LTE: Voting Republican in SI

In a Friday 'Letter to the Editor' (LTE) in the SI Advance, a writer ponders why so many blue collar workers continue to vote for Republicans;

My problem is that I can't understand why Staten Island is so Republican. Working people should appreciate Social Security, food inspections, clean air, clean water and insurance on our money in the bank. All these benefits and more were fought for by Democrats and opposed by Republicans.

Read the full piece here.

Not to mention Republicans opposed this year's passing of the first minimum wage increase in a decade. Republicans opposed the Democratic plan to cut student loan interest rates, making college more affordable and accessible to more people. Republicans all but gutted Pell Grant funding while they were in control. Pell grants are the largest need based grant program the government offers. The list goes on.