I am modifying a well-known phrase here: Truth is the first casualty of political campaigns. I guess it makes some sense, as political campaigns are battling for your vote.

However, I still believe facts matter. You are reading a newspaper and letters to the editor, and so I believe you believe facts matter, and you want to be an informed voter.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) recently released a statement attacking Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, the Democratic candidate for the House seat currently held by Rep. Bresnahan (R).

The NRCC statement alleges that Mayor Cognetti cut paid maternity leave for Scranton employees. In truth, all benefits for City of Scranton employees are negotiated by the union and reflect the priorities of each bargaining team. 

To be clear, Scranton workers still receive paid sick time, personal days, vacation, holidays, bereavement leave, continued health coverage and childbirth-related short-term disability. Unused sick time can accumulate significantly, and employees may take up to 14 weeks away from work when city and federal leave provisions run together.

Just as important, Cognetti’s record supports families. Her administration invested in child care, literacy, tutoring, hunger relief and safer parks. Now she is running for Congress on a platform that includes fighting for the PRO Act and federal legislation that ensures universal paid family leave. 

Not the record of someone who is anti-mother or anti-family, but the record of a leader who understands what working families need.

These attacks distract from serious issues facing women and children right now. Recent federal cuts to SNAP and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (Rep. Bresnahan voted for both) reduce access to healthy food for pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children, while also hurting local farmers. Those are the kinds of issues our leaders should be focused on.

Voters deserve the truth, but we often need to look deeper than what the campaigns offer. 

Julie Pease
Lake Ariel, PA