Pleased reform passed
I am so pleased that the health care bill has finally passed after 100 years of attempts. Thanks to the brave Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate (not a single Republican) and a determined president, the U.S. has joined the rest of the civilized world to cover nearly everyone with health care insurance. Of course, I am a Democrat and proud of it.
My insurance rate was raised by 95 percent as of Jan. 1. Fortunately I can afford it, but what of the many who cannot? My grandson had a hand injury and his insurance was raised. When we first had health insurance, the administrative costs for the company was 7 percent with rates reasonable. Now it is 20 percent or 30 percent.
For those who watch the Republican news channel on Fox and listen to ranting Rush Limbaugh, I suppose they will now forego the Social Security checks and Medicare since they are government programs.
A. Mitchell
Lewiston
What is Urban Institute?
The editorial by Marty Trillhaase in the March 28 Tribune states that the requirement that we buy health insurance is covered under the Supremacy Clause. I do not recall anything about such a clause in the Constitution of the republic of the United States of America. Apparently a number of state attorneys general do not know about such a clause.
A number of figures were presented from the Urban Institute. Who is the Urban Institute and where do they get their funding? Numbers mean nothing if you do not know who is making them and doing the research to back them.
Robert L. Olson
Lewiston
Avista wins again
The article in the March 24 Tribune from Avista ... says Idaho users will pay more than Washington because they put a larger burden on the big users.
Is it Idaho's fault that we don't have Boeing or some other huge customer? I would venture to guess it has to do with population, coastal access, etc. And somehow for the most part they manage to show huge profits ... So, too, does Avista.
A short while ago, Avista passed along a small reduction on our statements. I, for one, said thank you. Now comes the next pitch, mostly curve, some slider combined. End result: Avista wins again.
Folks in general are now just seeing the full effects of the mess that has been hatching for the last 10 to 15 years. Government, insurance companies, oil companies, large banks and large companies are thumbing their noses at the general population. People are hurting. Retirees saw no cost-of-living adjustment for 2010. It's doubtful we will see any cost of living in 2011.
It strikes me that large companies are incapable. People in Washington, D.C., (most anyway) live in a sheltered world and don't have a clue as to how the general populace struggles to make ends meet. Granted, Avista has plans to help those who can't meet their monthly expenses. But the bottom line is you will pay every penny owned.
If our lawmakers and all others had the people's well being at heart (too good to be true), we could truly call ourselves a great nation.
Don Grieser
Genesee
