protesters called on LaMalfa to resign for supporting the health care bill, which would have rolled back numerous key Obamacare provisions, including Medicaid expansion in states like California .... ”

If similar events are repeated across the country, the “repeal and replace” movement is likely to expire. The heat in Congress’ kitchen will be more than a body can stand.

Republicans this year have cooked up many bad dishes. Immigration restrictions would deprive California farmers of field hands - potentially forcing farmers to let crops rot on the trees and in the fields. Their tax “reforms” would raise the burden on low-income families but enlarge wealthy citizens’ coffers.

Federal health care programs have saved lives. Apparently that’s not important to Republicans who value treasure above smiling children’s faces. What does Rep. LaMalfa value? LANGE WINCKLER Lodi