More troubling than his opposition to same-sex marriage is the logic Hamilton County Commissioner John Dowlin uses to support amending the Constitution. He reasons that the Constitution should be amended to ban same-sex marriage because such marriages might cost too much.

With that logic in mind, there are other amendments waiting in line. Should we not ban divorce? Dowlin himself stated that divorce clogs the county courts and drains the county budget. Perhaps we should ban smoking, and high-fat foods, and lack of exercise. They put a strain on the Medicaid and Medicare budgets. Perhaps we should ban illiteracy, unemployment and even war - they all cost money.

Dowlin's premise is very dangerous to the future of our Constitution. Sadly, his resolution isn't about money, morality or marriage. It is about power, politics, control and the next election. Dowlin is using our sacred Constitution, and some of our county citizens as pawns in his political game.

Michael Smith

Northside

Ky. lawmakers show political courage

As a lifelong resident of Campbell County and current chairman of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, I want to commend Rep. Jim Callahan for the statesmanship he displayed during his May 27 press conference in Frankfort.

His courage to ask his fellow legislators and leadership to rise above partisan politics and work toward a compromise on a budget and tax reform shows that he truly cares for the well-being of this fine commonwealth. I would also like to commend Rep. Jon Draud, a Republican, for his courage in supporting Callahan, a Democrat, at this press conference.

If the leadership of the two governing bodies can share this same courage and be willing to work toward a common goal, Gov. Ernie Fletcher will then have a reason to call for a special legislative session to pass a budget with a tax reform plan, allowing Kentucky to move forward.

Timothy P. Rawe

Fort Thomas

CG&E rate increase seems sudden

In this day and age inflation has become an everyday thing and there is not much to change that. However, I am troubled after hearing about an increase in electricity rates ("CG&E to raise rates 13 percent," May 21). How can a company justify going for 12 years without a price raise and then decide to increase rates by 13 percent and only call that a start of what's to come?

There must have been some indicators to see this big of an increase coming so that the situation could have been buffered somehow. There has to be some way to defray the costs without having to live with no electricity.

Craig Forsberg

Bevis

Criticize president only constructively

As one who taught United States government to high school seniors for a couple of decades, I always taught students that yes, we can constructively criticize the person who is president, but we never attack/degrade the United States presidency.

Obviously, the "Your Voice" column by Gary Leising "Hail to the Chief diet aide, if not policies" (May 24) was never taught this. He crossed this line and demeaned the office of the presidency. Gary is "creative," but his flippant tone made me ill. I also noted that Gary offered zero positive or new ideas. How easy it is to tear down and not build up.

Rich Bell

Milford

Watch out for cicadas in appliances

My mother turned on her hot water and found it cold, so she naturally thought her hot water tank was broken. When my brother went to investigate it, he noticed the pilot light was not lit and a cicada was buzzing away under there. My brother concluded that the cicada must have blown out the pilot light. The cicada was killed after the pilot light was relighted. My mother has hot water again, and my brother is still trying to find out how the cicada got into the basement. Beware all; cicadas are invading homes.

Lois Johnson

Hyde Park