State cuts disable home care service

State cuts disable home care service

The future of home care for the elderly and disabled, some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our state, is in the hands of Gov. Chris Gregoire. DSHS has proposed $28.4 million in cuts to agency home care in the state supplemental budget for 2010. This amount is on top of the nearly $70 million reduction already assumed in the biennial budget adopted last session.

As president of Washington Home Care Coalition, I can state that my agency providing home-care services is a nonprofit that has served Southwest Washington since 1978. This proposal puts our over 30 years of work in serious jeopardy. Statewide, agencies lost thousands of clients and tens of thousands of hours of care in last year’s budget. Washington state has been a national leader in developing a long-term care system that keeps people in their homes for as long as possible, saving $600 million in costs versus institutionalization during the current biennium.

I recognize the challenges faced by our governor due to revenue declines caused by a deep recession. When our economy recovers, however, we will need quality, experienced home-care agencies to care for the aging population. I urge the governor to reject this shortsighted proposal by DSHS.

Eric Erickson

Vancouver

Build bridge without light rail

We do not need the second span over the Columbian River planned for light rail. A single span would save $750 million in bridge costs and a billion dollars plus for rail construction. Vancouver already provides excellent C-Tran bus service between Vancouver and Portland.

Existing bus service is faster than light rail. C-Tran has 35 rush-hour express trips each way from downtown Vancouver and 59 more from suburban stations (plus special buses to Lloyd Center and OHSU.) The downtown trips take 15 to 20 minutes in the morning and 18 to 22 minutes in the afternoon. This compares with the trip from Delta Park on light rail (MAX) of 27 minutes. When you add a bridge crossing, MAX could be at least 35 minutes trying to compete with a 20-minute bus ride.

A new auto span would make the suburban commute even faster.

The Portland commute survey says 75 percent to 78 percent drive, only 10 percent to 13 percent use transit, and 12 percent walk or bike. Spend the big dollars where the public wants and uses it, and in the process, save over $1 billion by not putting light rail on the Interstate 5 Bridge.

Richard Leonetti

Portland

Baird’s decision best for now

As a small-business owner, a conservative and especially as a mother, I was disappointed to see the health care bill receive approval in the House of Representatives. Small-business owners and parents are called to make fiscally sound choices when it comes to running their businesses and their households, and yet our Congress has no such mandate and legislation that is costly and not even totally understood- gets passed.

So hats off to Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., for crossing party lines and electing not to vote in favor of the bill until he has a better understanding of what the long-term ramifications are going to be. “Ready, fire, aim” is not the way our government should be run, and I appreciate Baird’s reasons for voting against the bill.

Cheri S. Perry

Battle Ground

Irresponsibility will not change

The seeds of economic ignorance, sown in the fields of self-interest, have come to fruition in the House health care bill. For those mathematically challenged folks who demand those of us opposed to health care give up our Medicare, I say “sign me up!” As an employee for 18 years and a self-employed person for 15 years, I have had over $40,000 invested in Medicare on my behalf. I would gladly put that into my own health savings account, while still paying for catastrophic health insurance (something I do now), and society would be infinitely better off.

Secondly, the bill requires everyone to pay for health insurance or be fined up to 2.5 percent of their adjusted gross income. Once again for the mathematically challenged, 47 percent of these folks don’t pay income tax, which means there will be no collection of revenues from them to offset insurance they refuse to buy or can’t purchase in the first place.

Finally, people who currently run their credit cards up buying things they can’t afford, while choosing not to purchase health care, won’t change their behavior. Like the failed war on poverty of another Democratic president, we’ll just rob the responsible Peter to pay the irresponsible Paul.

Laurent Estey

Vancouver

Capitalism isn’t always the solution

Lee Powers’ Nov. 14 letter, “Capitalism works when you free it,” regarding Larry Kudlow’s motto about a “free capitalistic market” is generally commendable. However, unless capitalistic predators and corporate crony capitalism are regulated/diminished/eliminated, there’s no “free capitalistic market.” Capitalism has its place for the nonessentials of living … cars, dryers, house size, vacations, etc.

The essentials of health care, education and community infrastructure have no place in the for-profit world. People cannot reasonably pursue happiness without those essentials. Certainly, essential services may be available for individuals who can afford and choose privatized essential options, especially education and health care. This in no way excuses government excesses/duplication of essentials, and accountability is required.

Powers’ reference to “the poor destroying the rich” is a distortion of the original point (attributed to Rev. William Boetcker), which refers to those who became rich “within reasonable bounds” and not monopolizing oppressive capitalistic ventures. Nobody would argue with the “wage payer” being pulled down by the “wage earner,” but the wage payer deserves no more than up to five times the wages of the lowest earner. Otherwise, it is just the rich becoming wealthy off the backs of the worker. People able and willing to work deserve a fair wage and essentials of life.

Jim Postma

Vancouver

Pursue life and liberty

I’m a citizen of the United States of America who defended our Constitution with my blood. Twice my country gave me a Purple Heart Medal. Liberty is your freedom to live your life in pursuit of your personal happiness. This liberty is equal for all to marry. This includes my right to a domestic partner who is female, over 62, and will protect her security of no loss to her Social Security benefits. Liberty is each citizen’s constitutional right, which is guaranteed, regardless of sex.

I urge all citizens to read our state constitution, Article 1, which is the Citizen’s Declaration of Rights.

Jeff Stanton

VANCOUVER