Re: “Why the Newman recall is justified” [Opinion, May 13]: Jon Coupal’s attack on state Sen. Josh Newman goes to show how far political operatives from outside our district will go to thwart the will of local voters and turn Orange County into a political circus.
Coupal and his cronies want to force a costly recall election that won’t do anything to solve the real problems families are facing in our area, from the high cost of housing, to the hours long, white-knuckle commutes we endure getting to and from work and picking up our kids from school.
They would force the county to flush $2 to $3 million of our tax dollars into a recall election only six months after county voters already had their say in November. That’s money better spent on our kids’ schools and public safety. Voters can say no to this costly boondoggle by refusing to sign recall petitions being circulated by out-of-area paid signature gatherers who are selling our community’s future for $3.25 a signature.
— Jeff LeTourneau, Brea
Show me the money
Re: “Health care for all” [News, May 20]: I didn’t think anyone would ever top Gov. Brown’s $64 billion bullet train boondoggle. But, I was wrong. $400 billion for free health care. Sure, the article says some of the money would come from existing programs. But it also says some of that money would require Washington to waive some Medicaid and Medicare rules. Don’t hold your breath. Expect to pay for it. Even the $100 billion estimate would require a doubling of our tax revenue. Or, as the article points out, a 15 percent payroll tax increase. That would put California’s top tax bracket around 28 percent. Time to move to Texas.
— M. J. Knudsen, Trabuco Canyon
Can’t come soon enough
With its history of imagination and innovation, California seems destined to move forward with a state-sponsored single-payer health care system. If the good health of a citizenry is foundational to a wealthy, thriving society, the Golden State’s investment in a single-payer system of health care, which would provide medical insurance for all state residents, can’t come soon enough.
— Ben Miles, Huntington Beach
Who’ll build the tunnels?
Does Trump’s infrastructure plan include renovation of tunnels under the wall?
— Phil Silverman, Laguna Woods