Brian Blase’s column in Monday’s Valley News, “Obamacare Flaws Reveal Themselves,” deserves comment. A large private insurance provider, Aetna, has pulled out of the exchanges, the special insurance market under this law. As he aimed to do, the author concluded that the ACA is not working and should be replaced.
Readers should recognize that the author is a “researcher” for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. According to Dark Money, by Jane Mayer, the Charles G. Koch Foundation gave $28.9 million to build and pay for this think-tank to provide “research” supporting the blocking of reforms. Mayer calls the Mercatus Center a “lobbying group disguised as a disinterested academic program.”
Contrary to Blase’s bogus research, Obamacare is working and will continue to do so even if those private companies wanting high profits pull out.
According to Paul Krugman of the New York Times, since the ACA took effect in January 2014 the percentage of uninsured Americans has dropped sharply. The growth of health costs has also slowed sharply, so the law is costing less than predicted.
As we see in New Hampshire, the Medicaid expansion works. We also see that the private insurer-based exchanges in states that are trying to make the law work are working well. We see problems making the law work in states that blocked Medicare expansion and are hostile to reform.
There is nothing wrong with Obamacare that can’t be fixed with some bipartisan cooperation. Republicans, however, want any reform to fail. Sen. Kelly Ayotte continues blocking reform and she does not deserve our vote in November. Maggie Hassan will be a healthy improvement.
Larry Seavey Lebanon
As we reflect on our first year and begin to make preparations for our second season, I wanted to publicly thank everyone who made the Nighthawks’ inaugural season possible. The Nighthawks are truly a community endeavor and belong to the entire Upper Valley. Thanks to the town of Hartford, our fans, our host families, our sponsors, volunteers, the Valley News and ESPN 94.5. Thanks for making us part of your summer. See you next June!
Noah Crane General Manager, Upper Valley NighthawksLebanon
Anyone who thinks Gov. Maggie Hassan had nothing to do with the state budget (Steve Winter’s Aug. 22 Forum letter, “Hassan Gets No Credit For This”) has no idea of the process. As one who has been on and near the inside of it for years, I know that even when the governor faces a double-majority that can override all vetoes, as in the O’Brien term, she or he shapes the document. The governor started putting together the 2018-19 budget this month, and she had to present a complete document to the House and Senate in February 2015, clear of deficit and full of proposals for new and modified programs and efficiencies.
The Legislature always objects to some changes, but eagerly embraces others. This term, the minority party had enough votes to sustain a veto in both House and Senate, freeing the governor to demand concessions that the majority party had refused to consider earlier. One of the things she was fighting for was to avoid future budget crises that would result from an unprecedented decision to write future revenue reductions into the two-year budget. The Republicans know that if they cut revenues, we will have to cut back services, because budgets must always balance. Democratic governors have never presented a deficit to their successors. Republican ones have.
This is why it is so important to nominate and elect a gubernatorial candidate with state budgetary experience in the primary on Sept. 13. The new governor will have a month to finish shaping the next budget submission to the House and Senate.
On the Democratic side, that candidate is Colin Van Ostern, a member of the Executive Council for four years and a person with strong business experience, progressive views and a love for our state. Look him up online. Vote on Sept. 13.
There is also a primary race for county commissioner that could affect the county nursing home, jail, elder services and our property taxes for good or ill. Uppervalleydemocrats.com can lead you to all the Democratic candidate websites, now and in November. We have to vote to have a democracy.
Rep. Susan Almy Lebanon