Letters: Time for a Congressman Who Delivers; Penn State Football Needs to Get Serious

Representative Glenn Thompson says the right thing about supporting education: “… meant to give every child, regardless of ZIP code, background or ability, access to a quality education.”

Unfortunately, his words do not match his actions.

When Linda McMahon was confirmed as Secretary of Education, she was charged with dismantling the department and worked to reduce support for public schools, as well as take money from public schools to support charter and private schools. Glenn Thompson did nothing.

The Department of Education announced the termination of more than $600 million in teacher training grants in 2025 and froze billions of dollars in congressionally approved education funding. Glenn Thompson did nothing.

Similarly, in July 2025, the administration paused approximately $6 billion in funding for six federal education programs, including programs supporting teacher training, English learners, migrant students, after-school activities and adult education. Glenn Thompson did nothing.

Additionally, $900 million was canceled from educational research, threatening or disrupting important data on school crime and safety, early childhood education, trade schools, students with disabilities and more. Glenn Thompson did nothing.

Federal money is especially important for rural districts like those in PA-15, which collect low property taxes.

We deserve a member of Congress who does not just give lip service to the education needs of rural children, but who acts accordingly.

Linda Barton,
State College

Thompson’s Words vs. Actions

Glenn Thompson talks a good game. His self-promotion, however, far exceeds his performance.

Take health care.

In a recent newsletter, Thompson celebrated his bipartisan legislation to expand veterans’ access to mammograms. An important pursuit, certainly. But why did he feature it under “Bad News”? This constituent would rather hear what he’s doing to address the real bad news: inflation, high gas prices, hospital closures and the Iran war.

I applaud efforts to improve health care. But one promising initiative hardly compensates for Thompson’s votes to make health care less affordable and accessible.

He supported massive tax cuts for the wealthy while voting to slash food assistance and Medicaid. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services projections show 144,000 Pennsylvanians could lose SNAP benefits and 310,000 could lose Medicaid coverage.

These cuts threaten struggling rural hospitals with reduced services or closure. Already, eight north-central Pennsylvania counties lack local maternity services, leaving 35,000 women of childbearing age without nearby labor and delivery care.

Thompson also opposed extending health insurance subsidies. Without them, Pennie premiums doubled on average. More than 200,000 Pennie coverage cancellations have been recorded this year, with rising costs a leading reason.

Some seniors also face disruptions as Medicare Advantage insurers withdraw plans from certain areas.

Thompson’s newsletter offers the highlight reel. His voting record tells another story.

It’s time to call his bluff.

Vote for Ray Bilger for Congress.

Marilyn Goldffarb,
Boalsburg

Wanted: A Congressman Who Delivers

Central Pennsylvanians are worried about prices for everyday needs, affordable health care, an unjustified war, quality education and a corrupt administration.

Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson did nothing in his last term to show he understands Central Pennsylvanians’ concerns, and his re-election campaign makes clear he won’t change.

When Thompson was asked about the district’s most pressing issues, he cited his “great legislative success” restoring whole and 2% milk in schools and added a vague statement about the need for a long-term farm bill. He said nothing about affordability or other constituent concerns – and has done nothing to address them.

Thompson supports the tariffs and the war in Iran, which drive high prices. His votes for the budget bill and against health insurance subsidies caused tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians to lose insurance or pay higher premiums. He stood by as the administration slashed education funding, cutting teachers and counselors, teacher training, after-school daycare and student services; he supports diverting taxpayer money from public schools to charter and private schools. He lets corruption go unchecked.

As the saying goes, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

We don’t want more of the same.

Ray Bilger will act on our behalf. A veteran with decades of experience in government and national security, he’s a proven problem-solver. His priority is to address affordability by having Congress reclaim its constitutional responsibilities.

Bilger is who we need to fix our problems.

Connie Schulz,
State College

Penn State Football Needs to Get Serious

The definition of insanity or, rather, Penn State football, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. This has been Penn State football for quite some time now.

Last year, following yet another big game loss, Penn State’s season collapsed for the third time this decade, and James Franklin was relieved of his duties. AD Pat Kraft had ample time to make a big hire. What did he do with that time? After fumbling BYU’s Kalani Sitake, Kraft hired a monotonous coach in Matt Campbell, who, by all accounts, is a fantastic human being, but the problem is Campbell brings a blue-collar “do more with less” approach, and had only one double-digit win season during his 10-season tenure at Iowa State.

