TO THE EDITOR:

Child care is already hard to obtain, and when you can get a little discount on the monetary side of the issue, it really helps out.

But then comes along Gov. Bob Taft who said that people who make $20,000 or more will no longer receive reduced (vouchers) childcare services, and that's for a family of three. After the old and new taxes, rent/mortgage, education, transportation, food, clothing and little to no entertainment, do you still believe a person is living the life off of $14,000 a year? That's what is usually left after these expenses, and we haven't gotten to employee deductions.

This cut is hitting single parents, especially minority parents who are stretching their budgets.

Why not ask all employers to pay 50 percent of day care for their employees with children? This way, not only would it be an incentive, but would cut down on absenteeism.

Also, employers could receive a tax break for on- site daycare (if building codes permit), and if space is not available, then the employer could have a list of available and certified day-care centers that would participate in the program.

If such a program were implemented, vouchers would not be necessary except at some non-profit organizations, such as the YMCA, YWCA and churches.

Nancy Finley, Golf Manor

Howard Dean is impressive candidate

This syndicated column (" 'The doctor is in': Howard Dean's rise," July 6) by Philip Terzian of the Providence Journal brings to light an interesting aspect of criticism.

While Terzian praises Howard Dean's web site, he understates the positives and overstates the negatives - so much so that he practices what he complains is Dr. Dean's worst quality, that he is negative.

Among numerous other things, he complains Dean bungled his Meet the Press interview . . . Actually Dean, in my opinion, did what we all would want to do when subjected to a prosecutorial mine field: reasonably resist being pinned.

Howard Dean is being labeled anti-press for the same reason, and "truculent" for standing up for himself. The media attention he is getting is an indication that Howard Dean is speaking directly to the people through his web site . . . and the press may feel a little ignored.

I urge you not to take someone else's word for it but to check his position on the issues for yourself, I did - and I was favorably impressed: www.deanforamerica.com.

Gerry Lykins, Fort Thomas

Skateboarding has become mainstream

This letter concerns the article ("Skateboarders' new roles: park advisers," July 10.) I can tell you what it was like being a skater. There was never a real place devoted to the skaters where I lived, that's why we hit the streets. That was when all the trouble came with authority.

I can remember being kicked off properties and having the cops called on my friends and I, so many times. I can recall a lot of discrimination and conflicts with stereotypes. It brings me joy to see more skate parks being built. Now skateboarding, Rollerblading and biking are all viewed of as extreme sports. The kids are starting to make higher voices in opinion, and people are growing to accept it.

Robert Lam, Blue Ash

Skateboarding ban unfair to teens

I am writing regarding the article "Loveland skateboarding ban holds" (July 9). I skateboard and think if they are putting a ban on skateboarding, they should put a ban on Rollerblading, scooters and all the sports that have wheels. Why are they only taking away the skateboarding? I have seen people get hurt on bicycles, scooters and Rollerblades.

Skateboarding is such a popular activity. Many of Cincinnati's teens skateboard; taking this away is not going to help our teens stay out of trouble or keep them from doing drugs.

If they let the other sports stay around in Loveland but take skateboarding away, they are going to have a lot of teens going against the ban.If the teens go against the ban, they get into trouble with the law, and will not have a good relationship with the cops. I know cops have better things to do than worry about looking out for teens on skateboards.

Melissa Couch, Blue Ash

Britney Spears just wants some attention

I am writing in response to the July 9 article containing details about Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's relationship. No one wants to know about Britney's relationships and her love life. I think this was a stunt she tried to pull off in order to gain a little popularity.

Becky Abrams, Montgomery

Chance for terrorist attack very rare

This is in regard to the July 9 letter ("Terrorists could set up shop under bridges"). I suggest the author take a few deep breaths and say to himself: "The chances of myself or those I love falling victim to terrorists attacks are less than being struck by lightning twice in the same day." If you continue seeing opportunities for terrorists, and there are many, I recommend psychiatric help.

Dan Coppock, Mount Lookout

Education reforms wrongly enforced

I hope everyone had the chance to read the editorial ("Leaving no state behind," July 2).

Does anyone remember when the Republicans suggested in 1994 that the Department of Education be shut down, closed? Does anyone remember how the issue was demagogued by the Democrats, and the Republicans were vilified and accused of wanting to cut education, were against children and on and on?

Today, the Department of Education tells Ohio if it doesn't do what they want us to do they will withhold $437 million of federal funds - Extortion, the crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority.

The article's comment, "The infuriating thing is this: It's the state taxpayer's money in the first place," really says it all.

Syndicated columnist Walter Williams was right when he talked about "legalized theft."

Wake up people. We have a budget/revenue crisis in the state of Ohio; have returned to our state only a small portion of the taxes we send to Washington and keep electing the same extortionist every year.

Andrew A. Egloff, Sycamore Township

More government in Clermont not needed

So the Ohio Legislature is going to create another municipal court clerkship for Clermont County. Wow, just what we need. Presently, county government in Clermont is the second-largest employer in the county. And remember, we are not a poor or poorly populated area. We have government agencies out here for everything. However, when we had two bridges wash out on county roads in a fairly heavily populated township, our new county engineer told me in a phone conversation that there was no money to repair them and that he was "waiting to hear from the state" for extra funding.

When I asked about the possibility of an emergency fund to cover such occurrences, I was told by this same person that the engineer's office "only had a budget of $8.5 million dollars" and that the "summer projects had been finalized." Does anyone believe that if this had occurred in Blue Ash or Sycamore Township, or several other locations that the residents would be forced to detour endlessly while the county "waited on the state"? I'll wager they would not. When I called one of our County Commissioners to inquirer as to his opinion about the attempts to curb growth in Warren County, he told me he favored growth, but he wanted me to know he favored regulated growth. When I asked what that meant, he informed me he was going into a hearing and would call me back in two hours. He still hasn't returned my call.

Not all change has been negative, but if our county doesn't begin to get their priorities straight, the residents will continue to pay, literally.

Fred R. Ross, Batavia

State taxes should be evenly distributed

The recent worry over how much state and federal funding will be available for local spending raises this question: Why are federal and state funds used to benefit only local communities?

Is it the legislators who arrange to give the money are off in Columbus and somewhat removed from local politics, and therefore less subject to losing their positions over the matter? The funds distributed must be first collected from taxpayers. Figures have been published showing Ohio taxpayers pay considerably more in federal taxes than the federal government returns to Ohio.

Ohio taxes go to provide water to the southwest and build highways in California. Taxpayers in other Ohio areas may pay the taxes, which provide subsidies to the Hamilton County Library, build rail public transportation, or build more sewers. None of those services benefit the taxpayers in other parts of the state.

State taxes could be reduced and local taxpayers could decide on local taxes for local services.

Stuart L. Faber, Hartwell

Use latest technology for family services

This is in regards to the July 6 article "Child support fix leaves holes." Tom Hayes, Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, wants Ohio to be followers, not leaders, in innovation and technology. This lack of leadership has been a repeated theme in Ohio's failed programs (as cited by Jim Petro, former state auditor).

I can remember when Ohio was considered a leader among states and valued their children and families.

Hayes wants to believe that failing children is acceptable if it saves money. He doesn't understand the money being saved is off the backs of children and the waste, abuse and misuse of a hobbled government costs taxpayers more to fix than to do right in the first place?

The current computer system costs more to maintain annually than it would cost the state to get new accurate and efficient computer system that will not require high-cost maintenance and lawsuits, and will solve the problem for families now.

Carrie Davis, Ohio coordinator for ACES Groesbeck