Published: November 23, 2009 08:35 pm      

LETTERS: Nov. 24, 2009

Wiseheart: Thank You, Mrs. Sipes

Recently, State Sen. Connie Sipes announced that she will retire after completing her District 46 Senate term. I would like to say thank you to Mrs. Sipes for her willingness to represent our community. Your compassion for education is obvious and thanks for putting in countless hours over the years working on legislation that you believed was beneficial to our community and all Hoosiers.

May you and your family enjoy the blessings of retirement. God Bless.

— Lee Ann Wiseheart, New Albany



We can’t afford Hill’s votes

I want to publicly criticize Congressman Hill’s support of H.R. 3962 — just the latest in a long list of yes votes. Once again Rep. Hill follows the footsteps of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Rep. Henry Waxman. The state of California is bankrupt congressman. As a “Bluedog Democrat” you held your ground for about a week and a half. Congressman, you just placed one sixth of our economy in the hands of the government during the worse recession since the Great Depression.

Omnibus, stimulus, cap and trade and now, healthcare — congressman, you pride yourself on having voted for pay-as-you-go legislation and, once again, you contradict yourself. Your voting record would be like me buying a new home, vacation home, new cars, new swimming pool, new jewelry for my wife, running up my credit card bills and then making an announcement to my family, “From now on we don’t buy it, unless we can pay for it.”

Congressman, the FDIC funds are almost dry. We have reached the Congressional cap of deficit spending, 13 trillion dollars —$13,000,000,000,000. Stop — we can’t afford you.

— Jim Bass, Floyds Knobs



Community Park isn’t right site for shelter

Concerning the need to replace the North Annex — I don’t think anyone will disagree that it is needed. However, why does it always come back to building something at or right next to Community Park?

The park is one of the few things in the city that we have to be proud of and is in constant use by young and old. Sure, tear the Annex down, but why not extend the park instead of going commercial? And if you are so insistent in using a park, then why not one in the county?

The city carries more than their load now. How would the residents of Floyd Knobs or Galena like to have it built there?

They wouldn’t, and I don’t blame them one bit, but we in the east end don’t either. Why not stick it closer to the City-County Building? Doesn’t the city own the old church between Market and Spring?

I know the importance of not knocking down all the “landmarks” but our city is full of them now. We can’t protect them all and hope to have any kind of future. I am old enough to remember the 1940s, the ’50s, and so on, but that doesn’t mean I want my city to remain mired down in the past. We are years behind already.

— Mike Culwell, New Albany



Reader: Hill did the right thing

Rep. Baron Hill did the right thing in voting for H.R. 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act. Baron listened carefully to businesses in his district — businesses concerned about not being able to offer health care to employees, or worried about sustaining the benefits they currently provide. If folks want to really know what is happening then every time they visit a restaurant, utilize a service, or visit a store they should ask whoever is waiting on them if they have health insurance. The answers would surprise you.

Baron worked hard to bump up the exemption for small businesses to make the plan work for our economy. The multi millions of dollars being spent on television ads attacking his vote hardly represent the small businesses that need help in ensuring their employees are covered.

While the bill is not as strong as I would personally like, it is a major step in the right direction. Most importantly it begins to address the uncontrolled tyranny of the insurance companies who regularly exert unfettered control over American lives and doctor’s professional relationships with their patients. For the first time, American citizens will have choices about insurance. For the first time, American citizens cannot be treated like aliens — they will have the right to buy insurance and not be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. This is a major step putting regulation back into the hands of elected officials and out of the hands of millionaire executives who are accountable to no one.

Thank you, Baron!

— Susan Ryan, Floyds Knobs



Reader thanks Baron Hill

Your recent vote to support health care reform was the right choice. Something needs to be done. Continuing down the path of neglect and denial is not an acceptable alternative.

Hang in there while the current smear campaign machine tries to distort the good that was done.

Let me tell you about clients that come to be treated at a local “public” hospital where I work. Everyday I encounter people who tell me that doors are closed in their face. I am told that they are refused services at other facilities or by private practitioners. Regularly, I hear stories about demands for huge, up front cash payments just to evaluate their problem.

Virtually all of these stories come from people that do not have any kind of health insurance. The full spectrum of medical treatment has been narrowed significantly because of their financial status. A high percentage of these people are full time workers who would buy insurance now if they could. Many have it available to them, but the premiums sometime take up more of their pay than all taxes combined.

Making sure that all Hoosiers have access to quality affordable healthcare will benefit all of us in many ways. Something needs to be done.

Mr Hill, you did not vote on a perfect, inexpensive piece of legislation. Let’s be reasonable with our expectations. Decades of neglect and denial have made a clear picture of failure. You supported the best interests of your constituents. Thank you again.

— Andrew Mattingly, New Albany