Medicare good example

The Aug. 20 Spokesman-Review described a Spokane meeting between U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and two organizations that was closed to the public and the media. Health care reform and the public option were the major topics.

Rep. McMorris Rodgers confirmed that she did not support that option (in accord with the Republican Party line) because she opposed government-run health care. But the public health option would be just that, an option to be considered in competition with insurance options by the American people.

I know that a public health option would be affordable and competitive because of my 13-year personal experience with Medicare, a good cost-effective government-run health insurance program for nearly 45 million Americans, mainly seniors 65 and older, but also 7 million younger adults with permanent disabilities.

McMorris Rodgers even seemed to oppose expanded health care coverage in the U.S., claiming that the 47 million uninsured include illegal immigrants and 18- to 35-year-olds who can afford insurance but just don’t bother.

On Aug. 20, I asked Rep. McMorris Rodgers (via her office) to document and quantify these claims but as of the 26th I have had no response. Why? Are they bogus?

Bruce McFadden

Pullman