I read in Friday's paper that The Associated Press report of a South Carolina Catholic priest who recommends that his parishioners who voted for Barack Obama "should refrain from receiving Holy Communion." This unbelievable public statement was made by the Rev. Jay Scott Newman because, I guess, of the Vatican's stand on abortion.

Demonstrators across the nation this past week demonstrated that many who call for tolerance are utterly intolerant of any who do not agree with them.

I am euphoric over the election of Barack Obama for president. He has a history of putting talented people together to solve problems rather than making decisions and imposing his will on others by any means available to him.

I am very upset with the "revisionist" history being taught in our schools now. My granddaughter is a history major, working for her master's degree in history in a large city in this state. In the meantime, she is teaching at a middle school, and the things she teaches about our country are horrendous!

The total national debt accumulated by all previous administrations from George Washington to Jimmy Carter was $800 billion. Beginning with the Reagan Administration, the debt increased to $2.5 trillion, Why? Because of a massive tax reduction (the top rate cut from 70 percent to 38 percent) along with massive deficit spending. Government regulations also took a hit. So the current meltdown began.

In response to "Woeful about outcome" (Letters, Nov. 10):

A few months ago the Volunteer Center was very much at risk, meaning we weren't at all sure there was going to be enough funding to get through December. From the day the first story about the funding crisis appeared in the Herald, the center's phone began ringing with offers of help, including financial. Also, three community leaders launched a fundraising letter campaign for the center.

Last week I watched as a semi-truck blew through a red light in Burbank on Highway 12. It had been red several seconds and I could hear the truck's acceleration as the driver ran the light. Luckily that time no one was hurt, but by now everyone has heard of one mother's tragic loss of her two sons, Jorge and Jesus Mendez.

I disagree with the letter saying that Rick Corson should resign (Letters, Nov. 16). We have not heard the whole story and the Herald does not always publish what is said.

A bit of sunshine on a cloudy day!

Last week with Veterans Day coming up and the schools participating in programs, my 8-year-old granddaughter asked her mother if anyone in our family had been in the armed services. Her mother told her "yes, your aunt and your uncle." She immediately called her aunt and asked if she could come to her school that week and wear her uniform (20-plus years past) and explain war to them. Then she asked, "What did it feel like when you first shot someone?" It was explained that she didn't shoot anyone and that she had worked in a hospital.

The people of the 8th Legislative District chose Brad Klippert, a far-right Republican with absolutely no experience whatsoever in government or elected office, instead of Carol Moser, an extremely experienced, moderate Democrat who had the smart idea that if the 8th District had a Democrat in the state Legislature, our issues might get a fair hearing by the Democratic majority in Olympia.

Ivar Husa wrote in the Herald of being horrified that Californians passed a Jim Crow law overturning the ruling that affirmed same-sex marriages were constitutionally protected (Letters, Nov. 12). In case you missed this somewhere, judges are not authorized to make law. Of course some judges missed this also, or ignored it!

November is National Hospice Month. Our community is fortunate to have a dedicated, caring and compassionate group of staff and volunteers serving Hospice at The Chaplaincy.

The photo of Cheech and Chong exploiting marijuana use on the cover of the recent Mid-Columbia entertainment guide was both offensive and in extreme poor taste. What was the Herald thinking?

Mr. Rockwell, you must be the most gullible person in the Tri-Cities to believe that Barack Obama really supports the Second Amendment (Letters, Nov. 13).

Kennewick thinks they might increase the number of rounds played at Tri-City Country Club by making the club completely private. I suggest the best way to increase the number of rounds played there is by reducing the $45 green fees for 18 holes.

Regarding Initiative 1000: Perhaps we got exactly what we deserve. We as a nation, state, people have been so disobedient to God's laws. Murder, rape, incest, fraud, dishonesty, lying, stealing, cheating, child abuse, blasphemy, materialism, adultery, pornography, abortion -- the list goes on and on. And now, assisted suicide.

