LETTERS: There is no defending Obamacare debacle
To the editor:
The letter from Rep. Dina Titus is typical of many progressive liberals (“‘Cadillac tax’ repeal boosts Obamacare,” May 10 Review-Journal). Rep. Titus can’t get past the first paragraph without attacking those who disagree with her, just like President Barack Obama.
She defends her position by claiming that Republicans do not have an alternative to the Affordable Care Act. There were many sensible ideas brought forth to make health care more affordable, like tort reform and allowing interstate health insurance policies. However, Republicans were never allowed to participate in the drafting of the ACA. The ACA was drafted behind closed doors and passed at the 11th hour on Dec. 24, 2009, just before Christmas recess.
No Republican voted for it, polls showed that the majority of citizens were against it, and Rep. Titus herself was not in favor of the ACA until Rep. Nancy Pelosi pressured her. President Obama lied several times about the cost of this bill. When Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber admitted that the administration lied to the “stupid” American people, both Rep. Pelosi and President Obama lied by stating that Mr. Gruber had nothing to do with the bill. But video releases clearly show that Mr. Gruber was in fact involved in the drafting of the ACA.
If the whole truth had been known about this bill, the ACA would have never passed. If Rep. Titus had read the entire bill, she could have urged many changes.
Rep. Titus and the Obama administration like to spin ACA health care enrollment numbers to justify this horrible bill. However, if an unbiased individual looks into the ACA website, it is obvious that the only affordable health care coverage that can be obtained is by very low-income earners, after receiving subsidies funded by middle-class workers. For the majority of Americans, the ACA increases health care costs.
BRIAN AIKEN
LAS VEGAS
Bush’s religious pandering
To the editor:
This apple hasn’t fallen far from the Republican tree. Jeb Bush, in a speech at Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University, said the Christian voice is not heard enough (“Bush courts evangelical voters at Liberty,” May 10 Review-Journal). Has Mr. Bush had a memory lapse, or is he ignoring the obvious on purpose in his quest to become the Republican presidential nominee?
Christians have had an outsized voice for the last six years, as the Republican anti-gay, anti-immigration and anti-abortion religious fundamentalists have framed the political debate and set the agenda in American politics. Has Mr. Bush been asleep?
In his visit to Liberty, Mr. Bush attacked women’s reproductive rights and made the incredulous statement that the Obama administration has used coercive federal powers to limit religious freedom. You expect this kind of closed-minded pandering to the religious base from Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, but now we’re seeing the real Jeb Bush. He’s one of them.
RON LOWE
NEVADA CITY, CALIF.
Basin and Range debate
To the editor:
In the article about the possible designation of Basin and Range as Nevada’s next national monument, Rep. Cresent Hardy expressed concern about the impact on military operations (“Monument proclamation being readied,” May 8 Review-Journal). The preservation of special places and the protection of our military assets are not mutually exclusive, as demonstrated by the bill that passed Congress in December 2014 establishing the Tule Springs National Monument.
That bill had the full support of Nellis Air Force Base command and proved that these two goals can be achieved simultaneously. In that case, the legislation was written to allow the continuation of the military mission. Thus, two national treasures were protected; the land below and the airspace above.
JILL K. DESTEFANO
SHERRI GROTHEER
NORTH LAS VEGAS
The writers are board members of the Protectors of Tule Springs.
