McCarthy and Santos, NYC public sector retirees, and Holocaust stories

McCarthy's actions are enraging

I am a registered Independent who prefers to vote the candidate, not the party. Although I recently supported Democrats, the issues, truth and trust are paramount to me. It’s nauseating and infuriating that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and so many in his party support Rep. George Santos, who admitted to lying about his past, present and questionable accomplishments “Treasurer turns down job,” News, Jan. 26].

Are the Republicans so desperate for power at any cost that they will abandon all principles and integrity? They clearly have little regard for the hundreds of thousands of voters who were duped. With the desperation the GOP has shown, and the candidates they have recently supported, it looks like it’s time to go from Independent to Democrat.

— Barbara Dreyfus, East Setauket

Isn’t it curious that when former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was accused of moral turpitude and possible crimes, his own party forced him to resign? House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, however, doesn’t repudiate Rep. George Santos’ fooling the electorate with his many lies but accepts his support and gives him two committee assignments. How far America has fallen.

— Mike Kaufman, St. James

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy should show some backbone and tell the American people that integrity is more important than getting a vote.

We should have a special election, and the person who caused it should pay for it.

If this happened in a Third World country, we would chuckle and say: “It could never happen here.” Let’s return this country to common decency and restore the tattered image of the GOP.

— Neville Grusd, Great Neck

As despicable as all the lies that Rep. George Santos has told, unfortunately, they do not provide a legal basis for removing him from office.

Now, however, we find that Santos apparently may have committed a real crime with his campaign finances. It is time to put an end to this absurdity and find out where his campaign funds came from.

If they came from organizations not registered with the Federal Election Commission, then indeed a crime has been committed and Santos should be removed immediately.

— Arthur M. Shatz, Astoria

Rep. George Santos says he was elected to serve his district and “I will not resign.” There’s one problem. He did not get elected.

The good people of his district elected a volleyball player who graduated from Baruch College and worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.

They did not vote for someone wanted for fraud in Brazil who allegedly stole money meant for a homeless veteran’s service dog.

— Lisa DeBonis, Huntington

Am I living in an alternate universe? Where else would someone be rewarded by not only keeping his job but being named to two congressional committees after telling countless lies? What example are we setting for our state, country and our youth?

— Myra Kennett, Baldwin

Rep. George Santos said that he would resign if all his voters ask him to do so. Where do I sign that petition that the Nassau County Republican Party should be offering to the public?

— Arthur Bamel, Old Bethpage

By allowing Rep. George Santos to remain in Congress, we are officially a banana republic.

— Gloria Mason, Lindenhurst

Sorting out NYC retiree benefits

Edward J. Kelly Jr. notes that pushing New York City public sector retirees into a Medicare Advantage plan would save the city $600 million annually “High cost of NY public retiree benefits,” Opinion, Jan. 24]. That is the city’s claim. If he were closely following the case, he would know those numbers are inflated as well as why the change is being proposed.

He compares health care benefits of public employees to private employees. He does not mention that many (not all) public sector employees work for lower wages in exchange for their health care benefits.

— Beth Haft, Syosset

Edward J. Kelly Jr. is spot on. These rising costs can no longer just be absorbed by the public and need to be shared with retirees. Yes, switch them to a Medicare Advantage program and continue with no more cost to retirees or having them pay extra to keep their coverage.

Let’s not forget that these retirees pay no state income tax on their generous pension benefits, which if taxed would greatly offset these rising costs.

— Michael C. Lefkowitz, East Meadow

As a recently retired teacher of 33 years and taxpayer, I understand the need to reform health care but not at the expense of workers who earned pensions after decades of service.

Retirees in my former Jericho school district pay approximately 58% of the insurance premium (50% for the employee, 65% for a spouse). True, other districts pay a much more equitable ratio. However, the premium charged by companies such as the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) are at fault.

Since June 2021, the premium has skyrocketed 33%. My former school district and its taxpayers also incurred these costs. When I retired in June 2021, my monthly portion of the premium was $1,426, which is $17,112 annually. A year and a half later, it is $1,862 per month or $22,344 annually.

The solution is not to chip away at wages and health care pensions of teachers/taxpayers but to demand how NYSHIP, which has made a profit, has the audacity to charge such rates and continue to raise them.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, local school districts, teachers and taxpayers must address this problem and put pressure on NYSHIP as it continues to take advantage of taxpayers and hard-working state employees.

— Ken Darr, Levittown

Everyone seems to forget that the salaries of most civil servants in the trenches are much lower than that of private industry. Many accept living on lower annual salaries (for Long Island), such as $30,000, knowing that their benefits will make up the difference in the long term.

I surmise that Edward J. Kelly Jr. earns much more than that and may not understand these circumstances. Sure, there are ways to be more efficient. As a former Nassau County comptroller’s office employee, though, I say it shouldn’t be on the backs of us lowly peons.

— Christine Robinson, Bellmore

Important to hear Holocaust stories

What a beautiful story these pages told [“How reparations help LIers,” LI Life, Jan. 22]. It is so important for our children today to hear the stories of these Holocaust survivors. So many survivors are in their 90s. Once they pass, they will take their painful yet important experiences with them.

As a sixth-grade global education teacher, I start early with instruction on the atrocities faced by the ancient Hebrews and then their descendants during World War II. Thank you for sharing their stories of strength and perseverance.

— Monica Klein, Deer Park