Apr 30 2009
Remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Baghdad on Saturday and discussion among American military officials about "exceptions" to the troop pullout from Iraqi cities, do not square very well with President Barack Obama's pledge to close down the U.S. military presence there.
During her visit, Mrs. Clinton told the Iraqis, "We are committed to Iraq; we want to see a stable, sovereign, self-reliant Iraq." She also commented that Iraq relies on the United States for security, stability and economic survival. She made these comments in the face of an upsurge last week in sectarian violence, which was directed by Sunnis against Shiites, some of whom were Iranian pilgrims visiting religious shrines.
How she could believe that Iraq can achieve stability and self-reliance within the time frame that Mr. Obama has promised for U.S. withdrawal is difficult to imagine. If the president intends to keep his promise to the American people to end the war and the occupation, it is irresponsible on the part of his secretary of state to assure them of such a commitment to the future.
The U.S. military may also see matters differently from the withdrawal schedule that Mr. Obama has presented. For example, all U.S. forces are supposed to be out of Iraqi cities by June 30. However, the contested northern city of Mosul is now being put forward as a possible exception to the U.S.-Iraqi agreement on that subject.
Baghdad, the capital and Iraq's largest city, is evidently also considered an exception. A five-base group of installations, named Camp Victory, which includes a prison, will continue to be manned by U.S. forces. So will all or parts of four other Baghdad bases, although some of them are described as being on the outskirts of the capital.
It appears that suspicions regarding just what kind of double game the Obama administration may be playing - promising withdrawal on the one hand, while pledging support to the Iraqis and making military provisions to provide it - may be spilling over into Congress. Members, including some Democrats, are hesitating to approve Mr. Obama's request for another $83.4 billion to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - a massive sum on top of the already-proposed $500 billion Department of Defense budget.
It may seem tedious to continue to remind Mr. Obama that he won the election in part on the basis of the pledge he made to end the Iraq war. But that is the fact of the matter, and he may need to remind Mrs. Clinton of this promise and of the American people's expectations for him to deliver.
Apr 30 2009
This is the first in a series of candidate endorsements in key competitive races in Allegheny County and statewide in the May 19 primary. The Post-Gazette will print a recap of its recommendations on Sunday, May 17.
Voters in City Council District 2 have good reason to be experiencing deja vu.
Some of them went to the polls just 21⁄2 months ago (the rest of us were at the Steelers victory parade) to fill temporarily the seat left empty when Councilman Dan Deasy moved to the state House of Representatives. Now two of the candidates who were on that ballot - Theresa Smith, who won, and Georgia Blotzer - are seeking a full, four-year term. Joining them in the May 19 primary for the Democratic nomination is Robert Frank, who did not run in February.
Special elections followed quickly by runs for a full term seem to be the way of doing business in District 2. In 2005, after Alan Hertzberg resigned to become a judge, Mr. Deasy won a special election in the spring and came back in the fall to win his own term.
Ms. Smith, 49, of Westwood naturally would like to see that bit of history repeat itself. She handily won in the special election and again this time she carries the coveted endorsement of the Democratic Committee. As in the last race, she has a worthy challenger in Ms. Blotzer, 59, of Mount Washington.
Mr. Frank, 40, of Duquesne Heights, development manager for the Multiple Sclerosis Service Society, is outmatched in this race by these two women, both of whom have long records of working enthusiastically on behalf of their respective neighborhoods.
Ms. Smith has been president of the Crafton Heights, Westwood, Ridgemont Community Council; vice president of the Westwood Oakwood Athletic Association; and a former coordinator of the Parent Educational Resource Center for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, a position in which she worked in the community.
Ms. Blotzer, a retired special education teacher, has been active in the Mount Washington Community Development Organization, initiating a house tour intended to lure real estate agents to the neighborhood. She was a member of the group that earned federal funding toward the replacement of barriers, fences, sidewalks and lighting on McArdle Roadway - important work in a part of Pittsburgh with a world-famous view.
Both women are keenly interested in improving the business and residential climate throughout District 2, which includes Banksville, Chartiers City, Crafton Heights, Duquesne Heights, East Carnegie, Elliott, Esplen, Fairywood, Mount Washington, Oakwood, Ridgemont, Sheraden, Windgap, West End and Westwood.
