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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2017)
4 A ❘ WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ JUNE 21, 2017 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 NED HICKSON , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion ‘New normal’ not productive for healthcare reform Should Americans care that a select group of Senators, behind closed doors, is gear- ing up a complex override of the current Affordable Care Act (ACA)? GOP leadership plans a Senate vote before a July 4 recess while withholding col- leagues and public from access to the draft’s details. The “reform” will be intro- duced directly to the Senate floor without prior benefit of any committee hearings or witnesses. Once on the Senate floor, amendment proposals can have up to one minute each. In 2010, it’s been said that Obamacare was forced through the Senate on an up- down vote with no chance to read it, let alone amend it. However, facts show multiple Senate committees, over a year, held three months of open public hearings. Republicans directly obtained more than 160 amendments. Media had great access as committees revamped witness ideas or critiques. This is not the current case with the “closed door” pro- posal for the re-vamped ACA. For example, the needed nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis of financial impacts is miss- ing. A CBO analysis in May of the earlier House repeal pack- age was critical in giving pause to — and then stopping — Senate consideration and ratification. Analysis project- ed 23 million Americans los- ing coverage by 2026. House Speaker Ryan described the CBO evaluation as “great,” but GOP governors were a primary force prevent- ing Senate ratification of Ryan’s bill. One CBO provision stated: “People who are less healthy (including those with pre- existing or newly acquired medical conditions) would ultimately be unable to pur- chase comprehensive non- GUEST VIEWPOINT B Y R AND D AWSON R ETIRED CONSUMER AND INURANCE COMPANY ATTORNEY group health insurance at pre- miums comparable to those under current law, if they could purchase it at all.” Trudy Lieberman, Health Desk editor with the Columbia Journalism Review, voiced similar concerns, pre- dicting “more than $800 bil- lion in Medicaid cuts and loss of coverage for millions reached under Medicaid expansion; selective premium increases, particularly for poorer, older Americans.” House staffers from the Joint Committee on Taxation itself joined with CBO, pro- ducing a joint May report, supporting the figures. Even the conservative National Review noted the predicament, which contrast- ed President Trump’s promis- es to “take care of every- body,” and “make no cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.” Beyond cutting financing for Medicaid or Medicare, proposals will offer states sig- nificant ways to change pre- mium pricing or underwriting. That means older pre- Medicare-age customers may be charged five times more than younger customers. In 2026, the CBO estimated that some 64-year-olds, making $27,000, could possibly pay $14,400 more in premiums. This June 13, Chief Actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its report, “Estimated Financial Effect of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) of 2017.” In response, law professor and healthcare writer Timothy Jost described premium impacts for those insured through the Exchanges this way: “The Actuary’s report esti- mates that the AHCA would reduce gross premiums in the individual market by 13 per- cent below current law esti- mates by 2026, but net premi- ums after reduced premium tax credits would increase by 5 percent — and cost sharing would increase by 61 per- cent.” “Cost sharing” includes deductibles, co-insurance, co- payments and out-of-pocket limits. These are significant details. As Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins said, “Details really matter when you’re talking about healthcare reform.” Reviews of the last seen version of the AHCA suggest- ed coverages could shrink if states opt to “waive” various complex rules concerning essential benefits or pre-exist- ing conditions. What significant details will be overlooked or missed in this case? Medicare Trust Fund life being shortened? Long-term care support for seniors cur- tailed? Will short breaks in coverage allow 30 percent premium hikes or elimination from Medicaid benefits? An open discussion on real underlying issues looks to rein in healthcare costs and improve value and efficiency. Do we want real details coming through open doors — or more slogans and politi- cal opioids? Rand Dawson is local Siltcoos resident and a retired Alaska trial attorney with interest in health care reform, who also represented consumers and various insurance companies LETTERS H ELPING H ANDS HELPS MORE THAN HOMELESS I would like to clarify a few things about Helping Hands Coalition. I have been a vol- unteer for more than 15 months and presently cook on Wednesdays. Florence Planning Commissioner Titmus states that handouts are discouraged for the homeless and he is correct in that they need other services. However, the homeless are a small percentage of our clients. We do get “travelers,” folks that are passing through and stop for one or maybe two meals before mov- ing on, mostly in the summer months. But mostly we see men and women devel- opmentally disabled, suffering from chronic illnesses that prevent them from working; young people earning minimum wage as well as seniors struggling financially; and food stamp recipients, especially towards the end of the month. We also see families with young children who are new in town and trying to get on their feet. Many clients are regulars whom we get to know well and some come in just for compa- ny and someone to talk to. All of the volunteers are very aware that we have to be super good neighbors and work hard to ensure we keep our surroundings clean and well maintained. As to parking, there are rarely more than two or three volunteers’ cars and few if any clients’ cars. Please give us the chance to keep helping those who depend on us. — Liz Earnshaw Florence L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR P OLICY The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor as part of a community discus- sion of issues on the local, state and national level. