Lipinski heeded constituents on vote
After reading U.S. Congressman Dan Lipinski’s letter of explanation in the Landmark (“Lipinski explains health care vote,” Letters, April 28), I am writing to say that I stand by his decision not to support the healthcare legislation.
Here is a representative who willingly listened to his constituents, considered the opinion of a majority of citizens in the U.S.A. and put his political pressures aside to do what is right for his country. This is a remarkable feat in today’s political environment. I wish there were many more like him.
Again, thanks Congressman Dan Lipinski.
Lawrence M. Bakalich
Riverside
Health care comments liberal ‘clap-trap’
Regarding the letter “Lipinski’s reasons for ‘no’ vote fall short” (Letters, May 5), the writer made many assumptions that I feel were not non-partisan. I, too, am a constituent of Mr. Lipinski and do not believe the criterion stated in this letter was indicative of all constituent’s leanings.
The 2,000-page health care bill is about as clear as mud as to what it contains. Anyone who believes that there will be any fine tuning after its passage is a dreamer. The time for fine tuning should have been carefully and deliberately ironed out before passage of this flawed bill.
Only a partisan liberal can believe such clap-trap stated in his letter, which also happens to be the same propaganda put out by Washington, D.C. Democrats to assuage their conscience.
Mr. Lipinski’s explanation of his vote against the health care bill was right on the mark. I do believe reform is a necessity insofar as health care is concerned. But in this case “something” is not better than nothing. I hope when Mr. Lipinski’s re-election comes up the conservative-thinking voters will remember to cast their votes for him once more. I know I will.
Marion Pierson
Riverside
Buckle up to save lives
For you and your family, safety belts provide the best defense against impaired, distracted and aggressive drivers. In fact, wearing your safety belt is the single most effective crash protection available.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008 the use of safety belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 13,250 lives. An additional 4,152 lives would have been saved if all unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants 5 and older involved in fatal crashes had worn their safety belts.
However, a safety belt cannot save even one life if it is not used. That is where enforcement comes into play. High-visibility enforcement campaigns such as the annual Click It or Ticket mobilization are widely credited with increasing the Illinois safety belt usage rate from 76.2 percent in 2003 to 91.7 percent in 2009.
To protect local lives, Riverside and Brookfield police will join together with the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety and over 500 local, county and state law enforcement agencies in support of the 2010 Click It or Ticket mobilization.
During the May 14 to May 31 campaign, Riverside and Brookfield motorists can expect to receive tickets, not warnings, if officers find them out on the roads unbuckled.
Because nighttime drivers are among those least likely to buckle up, nighttime enforcement has become a hallmark of the Click It or Ticket mobilization. Nationwide, of those who died in nighttime crashes in 2008, nearly 64 percent were not wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash. Therefore, motorists can expect that Riverside and Brookfield police will be out in force – both day and night.
Teens and young adults, who neglect to buckle up in greater numbers than any other age demographic, are also at an increased risk of dying in a crash. Sadly, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American youth, exceeding all crime and disease-related causes.
There is no question about it: safety belts save lives. Spread the word to your family and friends to buckle up. You could save them the cost of a ticket. Even better: you could save a life. Remember to buckle up every trip, every time and designate a sober driver.
Chief Thomas Weitzel
Riverside Police Department
Lt. James Episcopo
Brookfield Police Department
