THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 16, 1994 TAG: 9408160003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
The most important piece of legislation in many years, health-care reform, is before Congress.
We need universal portable coverage with adequate minimum benefits at a fair price. Exclusions and pre-existing-condition clauses are unacceptable. All the uproar over mandates and abortion is just desperate, irresponsible diversion. Voters are smart enough to realize that the employee ultimately pays. We also need to help the truly small-business man to pay these costs.
I have followed this matter for several years. No one has offered anything that is better than the Clinton plan. I have been horrified by the irresponsible sniping, nitpicking and smoke screening by partisan politickers, bigoted and/or self-righteous public figures and money-primed lobbyists.
Of course, I should have realized that the people who are being enriched by the current rip-off status quo would go to any lengths to preserve their incomes, even if it comes at the expense of our country's health and well-being. President Clinton has shown enormous courage by standing up to these people.
MIKE RAINES
Norfolk, Aug. 5, 1994 by CNB