Response to Mr. Ed Young, "Woeful about outcome" and Mr. Karl Hadley, "America is over" (Letters, Nov. 10). It's obvious that Mr. Young's use of the word "infamy" dates him and his time has come and gone. Enough said!

There is a reason, a very good reason, why autumn is most often called fall. It is all around us and most especially on these windy days of late.

It's been more than 2,600 days since Sept. 11, 2001.

Today I filled my tank at $2.16 per gallon! It made me realize it's time to levy a permanent, $1 federal user's fee on each gallon of gas sold, to be dedicated to the development of our mass transit infrastructure, and repair of our roads and bridges; also funding the development of highly fuel-efficient vehicles and alternate, nonpolluting energy sources.

This letter is in response to all of you asking the question about the price of gas in the Tri-Cities. I have been asking this question for years and so have many of you. The problem is everyone is asking but no one is answering.

Nationwide the average local government investment in public health was $15.19 per capita in 2005. In Washington, it was $10.24 and in Benton and Franklin counties, $2.18. Total local funding has remained flat since 1992 while the population has increased exponentially.

Last Saturday, Richland police arrested Jevin J. Edgar at Lee's Tahitian partly for "carrying a firearm in an establishment serving alcohol," according to the Herald.

I've been following the Herald's coverage of ex-Fever lineman Michael Rayfield Hodges. From what I've read and from what I can infer, it's clear that this entire situation is badly mishandled (not through any fault of anyone involved), and that not only have at least two police officers been injured as a result, but also that a seriously ill man is not receiving the treatment he so desperately needs.

State money is tight. We need to spend it where we get the best results.

As a resident of this community, I am concerned about the possibility of more cuts to public health funding. Public health protects us every day with safe water and food, and also prevents and treats communicable diseases.

The recent flurry of letters defending Mr. Shyan Din's right to conduct his gas station business without regard to traffic hazards created by his customers has included some that referred to the city of Pasco.

Here we go: The red half of the state, like Putin, rears its ugly head (more on that brilliant Palinism later) and cries foul (sour grapes, sore loser, etc.).

Since lack of space will not permit my sending "setting the record straight" from www.whitehouse.gov, I urge everyone to check out the dates and years of the continuing lies our government puts forth.

The U.S. automakers have brought on their own grief. Let them bail themselves out or close the doors. I hope I am not the only one who remembers the gas shortage of the '70s. Datsun, Toyota and Honda made a very fuel-efficient and reliable car and they were able to get into the U.S. auto market full bore.

There is no doubt any longer that those who supported and worked for the election of Rick Corson were very well misled (of which I am one).

We now have a president whose very being embodies "unity" across that once seemingly impossible divide of race in this country. His election proves that we can do this and we can "overcome" whatever problem faces us.

I too fear what is to happen to America during Mr. Obama's term. However, I am an American first and a conservative second. Time will tell. God help us all!

I don't have a dog in this fight anymore, except as a former resident of both the Tri-Cities and Prosser. I see retired Judge Fred Staples is back at it, trying to move the county seat from Prosser to the Tri-Cities.

Congrats to Barack Obama for the election. Extremely well choreographed and handled. Not my choice, but will be my president, shiver!

I've been so disappointed in some of the letters I've seen here.

Over the past few months, as I've warned my most conservative friends they faced disaster on election day, their response always was self-righteous defiance.

In reference to Mel Kaufmann's comments entitled "Hallelujah" in the Nov. 9 Tri-City Forum. I am appalled. As a Christian, I believe that Jesus Christ is the only savior the world has ever had. He alone is the one who saves us from ourselves.

Regarding the article, "Fighting the odds against the poachers," published on the Nov. 8 Outdoors page. If the game agents spent more time in the mountains looking for poachers instead of working traffic on highways and in cities and towns, they might not be so overworked!

I think Pasco needs a new aquatic center. I think the swimmers of Pasco need a new place to swim in the winter and in the hot summer.

