A shameless attempt
to gut health reform
Editor, The Times:
Shame on you, Attorney General Rob McKenna, for joining in this heartless lawsuit to gut health reform [“Washington joins lawsuit over mandate,” Times, page one, March 23].
It would be absurd, if it weren’t so tragic for so many, that our wealthy nation tolerates the rationing of health care according to means. It would be absurd, if it weren’t so heartbreaking, that instead of a nonprofit institution “standing between you and your doctor,” we permit a greedy industry, fat with profits, indifferent to its victims, and well able to purchase the protection of our legislators, to stand there.
If there are no mandates in this first, flawed effort to extend care and save the lives of many uninsured and underinsured Americans, many young, healthy people might opt out of a system they think they can do without, increasing the burden of costs on all of us.
Social Security payments are not optional; health insurance should not be optional, either. Humane exemptions and assistance are provided for those who cannot afford it.
I spend three months a year in one of those “socialist” European countries where people do not starve in the streets and no one is denied health care. Strangely, their skies have not fallen. They seem to think they are quite as free as any American. In fact, they think we’re nuts. Most Americans don’t have the privilege, or don’t take the opportunity, of traveling to other countries. They are easy to frighten with stupid fantasies of “government takeover.” But you have not that excuse.
The real government takeover in the U.S. has been done by big-money interests with a free hand to buy influence. Perhaps you’re happy with the recent Supreme Court endorsement of this practice.
— Julianne Nason, Seattle
He represents the state, not the governor
Thanks for reporting on Attorney General Rob McKenna’s intention to file a health-care-reform-bill lawsuit on our behalf. Thanks also for reporting that Gov. Chris Gregoire is opposed to this action.
It’s reported that Gregoire has said McKenna does not represent Washingtonians and she will be working toward obstructing his efforts. Actually, McKenna does represent Washingtonians, apparently better than Gregoire, Sen. Parry Murray and my representative, [Congressman Jim] McDermott. All are in favor of this really bad legislation instead of stepping backward and rewriting good legislation.
I do believe health care does need reform. We just need to make sure our elected representatives do a good job putting together an affordable and effective win-win-win package.
— Jason Colberg, Lake Forest Park
Not in my name
Dear Attorney General Rob McKenna: I find it deeply disturbing that you have undertaken, in my name and using my money, a lawsuit against the just-signed health-insurance-reform legislation. It seems to me that this is a special case: The general impact of this bill, and the clear need for reform, are such that it ought to take more than the singular whim of your partisanship to join. It ought, in fact, to be based on the will of those people in whose behalf you, presumably, consider yourself to be acting. With the ink on the bill barely dry, surely you can’t believe you have the sense of the state on this matter.
I’ve been a physician for 40 years. I’ve spent far too much time fighting insurers whose business model, as you must surely know, is to collect as much money from potential patients, and to return as little as possible to providers of health care.
Frankly, unlike most of my fellow surgeons, I’ve been in favor of a universal single-payer system for a long time. This bill falls short of my hopes, but it’s a much-needed beginning on the way to comprehensive coverage for those in need. Unilaterally to attempt to stop this hard-won progress, joining a highly partisan effort that smacks of the misguided Fox-fueled and deceitful rhetoric we’ve heard for over a year, is abhorrent.
I express my deep displeasure over your action, taken in my name most unwillingly.
— Sidney M. Schwab, Everett
Doing his duty
Wow. What a stunningly revealing comment from Gov. Chris Gregoire about Attorney General Rob McKenna’s decision to sue the federal government for its historic overstepping of constitutional authority.
“I don’t know who he represents. He doesn’t represent me.”
No, governor, he doesn’t represent you. Nor should he.
Anyone with a basic understanding of our state constitution should know the attorney general is elected by, works for and represents the legal interests of the citizens of Washington (the state, not the sycophants in the District of Columbia).
AG McKenna is doing so. It would be nice if the governor would do likewise.
— Dain Jones, Monroe
Consider our federal auto rules
There is a long list of things the federal government tells me I have to do, or buy. My car is a perfect example. Why doesn’t Attorney General Rob McKenna go after these abuses?
The pollution-control equipment adds thousands of dollars to the cost. The EPA mileage requirement adds thousands to the cost. The seat-belt requirement adds hundreds to the cost. If I don’t use the seat belt I get fined. If I disconnect any of the other equipment I get fined.
What is the difference between being required to buy health insurance and being required to buy all of the federal add-ons to my car?
Rather than being a Republican (partisan) lackey on this issue, why doesn’t the AG concentrate on doing the business of the state of Washington. He wasn’t elected to represent the national Republican Party!
— Stuart Creighton, Normandy Park
Look who’s running?
State Attorney General Rob McKenna has just announced that he’s running for governor. He didn’t do it in the usual way, with a press conference or a large public announcement, however. Instead, he filed suit against the health-care act, just passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama.
His lawsuit activates the Republican base, which fought health care just as hard as it fought Social Security and Medicare, both of which are so popular that they’re inviolate today. It puts him in the headlines. It raises his visibility. That’s what candidates seek.
It was a deft political move, aligning him (and with him, our state) with South Carolina, Utah, Texas, and a bunch of other notably red states. It ignores the fact that even Republicans get sick and require medical care, just like Democrats and independents. But who cares about facts when politics is the issue?
Congratulations, Mr. McKenna, on being the first to throw your hat into the ring for the next governor’s race.
— Brucce Barnbaum, Granite Falls
More important matters, governor
Maybe Gov. Chris Gregoire should look to see whom she represents.
Even though most agree that health-care reform is needed, polls have shown that the majority of Americans have not approved of the health-care bill Congress and the president have been forcing upon us.
Could it be that Attorney General Rob McKenna represents more people in the state than Gregoire represents. And why is Gregoire going to spend more of our money with a countersuit against the attorney general? Aren’t there more important issues that need her attention and our money — e.g., the cuts in services and taxes to fix our state’s current budget shortfall?
— Larry Brickman, Bellevue
AG has better things to do
As an owner of two small businesses and a father and grandfather, I respectfully but vehemently oppose Attorney General Rob McKenna’s decision to join the lawsuit against the health-care-reform bill just signed by the president.
Not only is this landmark legislation important to my businesses and family, I am appalled that the AG would choose to spend time and very precious state tax dollars fighting something the vast majority of Washingtonians support. It appears that he is using our tax dollars to promote his political aspirations within the Republican Party base. We expect more of our political leaders in this state.
— Rick Dortch, Bellevue
Bravo to McKenna
Bravo to Rob McKenna, Washington state attorney general.
Yes, McKenna is an elected state official and therefore represents the voters of Washington state, including Gov. Chris Gregoire. Her statement, “I don’t know who he represents. He doesn’t represent me,” is completely out of line. Using her logic, I can say the same about Gov. Gregoire, that she does not represent me.
McKenna is among the few Washington state elected officials who appear to actually be listening to the will of the people and representing us. Keep it up, Rob. We appreciate your work on our behalf.
— Mark Powell, Renton
A constitutional solution
Let me see if I got this right. Attorney General Rob McKenna, the state’s top lawyer, thinks it is unconstitutional for the federal government to require Americans to purchase health insurance, but it is perfectly OK for the feds to require us to pay into two government-run health-care programs (Medicare and Medicaid).
I guess McKenna would agree the only solution to the problem is to extend Medicare and/or Medicaid to all Americans — you know, so it’s constitutional and all that.
— Paul McDevitt, Seattle