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Letters To The Editor

Inspectors General reforms protect Ohio taxpayers

To the editor: As the lead Republican negotiator on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, Ohio’s Sen. Rob Portman has ensured that this historic investment in infrastructure will be a central part of his legacy when he leaves Washington after this term. But Portman should be working equally hard to ensure that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending has rigorous, apolitical oversight to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse from syphoning that money away from its intended purposes. That’s why Senator Portman’s efforts to strengthen our federal Inspectors General needs to be as bold as ...

Not a big fan of U.S. Rep. Johnson

To the editor: During his so-called “telephone town hall” on Tuesday, September 7, Rep. Bill Johnson lied profusely and engaged in his customary fear-mongering. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to listen to the whole meeting because I had a conflicting appointment and had to leave the call early. But in the short time I was on the call, I heard Johnson rant and rave and spew misleading information about Afghanistan, abortion, the Green New Deal, and school vouchers. First, Johnson tried to blame President Biden for the entire Afghanistan fiasco, apparently forgetting his own party’s ...

A message for Senators Portman and Brown

To the editor: Please co-sponsor SB 1813, the Act for ALS. I understand you have concerns regarding cost to get the drugs to patients. With that being said, please remember the following: —People with ALS were and in some cases still work and pay taxes or their family members do. —That tax money is what is funding the FDA —the same FDA that is blocking the avenue for drugs to be approved so patients with ALS to get those drugs in hope of prolonging their lives, seeing their children grow up, and the hope a cure for ALS is found. —You took an oath to protect and serve the ...

Family Recovery Center provides support for military personnel

To the editor: Family Recovery Center provides support for military personnel, veterans and their families. We offer a wide range of comprehensive care options to address the needs for both mental health and addiction related problems. Our goal is to give back to those who have sacrificed so much of their lives for ours by helping them to cope and readjust to civilian life. If you or a loved one is struggling, please contact us at 330-424-1468. Carrie Root, Family Recovery Center, Lisbon

Questions for the Hancock County Commission

To the editor: July 1 marked the 5th anniversary of the Hancock County Commission’s takeover of their county animal shelter. For 20 years, a nonprofit operated the shelter under a annually renewable contract. The county negotiated the shelter financial support level each year. The Commission offered the nonprofit $80,000 from the county budget and the $100,000 annual excess levy funds to operate the shelter for fiscal year 2017. However, they wanted changes to the contract giving the Commission final authority over animals being destroyed at the shelter and indicated animals should ...

Broadband would close digital divide in rural areas

To the editor: Throughout eastern Ohio, in rural communities up and down the Ohio river, homes and businesses lack Internet access and the vital connectivity it brings. The pandemic magnified these challenges for rural communities as our country transitioned to more and more remote work and education. Even though the vast majority of Americans have access to broadband Internet that is among the best in the world, 25 percent of rural communities lack access to broadband infrastructure. That means that just because of where someone lives, they have less access to job opportunities, ...