Good riddance to Rep. Lipinski, a Democrat who was really a Republican

The people of the 3rd Congressional District have suffered for years by having U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., consistently vote Republican and for war expenditures over humane concerns.

He betrayed his constituents, and especially his blue-collar constituents who did not have the advantage of a daddy to hand them a job, as he did to land what has given him job security and all the perks of office — like congressional health care.

Lipinski, who lost his last election and is leaving office, was one of only two Democrats who voted on Monday against boosting COVID-19 benefit checks from $600 to $2,000 for eligible adults, to help save the unemployed and those desperately in need.

Why? Good riddance to a Democrat who was really a Republican.

Ed Juillard, Morgan Park

Why a check for everyone?

Government, with pandemic restrictions, shut down thousands of businesses, restricted the businesses of others and put millions of people out of work. So, yes, I can live with the government helping people in need. For now. Raise unemployment benefits until such time as the businesses reopen or go back to full capacity.

Aid to businesses, though, is a little more complicated. Stopping all tax payments that incur during this time would be a good start, including property taxes.

But last time they sent us a pandemic stimulus check, too. We didn’t need it. We weren’t affected by the shutdown or restrictions. Why did we get a check? Why are they giving everyone a check, just because they made less than a certain amount of money? I made less than that even when I was working, and I was working in an essential business.

They’re using this virus thing as an excuse to just spend money that’s not needed.

Maybe I should just give the money back or donate it to a charity. Nah! All this government borrowing will only increase the rate of inflation, and I’ll need the money to stay even.

Larry Craig, Wilmette