Congress needs women

In his otherwise excellent Opinion page article "What Congress Needs Is Real Reform," June 2, Rep. Joel Hefley [(D) of Colorado] fails to mention the most needed reform of all: more women. Women have had the vote for more than 70 years, but with only 2 percent in the Senate and less than 7 percent in the House, they need to be not only enfranchised but empowered.

With greater numbers and more clout they could make a tremendous difference, not only in fairness to more than half the electorate and the caring, nurturing concerns they excel in, but also in such common-sense matters as deficit and debt reduction. If there was ever a time for affirmative action to be applied, this is it. Louis R. Ward, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

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