Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., center, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., left, and other Republicans depart a news conference after criticizing the policies of President Joe Biden on immigration and Democratic lawmakers for their stand on the Homeland Security budget stalemate, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
What Trump wants, he still gets
... from toady Mike Johnson and House Republicans. GOP Senators passed a bipartisan bill to fund TSA and the Coast Guard, but the House amended the bill and changed it to fund Trump's pet army, ICE and the Border Patrol, which they know Democrats won't vote for without mitigating the brutal tactics that ICE uses.
This way, Trump can ride in on his white horse and fund TSA with an executive order. And he can continue to blame Democrats for obstructionism. And he will continue to demand that Congress pass his Save America Act to inconvenience states and voters who want mail-in voting. What an enormity of lying, deceitful garbage has been thrust on the American people.
John Schmidt
Southwest side
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Catalina Foothills finances
In 2022, CFSD 16 voters approved Propositions 488, 489, and 490 (School Improvement Bonds, District Additional Assistance Budget Override, and a 13.5% Maintenance & Operations Budget Override, respectively). The open enrollment rate is now estimated to be at least 50-55%, with 21% to 33% of the school-aged children within the district attending school elsewhere.
The governing board blames a decreased birth rate, an aging population, and empowerment scholarship accounts on declining in-district enrollment. There is some truth to this, though ironic given the district’s promotion of practices and lifestyles that directly lead to fewer births and have forced many families to enroll their children elsewhere.
Will the governing board do anything to reach out to in-district families that have decided their children’s best interests lie in schools outside of CFSD? If the open enrollment numbers keep growing, at what point will the CFSD 16 voters decide it is no longer worthwhile to approve further bonds and budget overrides?
Bart Pemberton
Foothills
To what degree?
A pediatrician: undergraduate 4-year college degree, four years of medical school, three years of pediatric residency, and can spend two to six years subspecializing. That’s 11-15 years of pediatric preparation.
Robert Kennedy, Jr.’s education: BA in American history and literature; law degree; Master of Laws degree in environmental law.
As the current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), his array of responsibilities includes protecting the health of all Americans, providing essential human services, and directing public health emergency responses.
When parents are making decisions on vaccinations and other health recommendations relevant to keeping their children healthy and safe, which education and degrees matter?
Camille Gannon
West side
Kharg Island and Iwo Jima
When President Trump ordered the attack on Iran, Lindsey Graham, Republican senator from South Carolina, stated that “We don’t want to bomb oil refineries. We are going to make a lot of money.” This was assuming that the US would easily win the war, take over the refineries and sell the oil.
Now, that the Strait of Hormuz and Kharg Island have become thorns in this plan, Graham wants to have Marines attack the island and take it over.
His callous statement was, “We did Iwo Jima, we can do Kharg Island.” He is probably correct. With enough boots on the ground, we can take Kharg Island. Graham doesn’t seem to consider that “taking” Iwo Jima cost the lives of 7,000 young men, with another 19,000 wounded. Or, he doesn’t care. So what if a few thousand Marines die taking Kharg Island if, in the words of the Republican Senate leader, “we can make a lot of money”?
Gary Haslett
SaddleBrooke
Trump's name on money
Trump's insatiable ego now demands that his signature adorn our currency, starting in June. Bad idea. It is legal to write on paper currency unless your additions make the bills unusable or cover key features, like the seal or serial number. I am certain that I am not the only person who is both immature enough and outraged enough to add a colon and a label after his signature. I'm going to start with "Donald J. Trump: 34 felony convictions." I'm sure others will have the same idea, and I look forward to reading their creative offerings as I slip George and Abe into my wallet at the checkout counter.
Donald Reese
Southeast side
Name change
To counteract misleading nomenclature regarding world issues and events, henceforth, "Epic Fury" will now be referred to as "Epstein Fury Denied."
Rick Cohn
West side
Record heat in Tucson
Glad to see the Star being serious about the record heat in Tucson and the impact of global warming. Several times in the Weather section, the high temperature of the day (red) is double-printed. The "Hot Temperature" alert for March 27 displays a record heat of 1000 degrees (due to the double print). Caliente! Hot! Hot! Definitely time for sunscreen and good BBQ next to the pool. Can't wait for June.
Ray Bynum
Northwest side
TEP franchise agreement is important
A recent Star opinion article highlighted the TEP franchise agreement that allows the utility to use city rights of way. The writer was critical of the franchise fee because it's passed on to customers as a cost of service. Most businesses and utilities, including Tucson Water, do the same.
Climate change (drought) is bringing an unprecedented Arizona heat wave. It will require TEP's ability to utilize city streets to come to our rescue when there is a need for repairs or new lines. I want my air conditioner and other appliances to operate effectively, especially in extreme weather.
Tucson Mayor and Council will have to vote to place the franchise agreement on the ballot soon. I urge voters to learn more about franchise agreements and how they work. It is up to us to know the facts about this urgent matter before we vote.
Former Tucson City Council member
Carol W. West
East side
Resign, sir
Let's admit it. We’re desperate to make a deal with the president. Just like Iran. C'mon, sir. You should know that the new Congress next January is going to make your job no fun. They're going to investigate and investigate. So boring. So why bother? You work so strongly, and for what? So stupid people (and there's a lot of 'em) complain to corrupt pollsters? And do they ever give you presents? You don't need this.
So please. Resign. Today is a great day for that. Resign and play golf before all the subpoenas roll in. We are not worthy of your patriotism. You don't need this.
Resign, sir. Today would be excellent. We don't need this.
Mike Cohen
Oro Valley
Cheapening the meaning of genocide
I agree with the letter of March 27, criticism of Israel is not Jew hate, however peddling the lie of genocide against Israel is. Using the writer's own definition, genocide involves intent. There was no intent. Any examination of the facts disproves the allegations of this letter. Like any war, the images we see are devastating, but simply saying a lot of people died is anything but genocide.
Urban war experts emphasize that no country has ever gone to the lengths Israel has to avoid civilian casualties. Israel was under no obligation (under international law) to supply aid, food, fuel water and medical supplies to territory that Hamas controlled, yet Israel facilitated it throughout the conflict. The Israeli action that highlights the lie is the fact that Israel facilitated the polio vaccination of 1.1 million Palestinian children during the fighting. Sustaining the Gazan population under Hamas control with food, water and medical supplies and calling it genocide is Jew hate.
Andrew Kunsberg
East side
