14th Amendment, Yoder versus the EPA and political tactics

To the court

If I recall my high school civics, the 14th Amendment was passed specifically with former slaves in mind. It was intended to address children born on U.S. soil to slave parents, who were legally here.

However, the amendment was not written about today’s illegal immigration, so it is inevitable that the Supreme Court will ultimately rule on any executive order attempting to overturn it. (Oct. 31, 5A, “Trump vows to end birthright citizenship”)

In my opinion, it’s a toss-up because, on the one hand, kids born here are, in fact, compliant with the requirement of citizenship. On the other hand, they were born here because of an illegal act.

I’m going to make some popcorn and watch that show when the time comes.

Will Royster

Kansas City

Needed safeguard

Calling the Environmental Protection Agency “one of the most destructive agencies” and accusing the agency of “efforts to attack” Americans show how out of touch Rep. Kevin Yoder is with the priorities of the American people. (Oct. 31, 1A, “Yoder, Davids clash on issues in only debate of campaign”)

Gallup polling from earlier this year shows that six in 10 Americans think our government is doing too little on the environment and that large majorities in both parties want to set stronger standards for polluting industries and to enforce current regulations more strongly.

This support for environmental protection shouldn’t come as a surprise. Americans understand that clean air and clean water are essential to living healthy and prosperous lives. And environmental protection is a great value.

Contrary to Yoder’s assertion that the EPA is hurting the economy, strong standards provide huge economic benefits while saving lives. For example, the EPA estimated in 2011 that the $2 trillion in economic benefits of the Clean Air Act would exceed its costs from 1990 to 2020 by a factor of 30 to 1 — and would prevent 230,000 early deaths by 2020.

A healthy environment and healthy economy go hand in hand. Kansans deserve a member of Congress who understands that.

Melissa Cheatham

Overland Park

Kansas’ interests

Regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency held back Kansas farmers for years. Until recently, EPA rules prohibited the year-round sale of many alternative fuel choices during summer months, including E15, a biofuel blend with 15 percent ethanol. This hurt farmers, who rely on the ethanol industry to supply demand for crops.

Thankfully, we had Rep. Kevin Yoder working for us in Washington to change this. And just a couple weeks ago, President Donald Trump announced that the EPA would allow the year-round sale of fuels such as E15.

Now farms can enjoy the financial relief that will come with the freedom to compete, particularly during the busy travel months of summer. Consumers will benefit as well, because fuels such as E15 offer a cleaner and more affordable choice at the pump. The fuel burns cooler than traditional gas and typically costs 5 to 10 cents less per gallon.

It is encouraging to know that we have leaders like Yoder working to put money back in the pockets of hard-working Kansas farmers.

Daniel Riffel

Stockton, Kan.

Distracting gambit

What do we do about all the murders committed by white American Christian terrorists? Oh, right — divert attention to imaginary threats from exhausted and emaciated refugees escaping from violent countries in an effort simply to live safe and peaceful lives with their families.

Pam Bennett

Lenexa

The right honor

I am a 72-year-old white woman. I am 100 percent in favor of renaming one of our streets after Martin Luther King Jr., but renaming The Paseo is absolutely the wrong choice. Shamefully, we already have one street that has divided the races — Troost Avenue — and The Paseo parallels it. This would just serve to underline the division.

On the other hand, renaming 63rd Street would use the powerful name of our fallen civil rights leader to unite the city.

Swope Park, which recently has been shown off so well with the Open Spaces arts festival, would be linked to residential neighborhoods, the revival of east Brookside, Brookside itself with its lively collection of shops and restaurants, on through more affluent neighborhoods, past Ward Parkway to the state line. We might even take some perverse pleasure in getting our Kansas neighbors to follow suit.

Renaming 63rd Street is the best choice for Kansas City to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Elizabeth Darr