Traverse City Record-Eagle

Opinion

July 16, 2012

Letters to the Editor: 07/16/2012

Pay the Disclose Act

The 2012 elections will be the most expensive ever, with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of negative, misleading campaign ads being paid for by undisclosed, dark money. As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, voters have already been bombarded with nearly $140 million worth of ads paid for by super PACs and more than $12 million paid for by secretive nonprofit organizations (and it’s likely millions more).

Voters deserve to know who is trying to influence our votes and our lawmakers. The Senate is set to vote on the Disclose Act in the coming days, but right now there are not enough votes to break a promised filibuster. Members of Congress should support this important bill, recognizing that the health of our democracy depends not on secret millions being poured into elections, but on an informed electorate.

The Disclose Act will help let us know in real time who’s behind the money so we can make informed decisions when we got to the polls. Let’s ask Congress to pass the Disclose Act.

Brian W. Dungjen

Traverse City

Don't wreck fire services

The Traverse City commissioners should quit trying to wreck the Traverse City Fire and EMT units. I had a serious problem on July 3, requiring rapid transport and care by crews from “Red-9” and North Flight advanced life saving ambulances and fire department. I live in East Bay Township. All of these units were at my house with in five minutes of my wife’s 911 call.

If the city commission has its way, the services that Traverse City now has, and needs, will be sorely affected (fire and EMT).

So to the folks living in Traverse City, I say don’t let the Traverse City commissioners wreck your needed fire and EMT services.

Robert G. Evans

Traverse City

 

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