Paying for another entitlement expansion

To the editor:

As an afterthought to your Wednesday editorial, "Medicaid rolls: State's decision on expansion not easy," I propose that we ask all candidates for the state Legislature what their position is on Medicaid expansion. If they favor it, they should explain what taxes they would raise and/or services they would cut to fund it.

Voters should know in advance what they are being asked to pay or sacrifice in order to subsidize free health care for a new group of middle-class recipients. Candidates who cannot answer the question clearly and honestly shouldn't be allowed to serve.

Ellen Shaw

Henderson

Nevada fighter

To the editor:

I know Rep. Shelley Berkley and, as someone who has worked in the health care profession, I know her only concern when working to save Nevada's kidney transplant center was for Nevada's kidney patients ("Berkley facing ethics probe," Tuesday Review-Journal). Those patients needed access to a hospital that provided transplant care. So Rep. Berkley did what she always has done: fight for Nevada and work to ensure Nevada's kidney patients have the best health care possible.

It would have been irresponsible for one of Nevada's leaders to stand on the sidelines as Washington bureaucrats closed down a transplant center.

I stand by Rep. Berkley, as do so many others in the health care profession, and I am proud that we have a champion in Congress who will continue to fight for Nevada's patients.

Anne Zarate

North Las Vegas

Not funny

To the editor:

Jane Ann Morrison, in her Monday column, says she is disappointed that the "provocative 'Book of Mormon' " musical won't be at the Smith Center in 2012-13. But maybe, she hopes, it will come the next season.

While at a local bookstore, I happened to pick up "The Book of Mormon" play book. I was curious, so I read the whole thing while at the store. This play is not only profane in words, it makes fun of black Africans (Ugandans), people with AIDS, Christianity and anyone who believes in God. It makes fun of rape.

So if you think that Ugandans raping a baby is funny, by all means, be sure to see this play when it comes to Las Vegas. I will stay far away.

Leslie Scott

Henderson

Heck no

To the editor:

In response to Steve Sebelius' July 3 column, "Rep. Joe Heck's answer to high court's 'stolen valor' ruling":

I can't disagree that lying is wrong. But I find it predictable and telling that Rep. Heck would be waiting in the wings of the Supreme Court ruling to use the opportunity to revive his own bill, the Stolen Valor Act of 2011 (H.R. 1775), which has languished in the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security since June 2011.

Since he is a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, it is not hard to understand why he would object to "stealing the valor of men and women who in some cases have made the ultimate sacrifice."

While I agree with his objection, he's got his priorities all mixed up.

What a different world it would be if he were to act as quickly to protect the millions of seniors who will find their Social Security and Medicare looted as a result of a successfully passed Paul Ryan budget. How different would it be for thousands of unemployed Nevadans who have lost their dignity if Rep. Heck were to act as quickly to proffer a jobs or economic recovery plan? How amazing it would be if he had looked for ways to provide affordable access to health care for all Americans instead of investing so much energy into repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Yeah, what a different world it would be if he would demonstrate the same kind of swift and decisive action to protect the real lives of Nevadans instead of just the reputation of some.

Marla Turner

Las Vegas

Electric ad

To the editor:

Talk about ironic. On a day (Tuesday) that the Las Vegas area was experiencing one of the hottest days of the year and in dire need of affordable and reliable electricity to cool our homes and run our businesses, the Moapa Band of Paiutes runs a half-page ad thanking Sen. Harry Reid for upholding EPA rules that will make coal-fired power plants uneconomical to operate and thus our electricity supply unreliable and unaffordable.

Curtis Williams

Henderson

Pay up

To the editor:

Joel Rector's Tuesday letter in response to Jan Gilbert's comments that people on the government dole shouldn't be allowed to vote is just plain nonsense. Of course everyone pays utility taxes, gas taxes, phone taxes, etc. But where does Mr. Rector think they get this money? Out of thin air?

All taxes are paid by people in the private sector generating wealth through labor or investors risking their money in hopes that their investments don't go belly-up. Even the taxes levied on hard-working government employees are paid by private-sector taxpayers who pay their salaries.

So tell me, Mr. Rector, will you allow your dependent children to vote on important family decisions?

Gary Richey

Las Vegas