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Message’s language misses mark with reader
Mr. Joseph Decker made The Times Leader’s front page Friday, along with a photograph of the rear window of his truck. I confess to being confused.
If he wants people who cannot speak English to get out, how in the world can he expect them to read English on his truck?
Right to free speech shields even the ignorant
I find it rather interesting that a man who is apparently so earnest in his support of the English language doesn’t quite grasp it himself, as evidenced by the “your/you’re” mix-up of his original sign wording. Yet somehow I doubt that Mr. Joseph Decker would group himself among those he wishes to “get the f#!k out.”
While I might vehemently disagree with his politics, I was pleased to see that the American Civil Liberties Union has taken up his case, as even bigotry and ignorance are protected under our right to free speech.
Health care enrollment reopened to veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which now has nearly 8 million veterans enrolled in its award-winning health care system, is poised to welcome nearly 266,000 more people into its medical centers and clinics across the country by expanding access to health care enrollment for certain veterans who had been excluded due to their income.
Under a regulation effective June 15, VA will enroll veterans whose income exceeds current means-tested thresholds by up to 10 percent.
These veterans were excluded from VA health care enrollment when income limits were imposed in 2003 on veterans with no service-connected disabilities or other special eligibility for care. There is no income limit for veterans with compensable service-connected disabilities or for veterans being seen for their service-connected disabilities.
Veterans who have applied for VA health care but were rejected due to income at any point in 2009 will have their applications reconsidered under the new income threshold formula. Those people who applied before 2009, but were rejected due to income, must reapply. VA will contact these veterans through a direct-mail campaign, veterans service organizations and marketing campaigns.
Information about enrollment and an income and assets calculator are available at www.va.gov/healtheligibility.
The calculator provides a format in which veterans enter their household income, number of dependents and ZIP codes to see if they might qualify for VA health care enrollment.
In addition to applying online, veterans also can contact the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center’s Enrollment and Eligibility Section toll free at 1-877-928-2621 and press “1.” Or you may contact the VA’s Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222 VETS (1-877-222-8387).
Legislature should control its own costs
On the editorial page of July 15, state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski called on the insurance companies to forego rate hikes due to the struggling economy. Is this a call for everyone in health care to not get a raise this year?
I notice that the nurses at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital are negotiating a new contract. How can we expect insurance rates to stay low if we grant raises to health care workers? Is Mr. Pashinski opposed to the nurses getting a raise?
If Mr. Pashinski is so concerned for the struggling Pennsylvania taxpayers, where was his bill to support stopping a pay raise for the Legislature? Where is Mr. Pashinski’s call to waive the Legislative “walking around funds”? Where is his call to cut spending in the Legislature?
It seems that Mr. Pashinski and the Legislature can call for others to control costs, while they cannot.
House Dems’ budget plan is not a viable proposal
The House Democrats’ state budget proposal cannot be viewed as a serious proposal. Their plan, offered two weeks into the new fiscal year, is a violation of the taxpayers’ trust.
The House Democrats should have taken the time to produce a viable budget. Besides squandering residents’ time and money, the House Democrats’ budget has major flaws, perhaps the most flagrant being a massive increase in spending (and taxes) during a strained economy, when we can least afford it.
Their plan calls for spending $1.4 billion more than last year and more than even Gov. Ed Rendell proposed in February. With a massive decline in state revenue, it would be absurd to increase state spending, especially when we have a windfall of federal “stimulus” money to fund core state government programs and services.
When the residents are expected to live within their means, so should the state government.
Dogs become ‘vicious’ at hands of cruel owners
Breed specific legislation does nothing to address the problem of “vicious” dogs, as they are made vicious by their cruel owners.
If you ban a certain set of dog breeds, you will then find that another batch of breeds is being brutalized in the same way and made to act aggressively. Attack the problem at its source, and do not victimize the victims, who are the dogs themselves.
Public health care option will make people priority
We need a public option to compete with the health care insurance industry. We need to regulate the health care industry.
If we don’t do both, we will not fix the health care system.
Furthermore, we cannot have the health care industry continue to be “for profit.” If we don’t make these fixes, your premiums will continue to go higher. Even more procedures will be denied, and even more people will go without any coverage.
What would Jesus want? Take care of the people, not your pockets. People first.
Our doctors and nurses are the backbone of the industry. They deserve more money and respect, not the insurance company and CEOs running the hospitals.
Your doctor is the only one who really knows what care you need – not those bureaucrats.
Call your congressman and tell him that we need a public option now. Why wait? So more people can die?
Nation’s citizens should heed Bible’s warning
In the first book of the Old Testament, we are told by the Lord that those nations that help Israel, God will bless, and those against Israel will be cursed.
Not much plainer than that. I believe the Bible; please take heed.
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