Surprise, one morning two weeks ago, my Obama/Biden and Gregoire signs were stolen. Guess what, all three were elected.

The citizens of the state of California have considered the arguments for and against same-sex marriage. After extensive debate between those of different persuasions, voters have chosen to amend the California state constitution to state that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

I have to respond to Rachel Stoneking's letter (Pro-choice, anti-abortion) published Nov. 8. Rachel, let me ask you (and those like you) a question: If I believe with all my heart that 2+2=5 does that make it so?

I read in the Nov. 8 letters to the editor, "Nov. 4, 2008, a day that may forever live in infamy. May God help us."

I'm sorry, but I can't help my feelings. I hope he proves me wrong, but I'm afraid that under the new Hugger in Chief, we're going to end up as part of someone's empire.

I have just returned from the B Reactor Museum Association's monthly meeting.

In this country, mothers of unborn children have been given the legal right to choose whether or not to protect their child before she is born.

An election was held Nov. 4, and this time around the voters chose a Democrat for president. On Nov. 5 at 6:44 a.m., the sun came up in the Tri-Cities.

We are proud grandparents of students at William Wiley (West Richland) and Ridge View (Kennewick) elementary schools who are very proud of the fact that their grandpa is a veteran of the Navy.

In response to Karl Hadley's Nov. 10 letter, I won't even begin to enter into a debate with you on the Democrat vs. Republican portion of your letter.

In response to Tri-City Forum's recent question of "How Can America Come Together," there is an old saying that you are either part of the solution or part of the problem.

I believe that we, the people of the Tri-Cities, need more hospitals. With more and more people coming to live in the Tri-Cities there are more diseases going around. With more hospitals there could be more help. What if you break your leg and the closest hospital is clear across town and you're all alone -- what then? Well, with a few more hospitals, there could be one a few feet away.

I literally laughed at your headline, "History we can believe in." I kept looking in the margins for the disclaimer, "Paid for by Obama '08."

The fact that a few individuals have successfully completed the Drug Court program is wonderful, but are there not other ways to measure "payoffs"?

I am horrified that Californians have passed a Jim Crow law in Proposition 8, overturning the ruling that affirmed same-sex marriages were constitutionally protected. It is an ugly thing to see bigotry succeed at the ballot box. It is ironic that the same election brought us our first black president (whose campaign I actively supported). We must become better people.

It was so nice to travel to the Oregon coast and not have to think about traveling and encountering roundabouts (outdated since autos were invented, good for speeds on a horse) or any blinking yellow lights (arrows) telling me to take a chance if I feel lucky. I feel for any driver from out of our area. This must be an experience of a lifetime for them. Boy, I can't wait to get to Kennewick to see what's new in the area. It must be from all the stuff from the Hanford project leaking down river. Good for the brain.

I am really disappointed in OnScreen, your Sunday television listings. First of all, you took out the TV crossword, you shortened the On Screen's time grid, you took out the top movie listings, and your print is too small. Please bring all of these things back. I read your paper daily and I notice these changes.

Some events and lives have ever held the most secure place in human sentiment and called most commandingly for memorial observances.

Why is gas in Moses Lake so much cheaper than in the Tri-Cities? Recently in Moses Lake you could buy gas at a Chevron station for $2.19 or at a Shell Station for $2.29.

Almost everywhere I look the lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are sporting white hair. Is this a trend to return to the days of powdered wigs? Or are they trying to emphasize their age or hide it? Sometimes you can almost hear the swish of taffeta, is this status quo or are they just good old peroxide boys?

Today is Veterans Day and a day that every American should honor in memory of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. Originally designated to remember those fallen heroes of World War I, it has come to symbolize the supreme efforts and sacrifice of soldiers of all wars.

In watching the elections I have to wonder why it is that people are claiming a black president. The fact is that this is a man who is part white and I don't understand why it is about his race and not who he is or what he can do. I see African American people so excited, but I have to wonder, did they only vote based on his color? He is part black and part white, why can't he just be the Democratic candidate or the 44th president? Why does race have to come into it?

