Sep 23, 2015 2 min read

During the past week, I have been so pleased to hear that our legislators are back in Harrisburg after their vacations, hard at work on the issues of importance to all of us, i.e., designating English as Pennsylvania’s language.

If I were one of our lawmakers I would have a beard to the floor. I would not be able to look at myself in the mirror if I were debating about English as the state language while the budget is three months overdue. While their constituents around the commonwealth suffer and scrape to find money to educate our children, provide health care, and tend to senior citizens, they are debating about English as our official language.

Of course coming up with a budget is hard work. That does not provide an excuse not to do the job. If a lawmaker wants my vote, all that would be necessary is proposing legislation stating that no lawmaker would be able to leave Harrisburg after July 1 unless, and until, the budget is completed. It comes around every year at the same time, so it cannot be a surprise.

Every lawmaker has an agenda, and somehow that agenda becomes more important than representing voters. To me, that indicates a lack of a moral compass, and should be a factor when each of us considers whether to put them back into office at the next election.

Stan Meyers

Washington