Federal Budget Standoff

One point that the media and pundits seem to be overlooking in the budget standoff is the enormous backlog of work that is accumulating while Congress and the president play politics. Isn’t our government overburdened enough, without having to dig itself out of an even larger hole when the budget is finally passed?

Please tell the IRS I’m prorating my tax bill based on the number of days governmental services are offline.

ROD GILLESPIE

Los Angeles

* Republicans were pictured as having caved in to President Clinton by issuing the latest continuing resolution (Jan. 5). Nothing could be further from the truth. What was accomplished was to allow government employees to return to work, and be paid, as they would be anyway. They are not the enemy; Big Brother government is!

What was added, but not widely reported, was a bill requiring that the president submit a balanced budget by Jan. 26. Thus, the ball has been put in his court; this is good, for Clinton will be able to take credit for doing it his way. We don’t care. We will have achieved our purposes. America will be forever changed, and for the better.

ROBERT MILLER

Huntington Beach

* With regard to the federal government shutdown, whose government is it anyway? Is it a toy for the Republicans to use when they need to get their way after 40 years of frustration? Are they the only taxpayers? We the people pay for these services, are entitled to them, and it is wrong for anyone to shut the government down or refuse to fund it.

KEN WHITE

Costa Mesa

* While blaming each other for the shutdown of government offices and program funding, our politicians’ rhetoric included an implication that the “other” side was also responsible for the unavailability of funds for the Meals on Wheels program for the elderly (Jan. 6).

Pasadena Meals on Wheels, which services Pasadena and surrounding communities, has never received government funding of any kind. We rely solely on the generosity of local foundations and residents who are aware that Pasadena Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit, voluntary community service for those unable to prepare adequate meals for themselves.

MARY OTTE, President

Pasadena Meals on Wheels