Nov. 4, 2008, a day that may forever live in infamy. May God help us.

My grandson, Hayden, last heard from sharing his candy bag with a new friend who had different political views, was trying to describe to his parents a boy from his first-grade class who was on his football team.

Close to an hour after finding out Barack Obama is our nation's new president, I decided that I need to express how I feel, along with the way other teenagers are feeling. I am a 19-year-old girl from Pasco, just out of high school and on to my first year in college.

No matter who your preference was for our presidential candidate, the majority of Americans have spoken. And they have made history, breaking through racial barriers that a generation ago would have been impossible. Doors were opened. Minds were changed. That's what we thought.

Lessons learned from the election:

Now that our presidential election is over and we are set to begin January with a new national leader, President Barack Obama, let's pull together.

As a local golfer for over 25 years, I've been disappointed with the trend: Greens fees have gone up faster than inflation and discount programs have forced golfers to pick one course to the exclusion of others.

As a registered nurse in a local emergency department and a concerned father, I write to persuade all adults to safeguard medications and lock all medicine cabinets. Too frequently we see worried parents bringing in children because of accidental ingestion of prescription and nonprescription medications.

I love our country and the ability we have to make free decisions without fear of reprisal or retribution. I don't like that we vote by mail. I want the opportunity to work a little bit to vote and I want to stand in line with my neighbors and talk to them. Anything too easy often is lost.

Once again the people of the Tri-Cities are getting stuck with high gas prices.

When a group of Tri-City individuals learned in 2003 that 574 acres was for sale on Badger Mountain, their goal was to acquire this land to be held as open space. They did it the old-fashioned way, by buying it from a willing seller.

A brief response to the monthly letters from Tracy Karstetter, Shirley White and Cher Araya concerning the three-strikes law.

The Rob Welch story in the Nov. 4 Herald brought a quiet thoughtfulness my way. My thoughts encircled Rob, his wife, his son and his parents. I met all of them at fund-raisers and found them incredibly warm, down-to-earth people.

I was pleased there was an article Nov. 2 concerning traffic issues in our neighborhood. I agree that speed measures need to be in place on this stretch of Pittsburgh Street in Kennewick.

I have been concerned from the outset of this bailout scenario, and as it plays out some of those concerns seem to be verified. Kind of like road kill in the summer. The longer it lies the easier it is to find. Hopefully somebody will get a whiff and clean it up.

Now that the presidential election is over, I want to say that one of the things that has bothered me the most about this election is that Barack Obama is not just a African American but he is an American. The same as we all are.

On Nov. 5 there was, remarkably, a big change in our weather. It cooled considerably.

I'm a frequent traveler through the intersection of Road 68 and Burden Boulevard in Pasco. I've seen quite a few wrecks there and realize the city is making efforts to widen Road 68 to ease a lot of the massive congestion.

The debate about the aquatic center is now over. We should think about a zoo where people could enjoy and learn about animals. Tri-City students could have field trips where we could learn and have fun. It would be a great place for families to spend time together and have a lot of fun too. It can have a petting zoo, playground, a picnic area and maybe even an arcade.

I, a resident of and taxpayer in Kennewick, attended the Port of Kennewick meeting Sept. 23. The port presented a largely discredited explanation on why they should close Vista Field. Carl Cadwell presented a plan, with $10 million financial backing, to transform the airport to a desirable destination. The board decided to either consider closing the airport or improve it. Immediately afterward, they voted to approve funding for a new yacht clubhouse. Subsequently, they voted to fund a lighthouse on Clover Island!

The contemporary interpretation of The Golden Rule is; "I will do unto others as I would have them do unto me." The Golden Rule is not bent or broken, it is severed. The Golden Rule has only 13 words. When the first 10 words of The Golden Rule are eliminated, the only words remaining are "Do unto me."

