Who does CMR represent?

The continued mean-spiritedness of Republicans in Congress, and namely Cathy McMorris Rodgers 5th District, is breathtaking. She seems so calm in her resolve as she is voting with Speaker Ryan, et al, to take away health care for up to 24 million Americans, and in the same bill give what amounts to about $600 billion of tax relief to the richest of Americans.

The Affordable Care Act has a tax added for the richest Americans that is used to help fund the Medicaid expansion nationwide, which gives insurance to low-income Americans. Available Medicaid for those previously without insurance reduces health care spending because these people go to see a doctor before it’s too late to cure the patient (instead of going to emergency rooms after they are too ill) and the costs or outcomes can be fatal.

If McMorris Rodgers can live with the knowledge that her voting for the repeal/replacement of the ACA will leave people to die for lack of health care, then I have to ask: Who does she represent? The people of the 5th District or the richest 1 percent and the insurance companies that help pay her way into Congress?

Repeal of the ACA could also jeopardize many of the rural hospitals and clinics in Eastern Washington, many of them just hanging on.

David Robinson

Curlew