Kreidler no advocate

Seniors now know what Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler means when he claims he is a “staunch advocate for consumer protection.” What a joke. How about “staunch protector of insurance company profitability.” Thanks to Shawn Vestal of The Spokesman-Review and my three state representatives (Joe Schmick, Susan Fagan and Mark Schoesler), Kreidler had to justify his approval of a 41 percent increase in long-term care insurance premiums by Met Life.

Here is some of what Kreidler said in a letter dated Jan. 9:

“You asked how I could approve the rate increase Met Life received. The reality is that I have no authority not to.” Really? Why then are we taxpayers paying you for consumer protection?

“We are now faced with granting justified rate increases on products that were significantly underpriced.” Yes, actuarial assumptions were wrong. Justified, Commissioner Kreidler? Mistakes by big corporations making billions in profits are corrected on the backs of senior citizens? How nice for corporate America.

If cost increases are “borne by the insurance companies, they would run the risk of not remaining solvent.” Really, Commissioner Kreidler? Have you looked at the financial condition, profitability and executive compensation of Met Life lately?

John Thielbahr

Pullman

Disappointed by plowing

I am writing regarding the city’s attempt at plowing my neighborhood on Jan. 21. We left just as the plows were coming down our street, leaving no cars in front or beside our home. In years past when there was a clear area to plow, they usually got as much of the snow out of the area as possible and left a relatively small pile to break down and came back and cleared the corners so the drains and sidewalks were somewhat clear.

Not so this year. I was very disappointed and upset to come home and find that not only had they neglected to clear the corner, leaving a fourth-grader-size snowball in their wake, but also left a 4-foot-wide berm in front of my house without any attempt to clean it up some. I live on a narrow street as it is and now it is twice as narrow.

Thank goodness we have a garage for my wife, and I have a 4x4, otherwise we would have been breaking our backs to clear what has been better taken care of by the city.

Matt Griffith

Spokane

Birth control mandate wrong

I read with alarm “Free birth control mandate expanded” on Jan. 21. The ramifications of this mandate from President Barack Obama are far-reaching and formidable. Essentially, all organizations formed upon their religious beliefs are now compelled by President Obama’s mandate to provide free birth control even if it would violate their faith, identity or purpose.

What happened to the conscience clause or religious liberty? My understanding is that the Catholic Church regards some birth control as possibly abortive (taking a human life) in that it prevents implantation of a fertilized embryo. Should not these Catholic institutions have a right to exist based upon their faith principles?

It would seem such organizations are being pressured to cease from providing any medical insurance or cease from existing. So what would be the next mandate to be expanded? Regardless on what side of the issue you fall in terms of birth control, for an elected representative who swears to uphold the Constitution of the United States to require institutions, agencies or universities to act against their very faith, conscience and moral identity, sounds more like a dictatorship rather than a democracy.

Please pray for President Obama and for our country.

Jeanie Wagenman

Spokane