When you begin to cross the Snake River Bridge on Highway 12 heading into Walla Walla County, you can tell who lives in Burbank. The majority of us still slow to 50 mph out of habit.

Immediate threat to life at the accident-prone, fatality-rich section of Highway 12 near Burbank. How many more lives -- or rather, how many more deaths -- will it take until the state Department of Transportation takes action?

Consider yourself lucky each time you make it through the Burbank death traps. These intersections are like playing Russian roulette. This time it's the lives of two young brothers. Will it be your life next time or the life of your child?

My wife and I were involved in the accident at George Washington Way and Adams Street on Sept. 7 that totaled two vehicles and caused injuries to four people. If there had been a definite red arrow for the left turn lane instead of a green -- yield to oncoming traffic, this accident would not have happened.

In my opinion, Pasco is in need of a horse renting stable. A location which offered horse rentals would improve the community in a couple ways: First, horse rentals would help Pasco's economy with new jobs at the stable. Second, proceeds could be reinvested in youth programs, which would enrich our community.

Recently, I saw a bumper sticker that read "God Bless America" and I began to ask myself what have we done to warrant God's blessings. This is what I came up with:

David Welch of Kintama Research in British Columbia recently reported that young salmon and steelhead are surviving equally as well in the dammed Columbia and Snake rivers as those in the undammed Fraser River.

The STEM school in creating a science, technology, engineering and mathematics high school raises a very big question in my mind.

Can someone explain to me why our American dollars are supporting people in Central America? I have contacted three businesses this week that have U.S. addresses and their call centers are located in Central America.

We read recently in the Herald that the city of Kennewick is considering a run-off tax for street drains. How do you decide who is going to pay what?

Conditioned by collectivist advocates, we should adopt their so-called transitional concepts as the remedy for national and world problems. Influential conditioners are dominate in community organization, education, government, television, newspapers and entertainment. Is the United States ready to accept the collectivist approach?

Interpretive center or a regional aquatic center? Let's think about that.

Kids Haven is a program of the Sexual Assault Response Center where a trained child interviewer interviews children who have disclosed physical or sexual abuse. These young victims as well as their non-offending family members can also receive advocacy and counseling services.

Let me clear something up right now. I'm tired of this generalized belief that just because a person is pro-choice that it makes them pro-abortion. Get it straight -- I am pro-choice, but anti-abortion.

One of the dumbest political catch phrases, offered by one of the candidates, proclaims that we must "get away from carbon-based fuels." Carbon is at the basis of organic life. It cycles forever between storing and releasing solar energy. This is called the "carbon cycle." Strictly speaking, our food is carbon-based fuel too (carbohydrates).

I have a simple question for the citizens of this country that is not meant in any way to be political or partisan: What are the facts associated with the security clearance process and requirements for certain members of Congress, certain cabinet members, the vice president and the president? Further, what is the timing relationship of any clearance approval to the taking of the office position?

Why doesn't Franklin County threaten the other stations with their business license if they don't come down on their gas prices? What I see is high prices pushing people to go to Columbia Grocery to get a decent price on gas.

I was looking at the On the Record in today's Herald and was astounded by the number of crimes that were committed and almost everyone of them were given jail time with about 98 percent of it suspended or no time served at all. What kind of message is this sending to criminals if they aren't punished? Obviously with the amount of crime that we have in the Tri-Cities, that slap on the wrist isn't working. Let's see some jail time.

We recently received from the city of Richland the 2008 Community Survey Results. One of the categories was a listing of "The three least desirable things about living in Richland." No. 1 was "Lack of restaurants, cultural facilities, businesses, activities." While I can immediately count more than 15 regular restaurants and numerous fast-food services, which seems more than adequate, there may be a shortage of the other categories.

How interesting that the city of Pasco doesn't remember two years ago when a police officer threatened to have Din's business permit pulled for creating a "hazard." I imagine these are the same folks who have created the mess at Road 68. Instead of harassing the business community, the city needs to work with business owners.