But it is Ms. Blotzer's view of what is necessary citywide that distinguishes her as a candidate. She is the stronger advocate for campaign finance restrictions, believing the lack of donor limits has created a climate that rewards and favors contributors with city business. She also recognizes that Pittsburgh is not ready to come out from under Act 47, the designation of being fiscally distressed that brings with it significant state oversight. Overall, we believe she is ready to make the tough choices needed for the good of her city.
Since there is no Republican on the ballot and the Democratic registration is so heavy, the winner of this primary is likely to win election next November. The Post-Gazette, which favored her in the special election, again endorses Georgia Blotzer as the strongest candidate for District 2 Democrats.
Apr 29 2009
Sen. Arlen Specter's announcement yesterday that he will cross the aisle to join the Democrats was the latest expression of independence that has been his hallmark as a legislator.
For the Democratic Party, starting with President Barack Obama, it was a show of confidence on Mr. Specter's part. For the senator, it was his decisive support for the president's economic stimulus package that was probably the watershed. That measure was passed only because Mr. Specter and fellow Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both of Maine, endured their party's wrath and a threatened loss of GOP campaign funds. Mr. Specter, however, clearly saw the action as necessary if the economy was to get the sharp push it needed toward recovery. It was the right position for the country and definitely right for Pennsylvania.
The Republican response to his vote was probably the other half of the genesis of Mr. Specter's decision to leave. For many in the GOP, not only had Mr. Specter committed a sin, but he also had given them a chance to eliminate him in the 2010 primary. The very party whose latest presidential nominee tried to market himself as a maverick is now at a fork in the road -- does it seek a return to the majority or a bid for ideological purity?
For Mr. Specter, it was the end of being able to operate with integrity, taking unique and principled positions, from what used to be the center of a Republican Party that had a much bigger tent. That party once was a home for the moderate views of Pennsylvanians like Hugh Scott, William Scranton Sr. and Richard Schweiker. And who knows what political soul-searching would have beset Republican Sen. John Heinz these days, had he not met a tragic end in 1991?
Mr. Specter's change of party will be a big boost for the Democrats in terms of Senate voting power. They (along with Independent Democrat Joseph Lieberman) will now have 59 of the 60 votes needed to shut off filibusters.
For Republicans, there might be reason to hope this cold bucket of water splashed in their face -- after all, Mr. Specter could have merely turned independent, but instead he went all the way to Democrat -- will cause them to think like a real party. And that means realizing that the most votes lie in the center, not on the far right or far left.
For Pennsylvanians, Arlen Specter is a statesman who has served the commonwealth and the country for many years -- first as an independent Republican and now as an independent Democrat. As to the needs of the country and the president's ability to lead it, the new Democratic lineup that includes Mr. Specter is good for the future as well.
We are proud of you, senator. Good decision, good timing.
Apr 29 2009
As the human swine flu outbreak continues to spread, with more questions than answers about its origin and ferocity, it's important for people to remember that there are preventive measures that diminish the chance of being infected.
The new strain of swine flu emerged earlier this month in Mexico, where it is suspected of killing more than 100 people. Since then, it has spread to numerous states including New York and Ohio, and federal officials were wise to issue a nationwide public health emergency declaration over the weekend.
Though the number of confirmed cases in the United States remains low so far, the actual number of people who are ill from swine flu is believed to be significantly higher. As with other viruses, verified cases are an indicator of the rate of infection.
The government's declaration enabled the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate response to the disease on state and local levels, determine infection rates, notify medical professionals of the newest treatment guidelines and work on development of a vaccine. On an individual basis, health officials continue to emphasize that people are not powerless.
This new strain spreads easily from person to person, moving in much the same way as other influenza viruses -- mainly through the coughing or sneezing of those who are infected. Therefore, the three most important precautions advised by the Centers for Disease Control are:
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze, or use an alcohol-based hands cleaner.
* Cover your nose and mouth, preferably with a disposable tissue, when you cough or sneeze.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, which can spread germs.
People also can boost their chances of avoiding the flu by maintaining other healthy habits -- getting adequate sleep, being physically active, drinking plenty of fluids and eating nutritious food. The CDC advises ill individuals to stay home from work or school and limit contact with others.
The disease spreads easily, but there is no reason for unwarranted fears to do the same.
Apr 29 2009
Hasn't New York suffered enough?
Scarcely eight years after 9/11, a commercial-size jet tailed by two F-16 fighters circled the skyscrapers of Manhattan on Monday morning -- at the behest of the federal government, no less. The reaction of thousands of people below was what you'd expect: puzzlement, panic, flight.