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed. All letters need to include full name, address and phone number; only name and city will be printed. Letters should be limited to about 300 words. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Libelous, argumentative and anony- mous letters or poetry, or letters from out- side our readership area will not be pub- lished. Send letters to: nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com USPS# 497-660 B ROWN NEEDS TO STEP UP FOR ENVIRONMENT People tell me that Gov. Kate Brown is an environmentalist, but I don’t see it. Seems like when it comes to timber and other extrac- tive interests, she just rolls over. While Gov. Brown touts she’s “committed” to the Paris Agreement goals, it seems she can’t say “No” to the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline in Southern Oregon, or the Jordan Cove LNG terminal in Coos Bay. We almost lost the Elliott State Forest because of her dithering last year. Then, new Secretary of State Richardson joined the State Land Board, almost putting the kibosh on the whole thing — with new Treasurer Tobias Read also in favor of selling. Thankfully, better heads prevailed. Gov. Brown has shown no interest in push- ing for a strong Cap and Reinvest bill to limit the big air polluters in Oregon. Her much bal- lyhooed “Coal to Clean” bill won’t do much until 2030. Oregon Group Publisher (541) 265 8571 Publisher, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Consulting Editor (831) 761-7353 Email: echalhoub@register-pajaronian.com Marketing Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor Press Manager DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $71; 10-weeks subscription, $18; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $94; 10-weeks subscription, $24; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $120; Out of United States — 1-year subscription, $200; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: www.TheSiuslawNews.com WHERE TO WRITE Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry — Robin Bloomgarden Eugene T RUMP ’ S TRICKLE DOWN PLAN WON ’ T TRICKLE FAR ENOUGH Guthrie Wilson’s letter to the editor (June 6) defended the president and suggests we let him do his job. I’m afraid if we let him do the job the way he wants, he will destroy freedom of the press and erode our civil rights. I dis- agree with most of President Trump’s ideas for what he believes will make America “great again.” I’m not even sure what that means because, in my opinion, America has always been great. The rules and regulations that President Trump is in the process of rolling back are rules and regulations that keep Americans safe from drinking poisoned water and breathing noxious air. The repeal of these regulations will allow corporations to ruin our land, air and water, while saving corpora- tions billions of dollars. Little, if any, of the savings he’s predicting will trickle down to the average American. Comparitively few new jobs will be created in the coal industry since many jobs are going to automation. No sick leave, workers’ comp claims, etc. And with the repeal and replacement of the ACA, many of us will lose Medicaid and Medicare will be privatized. As a result, many won’t be able to afford the services and prescriptions they need — quite possibly to cover symptoms from the poisoning caused by corporate polluters. In all sincerety, I doubt very much that Trump is a genius. If he were, he would know what he doesn’t know. Instead of filling his cabinet with corporate billionaire buddies and hard right science deniers blind to global warming, he would have filled his cabinet with people knowledgeable about the posi- tion they were heading — and know the pol- itics of how to get things done within the framework of the Constitution. Personally, I don’t want my government run like his family business; I want it run like a real government instead of a graft-filled banana republic. Contrary to popular belief, much of President Trump’s campaign was funded by Super Pacs backed by billionaire friends. There were lots of special interests funding him. He did not “self-fund.” Granted, I watch a lot of CNN and ABC nightly news. I also tune in to MSNBC (very left leaning) and FOX (very right leaning). But if you only watch one of these stations exclusively, you are getting a very one-sided story indeed. — Marybeth Marenco Florence The First Amendment C ongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. James Rand Jenna Bartlett Ned Hickson Erik Chalhoub The toxic aerial spraying of pesticides across timberlands and citizens doesn’t appear to bother her, either. I read the papers daily. I never see anything directly from Gov. Brown to her Oregon con- stituents What exactly does she stand for? When will Oregonians find out? Will Oregon ever begin comprehensive climate change work? Or most importantly, will she step up to make it happen? Pres. Donald Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461 TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213 www.whitehouse.gov Gov. Kate Brown 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. Salem, OR 97301-4047 Governor’s Citizens’ Rep. Message Line 503-378-4582 www.oregon.gov/gov U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 541-431-0229 www.wyden.senate.gov FAX: 503-986-1080 Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997 541-465-6750 www.merkley.senate.gov State Rep. Caddy McKeown ( Dist. 9 ) 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1409 Email: rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio ( 4 th Dist.) 2134 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6416 541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732 www.defazio.house.gov State Sen. Arnie Roblan ( Dist. 5 ) 900 Court St. NE - S-417 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 West Lane County Commissioner Jay Bozievich 125 E. Eighth St. Eugene, OR 97401 541-682-4203 FAX: 541-682-4616 Email: Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us