Making it ever more difficult for friends and families of the incarcerated, new rules regarding the gifting of clothes and shoes have been implemented at the Washington State Penitentiary. Once a gift package was allowed in quarterly as long as it met the restrictions and guidelines of the prison. No longer. A quarterly package is still allowed; however, the articles must be purchased from the source designated by the prison and at their prices.

I believe it is important for domestic violence survivors to share their stories. It shows others that they are not alone and that help is usually just a phone call away.

It's not Mr. Din's problem to control the traffic on Court Street or Road 64; that's the job of local law enforcement. If there is traffic parked on Court Street or Road 64 and it is causing a hazard to other traffic, then the police and/or the sheriff office needs to issue citations to the drivers of these cars blocking traffic.

On behalf of the Kennewick School District Transportation Department, I want to say how much I appreciate the students of Kamiakin and Southridge high schools who planned and participated in the Cancer Awareness "human chain" on Oct. 22.

I appreciate all who helped out with Desert Thunder's Annual Toy Run and especially the Kennewick Police Department, who graciously blocked intersections, so that the 500-plus motorcycles could go through the city safely and quickly.

DUI has had such huge consequences on our society and we are not doing enough to stop it. First offense should immediately put them in jail for 90 days. No exceptions! If this DUI is involving a death or critical injury it should be automatic one year with no bail. After their hearing, their time served can be credited toward their sentence.

Last month, a couple of people decided to have some fun on Badger Mountain. Just a little different kind than the other 2,000 people a week who hike and ride the trails. These two thought it would be fun to use their trucks for a little off-road hill climbing. One seems to have made it home but the other is stuck deep in a gully below the Canyon Trail. How the owner will get it home is yet to be seen. Why they thought it was OK to tear up the hillside in Benton County's most popular park is a mystery.

I have a problem with the taxes.

One more amazingly beautiful weekend in Southeast Washington and Badger Mountain beckoned. I am curious how the person who decided to use Badger Mountain as his personal ORV trail plans on removing his truck, which got stuck in the bottom of the canyon. A lot of time, money and hard work has gone into constructing the trail system and preserving the mountain. I highly encourage people to go and enjoy the mountain -- just leave your vehicle in the parking area.

With all this wrangling about off shore drilling and the importation of foreign oil aren't we overlooking what should be blatantly obvious? At the current production rate we have enough oil to last about 11 years but we are sitting on coal deposits in 38 states and other areas to last about 250 years.

I am responding to Don Britain's Sept. 25 letter against the letter against the three-strikes law.

With regard to the recent article about Mr. James Dunlap and his brother, who tore up badger mountain when they decided it would be a good idea go four wheeling down the mountain, there is no doubt many people are upset with their decision and calling for legal action against them. But in their defense, there is no law against being stupid.

It's amazing to me that in this time of great progress and vast availability of information that we still have people who want to burn books! In regard to the mom who stole The Book of Bunny Suicides from the school in Halsey, Ore., I wonder what other parents in her school district think. Does this mom realize she now is speaking for her entire community? That she now is parenting every child by censoring that book. She is saying no one else has the right to read this story or laugh at its comics.

For 15 years we lived north of Mid-Columbia Grocery on Road 64 when the north end was a one-lane gravel road. Several years back the county paved and widened that portion, about 1,500 feet to Argent Road. At that time we had to give the county 30 feet of right of way so that the road could meet county standards. If Jerry Lingo, code enforcement officer for Franklin County, would check I think he would find that the entire road from Court Street to Argent does not meet county requirements for easements and shoulders. Maybe the county needs to find better work for its code enforcement officer than hassling a small business that is trying to succeed.

In a news article albeit from the Herald or Yahoo! or another source, a comment about the food prices going up can be explained in full but not here. This letter will show two items that affect food prices. Cost of diesel has gone up, plus in the trucking world we face unloading fees everyday.

Since 1960, every Democratic nominee for president who has won promised a tax cut for the middle class. Only one, John Kennedy, delivered. Everyone since has reneged almost immediately upon taking office. Why would we think Barack Obama would be different?