It turns out that the Air Force One look-alike, the backup for the one used by the president, was on a photo shoot. Military photographers were assigned to take pictures of the jet with a handsome Big Apple backdrop. Haven't these guys heard of Photoshop?
While Louis E. Caldera, head of the White House Military Office, took responsibility and claimed that state and local officials were told in advance, it was clear by the commotion on the ground that New York's leaders, from the mayor on down, were in the dark. The nation's chief executive wasn't too happy either.
President Barack Obama, whose press secretary said he was "furious" over the incident, yesterday ordered an internal review of the photo op. We can only hope it will lead to no repeats. There are enough nightmares out there already without subjecting Americans to more.
Apr 28 2009
Tom Waseleski
So. Will Arlen Specter be better off as a Democrat? No doubt that will give him an easier path to winning another term next year. Many Pennsylvania Democrats already admire Specter -- something that was particularly easy to do when Rick Santorum, the attack-dog conservative, was his Republican Senate mate from the state. Imagine the votes he'll get now that he's entered the Democratic fold. The Toomey campaign can fold its tent.
His move, though, comes as a bit of a surprise. Sen. Specter met with the PG editorial board on April 16 and was asked about a party switch -- if not to the Democrats, then at least to Independent. He had several reasons for staying, he said, one of which was preserving moderate ideology within the Republican Party. My colleague, Dan Simpson, wrote a column the following week that urged Arlen to take the leap. Maybe the piece was a pivotal push.
Could be Specter now thinks his old party is a lost cause. No one needs further proof than 1) President Obama's popularity, despite misery on all fronts, and 2) the Republicans' failure to have a program of response beyond the word "no." For the Philadelphia senator, the move left could well turn out to be right.
Apr 28 2009
As badges of honor go, Pittsburgh could do worse than being sued by the National Rifle Association, whose fundamentalist view of Second Amendment rights has confounded sanity in a nation plagued by gun violence.
While a threatening suit from any quarter demands concern, dismay should not be the reaction now that the NRA has sued Pittsburgh over the stolen-gun ordinance that City Council passed last December. This is no surprise. This cold-blooded action is typical of what the NRA does.
When council voted 6-1 to pass the ordinance, it knew that the city law department believed it might not hold up in court. It knew that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, although sympathetic to the effort, believed it was unenforceable and pre-empted by state law. (The mayor allowed the ordinance to become law without his signature.)
But council went ahead anyway -- because, as the Post-Gazette said at the time, it was important to send a message to members of the Legislature that cities like Pittsburgh needed help to combat gun violence. It also went ahead because its chief sponsors believed that a reasonable legal argument could be made on its behalf.
This view may be optimistic but it is not entirely fanciful. The NRA suit cites state law barring municipalities from regulating the "ownership, possession or transportation of firearms." But as Councilman Bruce Kraus said, the ordinance he sponsored "only requires timely reporting once discovery is made that that firearm is lost or stolen. How does that stop you from possessing a handgun?" Of course it doesn't.
The city ordinance requires only that a gun owner report the loss or theft of a firearm within 24 hours of discovering this. Failure to do so can mean a $500 fine for a first offense and $1,000 for a second.
Having gone this far, the city should give the NRA a fight. If Pittsburgh loses the initial round, that will be the time to decide that an appeal might not be wise, given continuing financial restraints.
For the moment, let the NRA be seen confronting a reasonable piece of legislation targeted at keeping guns out of the hands of criminals through so-called straw purchases. Perhaps state lawmakers can consider the character of an organization prepared to bring such a legal action even as the city still mourns the loss of three police officers to gun violence.
Apr 28 2009
President Barack Obama has added relief for consumers from abusive credit card practices to his list of necessary reforms.
Fixing the credit card situation is one more lions' den of problems in Mr. Obama's overall effort to put the economy back on track. That it is needed and that it would be very popular is clear. The games that banks and credit companies -- many of which have profited from huge federal bailouts in recent months -- have run on consumers are among the painful financial trials that ordinary Americans are facing.
The credit providers raise interest rates on existing balances to stratospheric levels, at a time when borrowing rates for the companies are at a historical low. There are hidden fees and unexpected penalties. Collectively there is no restraint on the dangerous credit they offer sometimes inexperienced, young and unwise consumers. Who doesn't receive numerous solicitations in the mail to apply for "pre-approved" new accounts, regardless of the recipient's current credit card balances?