If you’re a Penn State fan who is very well aware of the old-school culture that has plagued the program, you know this was the exact opposite hire Penn State needed.

The person Penn State needs, and who Kraft needed to hire, was right in front of them the entire time: Bob Chesney. A native Pennsylvanian, Chesney took James Madison to the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance last season. Chesney has done nothing but win at every stop he’s been at, and there’s a certain sense of flash and charisma with him that the PSU program desperately needs to move forward, not backward. To no surprise, Kraft and co. didn’t make the hire. Chesney, now in his first season at UCLA, has the Bruins 6-0 and ranked No. 7.

As a result of the unserious hire, the program is delivering an unserious product. This is the fourth collapsed season this decade. The coaches are clearly in over their heads, and the players look like they’ve regressed. Players can’t tackle. Campbell himself can’t even call timeouts properly. He’s also referenced “learning from the past” several times, but he clearly isn’t learning from what led to James Franklin’s departure. Penn State is not only dropping games to teams they have no business losing to, but they are doing so in a conference schedule that’s the most favorable since Penn State joined the Big Ten back in 1993. PSU is currently sitting in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten recruiting-wise for 2027. The writing is on the wall. This cannot continue for 3 years.

This has become inexcusable. Fan patience is wearing thin for the leaders who have neglected to take a step forward. Season ticket prices are rising. If Penn State chooses to finally become serious about winning and moving on from the past, they can become a perennial national contender. PSU has one of the biggest alumni base in the country, sits in a fertile football state and region, will have the biggest stadium in college football, new facilities, etc. Indiana figured it out. Ohio State has had it figured out. It’s time for Penn State to figure it out, see this disaster for what it is, and make tough, but winning, decisions for once. Time is wasting.

Alex Tomasko,
Harrisburg

Bilger Is the Only Choice for Congress

Central Pennsylvanians deserve a representative who has their needs and interests at heart. Glenn “GT” Thompson isn’t it.

Thompson’s actions have hurt constituents. His failure to oppose tariffs contributed to inflation. His support of the Iran war helped drive up gas and diesel prices. His votes threatened food benefits and health insurance for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.

He knows he’s not representing constituents because he hides from us. No town halls in nine years. Refusing, as in the past, to participate in debates. Ignoring voters’ correspondence.

Ray Bilger is a refreshing contrast. He’s a veteran with a lifetime of public service and a commitment to improving lives in the 15th Congressional District.

Bilger grew up in Pleasant Gap but left because of limited employment opportunities. Returning after a distinguished 35-year career in national security and intelligence with the Air Force, National Security Agency, and State Department, he found even worse problems—limited jobs, a stressed health care system, people struggling to get by.

Bilger is ready to tackle those challenges and fight for his friends and neighbors.

He’ll support policies that help rural Pennsylvanians: economic opportunities, affordable and accessible health care, sustainable family farms. He’ll defend the Constitution and rule of law. A gun owner himself, he supports common-sense gun laws. He understands that elected office means serving constituents.

A vote for Bilger is a vote for central Pennsylvanians.

Mary Bruce Serene,
State College

How Does Thomson Serve Us?

Glenn “GT” Thompson is seeking another term in Congress, proclaiming, “(W)e will continue to do great things for our communities, Pennsylvania, and this great country.”

It’s hard to reconcile that sentiment with the man holding that office. Thompson’s record contains few significant actions that benefit his constituents—but plenty that hurt us. Worse, he ignores the problems plaguing us.

Even Thompson’s own announcements reveal how little he has accomplished. His touted 2025 achievements include restoring whole and 2% milk in schools and “work on services for veterans, local economic development initiatives and career and technical education opportunities.” All are worthy causes, but “work on” is remarkably vague.

Thompson consistently favors billionaires over ordinary Americans. His votes caused thousands of Pennsylvanians to lose food benefits and health insurance. He voted against legislation to end the war in Iran, contributing to high gas prices.

Thompson’s weekly newsletters rarely focus on important matters. He seems oblivious to the war in Iran, inflation, high gas and health insurance costs, declining employment, hospital closures, spotty broadband coverage and unchecked immigration enforcement actions.

He hasn’t spoken out about Trump’s actions that trouble even other Republicans: tariffs that raise consumer prices, attacks on the media, cozying up to authoritarian leaders like Xi and Putin, threats to elections, treating government property as his own and improper financial dealings.

It’s time for a representative who sees what central Pennsylvanians need—and delivers for us. That’s Ray Bilger.

Karen Stoehr,
State College