The very lengthy presidential campaign is disgusting. The two primary candidates are United States senators. They have been devoting their time for close to a year running for office and certainly not on the duties for which they are paid. Therefore, they should not be paid by the United States government for services not rendered. Sen. Hilary Clinton also spent a lengthy time campaigning and also should not have been paid for duties not rendered.

Eastern Washington voters need to remember that we actually elected Dino Rossi as governor in 2004 -- twice! This was an amazing accomplishment considering how far left the Puget Sound region is. This will probably be our last chance to elect Dino or any other fiscal conservative as governor to give us a chance to avoid bankruptcy.

I am an "independent," voting for whichever candidate offers good solutions to the issues we face. I listen carefully to the pros and cons, swaying between choices as I become more informed. In the end, I vote for the candidate who is a doer that will best make our family, community and country stronger.

The Oct. 23 Lance Strickland letter got me. "United we stand, divided we fall." I couldn't agree more. But then the letter became divisive. Are we on the wrong path? (Abortion, gay marriage, insurance, taxes?) "Driving one more nail in the coffin for the good old USA?"

Republicans controlled the White House for the last eight years, and most of that time they had the House and the Senate too. Seeing where it's gotten us, I don't want any more.

When the majority of a nation's citizenry votes for the candidate promising the most government benefits while requiring the least individual responsibility, then that country becomes a socialist nation. Socialists will win every election if the majority vote is based on receiving government handouts.

I need someone to explain something to me regarding your Oct. 22, front page article titled "Hill climbing damages trail."

The "controversy" surrounding Sen. Barack Obama's full name annoys me, so I would like to have this opportunity to explain what his name means:

Vista Youth Center: A safe place for LGBT youths.

It is time for political change. We believe Americans simply voting in their own best interest would vote for change. They would vote for the Democrat's platform, Barack Obama, and all other national and local candidates who promote change for better.

I was part of "Pink Day" Oct. 22. Stopped in traffic, I stepped out to snap pictures when I heard an angry voice: "What the @#& is going on up there?"

Praise be when Election Day is past.

In response to the letter from Jean Rykman on Oct. 23. If by "special interest groups" means ratepayers, then I would consider that a plus. Who else would have an interest? Their interest would be in the form of lower rates only. Isn't that what we all want?

I would like to take this opportunity to thank state Rep. Bill Grant for his commitment and contributions to our communities of the 16th Legislative District.

Democrats are trying to make us believe that they won't raise taxes -- except on the very rich. Well, I'm not buying it. Just take a look at George Fearing, the Democrat running for Congress who said he would not vote for renewing the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. Those are the tax cuts that doubled the child tax credit, ended the tax penalty on married couples and lowered tax rates for every single American worker. Letting those tax cuts expire would increase taxes on every American taxpayer. George Fearing is more aligned with Barack Obama and Chris Gregoire than he is with the folks here in the Tri-Cities. Vote for Doc Hastings and Dino Rossi if you don't want to see a tax hike next year.

The Congressional Quarterly shows John McCain "supported Bush" -- over 90 percent in eight years. By 2007, McCain's support reached 95 percent. In 2008, McCain became a "Bush clone" with a 100 percent record. Maverick? Want more Bush policies?

My 6-year-old grandson, Hayden, watched the debates with his parents and accompanied his mother as she volunteered for the Obama campaign. He is, therefore, a fairly well informed 6-year-old. The other night he was at his synagogue for the celebration of Simcha Torah, which celebrates the end of the yearly reading of the Torah, and ends with the children parading around carrying Torahs and collecting candy in their bags.

Fred Staples is a one-dimensional candidate whose campaign is centered on bringing attention to the county courthouse location issue. OK, done. Leo Bowman has earned re-election with consistent high quality management practices.

Dale Howell (Letters, Aug. 11) brags about his ability to shovel barnyard waste while bemoaning the current state of the nation and our slide toward serfdom which he erroneously blames on "failed socialist programs."

