Letters to editor, 1/29

Legislature seemed to rush through budget vote

I've noticed a few letters in local publications attacking Dutchess County Legislator Micki Strawinski for voting against the county's 2015 budget proposal. These letters are an odd breed: in essence, they condemn an elected representative for doing her job well. Legislator Strawinski cares more about diligent representation than about getting along with the establishment. That means asking tough questions about our county budget.

She tried relentlessly to ask these questions and to offer her own ideas. But time and again, the county legislature's majority shut her down with their cute "call the question" tactic. This allows them to end debate and call for an immediate vote on the matter at hand. The result? Rushed votes on a budget in excess of $441 million.

Legislator Strawinski pored over the proposed budget in line-by-line detail and tried to pose legitimate questions about depleting the fund balance and capital costs for the county jail. She proposed that the county protect its bond rating with smaller fund balance expenditures and argued that the budget should not rely on hypothetical revenue sources that had yet to be approved by her colleagues. No replies were forthcoming from either the county executive or his allies in the legislature.

Let's remember something: given the overwhelmingly Republican composition of the county legislature, the budget passed easily, even with most of the Democrats voting against it. So one wonders: why all this insecurity about an individual, conscientious legislator's vote? What are they so worried about that they can't accept anything less than unanimous support?

Brian Kelly

Red Hook

Schumer should consider Keystone-related jobs

U.S. Sen Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has recently said that the Keystone pipeline isn't important because it will only create 2,000 to 3,000 temporary construction jobs and only 35 to 40 permanent jobs.

Sen. Schumer, consider this:

» Jobs to manufacture bulldozers, excavators, loaders and other earth moving machines.

» Jobs to manufacture welding machines and X-ray machines to connect the pipe.

» Jobs to mine iron ore, make steel, and manufacture pipe.

» Jobs to make trucks and rail cars to transport the pipe.

» Jobs to manufacture the valves and pumps to make the pipeline work.

» Jobs at the terminals and refineries on the gulf coast to refine and load the product on tankers.

» Jobs on the tankers to move the product to market.

Sen. Schumer, when you count jobs, give us an honest count.

George Claiborne

Dover Plains

Politicians shaken up by Silver arrest

"Capitol shaken by Silver's arrest." Should read: "Capitol shaking at Silver's arrest."

That sound you're hearing up there is the sound of politicians shaking in their boots that U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara will be knocking on their doors next.

Campbell Whitford

Stormville