Yet with an economy spiraling downward in part because people, fearful for their jobs, are holding onto their money more tightly than usual and with financial institutions' lending at least partly frozen, shutting down credit card usage unnecessarily could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
So this is a policy area into which the Obama administration should venture only carefully. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have legislation, supported by the White House, that could be passed rapidly. Congressional Republicans, responsive to the credit card companies, are opposed to the proposals, however. One provision would limit retroactive interest rate increases without notice and if the cardholder is current in his payments. Others would prevent cards from being marketed or issued to borrowers under 18 or 21, depending on which bill is approved. Another proposal would ensure that a consumer's payments are applied to debt with the highest interest rate first.
As long as the limits are sensible, we see no reason to oppose the reforms. America's addiction to credit cards is certainly part of its economic problem. People should be mature enough to avoid getting pulled under by it. But they haven't been, particularly in hard times, as rising bankruptcies indicate. New restrictions on the companies and banks peddling the cards should help.
Apr 28 2009
It's time for Norm Coleman to concede. A three-judge panel has ruled that the former Republican U.S. senator from Minnesota lost last November's election to Democrat Al Franken fair and square, if only by 312 votes.
Minnesota has been denied full representation in Washington while Mr. Coleman continues his legal campaign for the seat. Problem is, the challenge he has kept alive against Mr. Franken has put more votes in the column of the former "Saturday Night Live" star.
Having lost a recount of the 2.9 million ballots, Mr. Coleman sued under a state law that merely required a three-judge panel to determine who got the most votes. The bipartisan panel declared Mr. Franken the winner, saying the evidence showed the election was fair, impartial and accurate and that there was no indication of a "systematic problem of disenfranchisement in the state's election system, including in its absentee-balloting procedures."
By most measures, that would end the dispute, but Mr. Coleman's lawyers are taking his fight to the Minnesota Supreme Court, despite a poll by the Star Tribune in Minneapolis that showed 64 percent of those surveyed want the Republican to call it a day.
That amounts to thumbing his nose at weary Minnesotans, eager for their requisite representation of two U.S. senators. Even some Republican newspapers are urging Mr. Coleman to give it up. We have to agree.
Apr 27 2009
Spring cleaning is a good time to clear out items that have been collecting dust around the house, a situation that also is true at the people's house, the state Capitol in Harrisburg.
Four pieces of health-care legislation that contain nearly identical language have passed in the House and in the Senate, but legislators should reconcile any differences and enact them now before the bills get tangled up in the wheeling and dealing of budget negotiations in June.
That's what happened last year to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, known as PHC4, the neutral, nonpartisan advocate for holding down the cost of medical treatment. This state agency needs to be reauthorized by the Legislature periodically or it goes out of business. That nearly happened last year because its future was tied to proposals for expanding health insurance coverage and helping doctors pay for malpractice insurance.
Gov. Ed Rendell kept the council alive by executive order, but a stronger lifeline is warranted. The agency issues quarterly reports on hospital performance on 50 common procedures, annual reports on heart surgery success and rates of hospital-acquired infection and other studies. Last August, the American Journal of Medical Quality estimated that its public reporting process prevented 1,500 deaths in one year. Both House Bill 173 and Senate Bill 89 would keep PHC4 going until 2014, eliminating any annual uncertainty for this healthy body.
The other three legislative proposals that also need attention are:
* Expansion of COBRA coverage so Pennsylvanians who work for businesses with fewer than 20 employees but lose their jobs will be able to continue to purchase group health benefits through their former companies. The departing employees would have to pay for the coverage, but temporary assistance is available for qualified individuals because of federal stimulus funds. Without a change in state law, eligible state residents will miss out on that federal aid. Senate Bill 442 passed that chamber, and House Bill 1089 was amended last week.
* Extension of parents' health insurance plans so their children can be covered up to age 30. SB 189 and HB 838 would allow parents to continue to pay for coverage for their adult dependent children under their own group plans. Seventeen other states already have extended the age limit.
* Exclusion of reimbursements to hospitals when patients experience so-called "never events," errors that are serious, preventable and should never happen such as operating on the wrong patient or performing the wrong procedure. The state Department of Public Welfare has prohibited hospitals from billing Medicaid in such instances since January 2008. SB 443 and HB 84 would mean other health insurers would not have to reimburse hospitals under these circumstances.
Each of these measures already has received overwhelming and bipartisan support from legislators. It shouldn't take long for the House and Senate to work together and turn the bills into law.
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