What we often consider to be minor electoral races can have major effects on the community. Such a case is that for Benton PUD commissioner. In spite of all the talk about how the commission has kept rates low, did you know it has accumulated more than $30 million in reserves? That is our money. Benton PUD is a utility, not a bank. The incumbent thinks this is great. Pat Tucker thinks the PUD has too much of our money.

I have known Carol Moser as a city official for about 15 years. When I first met her, she was a member of the Richland Parks and Recreation Commission. I was on the city council at the time. Her enthusiasm and performance got things done. I recruited her to apply for a vacancy on the city council, and the council selected her.

State Rep. Larry Haler has proven to be an exceptional legislator for our district. He has been instrumental in getting several bills passed for those with developmental disabilities and their families.

Are we going to buy the snake oil being sold by a carpetbagger?

I am writing this letter in support of Terry Nealey in his quest to become the Republican legislative representative for the State's 16th District.

I urge the voters in the Tri-Cities to vote no on Initiative 1029. This initiative hurts families. This initiative requires parents to take training on caring for their own children with disabilities. The initiative's training requirements are so inflexible that training cannot be tailored to meet the needs of the individual clients and caregivers.

One of the most compelling needs in the Tri-Cities is to transform our mental health system and stop the criminalization of people with mental illness. As a member of the Governor's Mental Health Transformation Working Group for the past three years, I am fully aware of the failures in our mental health services system and nowhere is it more obvious than in our own local communities.

Before being elected to represent us in Congress, Doc Hastings ran a small business right here in Pasco. He knows what it is like to create jobs and how to grow a business. In the economic times our country is in, that's the kind of congressman we need.

As a business and homeowner in Benton County, I appreciate Jim Sanders and staff at Benton County PUD. Fiscal responsibility in business today seems to be in short supply. The management staff at Benton PUD has given my business and my family five consecutive rate reductions since 2004. We pay well below the median of comparable utilities across the state. They still were able to accumulate an operating reserve of $30 million ($24 million by end of the year), which will protect me and you against any future hydroelectric energy shortages. As a homeowner, I see that as good business management and good for us citizens who buy their electricity.

If elected, Carol Moser will be a true public servant, a voice for our district. That is the kind of person she is. She is diligent, honest, of high integrity and just a wonderful person to know and work with.

My choice for president is John McCain for many reasons. However, the major reasons is because Barack Obama has suggested in his speeches that is it's time to spread the wealth around. To give you a little of my background in this area, I lived in Havana, Cuba, from the spring of 1948 to November 1960. My father owned three small business in Cuba at different times. When Fidel Castro took power on Jan. 1, 1959, he also claimed that he wanted to spread the wealth around.

In urging support for Pat Tucker for Benton PUD commissioner, it is appropriate to address a key issue he has raised -- "overcharging" rates to maintain high cash reserves -- as it relates to two economic principles affecting any public agency's business practices.

Commissioner Leo Bowman's hard work and leadership have benefited Benton County in many ways -- coalition building at all levels of government, bonding with the public, construction of the long desired Finley Interchange, planning and promotion of the sited Red Mountain Interchange, construction of the Benton-Franklin Health District Building and the expansion of the Benton County Justice Center (each on time and within budget), civility in commission meetings and provision of partnership funding totaling $4.6 millions for various jurisdictions within the county.

I've known Doc Hastings for many years, and he has never given me a reason to question his honesty or integrity. He's not a career politician -- never has been and never will be. He started out as a small-business owner here and he even said he'll refuse to take a congressional pension. In addition to being a good person, Doc has been there time and time again for the Tri-Cities whether it was creating the Office of River Protection, keeping Lourdes Hospital in the black, protecting jobs at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory -- the list goes on and on.

I have been a friend and co-worker of Lee Barrow for five years. I have also been a resident in Franklin County for about eight years and have seen firsthand what a positive impact Lee has had on our comm