Letter to editor: Hard to understand why Rogers dislikes health care reform bill

By: Letters to the editor | Opelika Auburn News
Published: October 27, 2009

Hard to understand why Rogers dislikes health care reform bill
In his comments in the Saturday issue of the Opelika-Auburn News, U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers seems to see nothing good in the health care reform bill now debated by Congress.
Yet, as I understand it, the healthcare reform bill will:

1) End discrimination against people who have a pre-existing medical condition;

2) Create a new insurance marketplace — the Exchange that allows people without insurance and small businesses to compare plans and buy insurance at competitive prices;

3) Protect Medicare for seniors;

4) Keep insurance companies from dropping coverage when folks are sick and need it most;

5) Cap out-of-pocket expenses so people do not go broke when they get sick; And create an independent commission of doctors and medical experts to identify waste, fraud, and abuse in the health care system.

Is this all so bad?

I also find it strange that Rogers gave then President Bush Carte blanche permission to invade Iraq without ever inquiring about the financial costs of such a war. As it turns out, that unnecessary war, which cost $1 billion a day to wage, will eventually cost us more than $2 trillion.

Also, Rogers is now against the “public option,” which will be a bonanza for the poorest of the poor in the U.S., yet voted for a tax break for the wealthiest Americans.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that fewer than 12 million people would buy insurance through the government plan which would be likely administered by a private insurance provider, charging premiums much like any other policy.

Whose side is Rogers on, the rich or the poor?

Richard Penaskovic
Auburn

Two energy innovations meetings in Auburn remain on schedule

I would like to remind area residents that two meetings remain in the series of meetings on energy innovations and encourage them to attend. These meetings are free and open to the public.

Auburn and Opelika are two of seven cities in Alabama that have joined a group of 1,011 U. S. cities in the U.S. Conference of Mayors energy programs, which are being assisted by Sierra Club volunteers. Innovations in energy acquisition and use are expected to provide jobs and investment opportunities that will be of great benefit to Alabama and the U.S.

The next program in the series is Sunday at 3 p.m. in the City of Auburn Meeting Room (behind 122 Tichenor Ave.). Auburn Assistant City Manager James Buston will report on energy innovations recently adopted by the City of Auburn.

The last program in this energy series will be Sunday, Nov. 15, at the same time and location. Dr. Sushil Bhavnani of the AU Department of Mechanical Engineering will discuss using energy from the sun for heating and generating electricity.

Ron Estridge
Auburn