|
|
|
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
|
Letters, July 13, 2008
Published: Sunday, July 13, 2008
Van Drew bill maybankrupt systemRegarding the June 12 article "Van Drew wants to limit assisted-living evictions":More than 13,000 elderly N.J. citizens reside in assisted living residences licensed and regulated by the state. Of the 208 such residences, 173 currently provide essential care to more than 3,100 frail Medicaid beneficiaries. Recently, one company that owns and operates eight New Jersey assisted living facilities was accused of inappropriately discharging Medicaid residents. As a result of these allegations, Senate bill S-2066 is currently pending in the state Legislature. This bill would require all assisted living residences to serve a minimum number of Medicaid beneficiaries regardless of a facility's ability to do so, increasing the government debt load and bankrupting the private assisted living system.
Making assisted living reliant upon public funding in a system already inadequately funded by state tax dollars is simply a replay of the failed public policy applied to nursing homes 40 years ago. This year alone the state government admitted that it could not pay more than $75 million in promised rates to nursing homes due to insufficient government funding. S-2066 would create an additional state budget liability of nearly $42 million to pay for the 3,100 Medicaid beneficiaries now being cared for through a mix of private and public funds. Why?PAUL LANGEVIN JR.PresidentHealth Care Association of New Jersey HamiltonMessage boardsshould have messageThe New Jersey Highway Authority recently spent about $1 million on four electronic message signs on the Garden State Parkway in Cape May County. Those signs, in addition to advising motorists about accidents ahead or inclement weather, should also be utilized to advise motorists about our laws.When the signs are turned on, they say "Drive Carefully." It seems a waste of our toll/taxpayer money to install such expensive signs and not take advantage of the ability to display more informative and pertinent information for the motoring public. There are many messages that are equally, if not more, important than "Drive Carefully" -"Keep Right, Pass Left," "Wear Seat Belts," "Report Aggressive Drivers," "Speeding fines doubled in 65 MPH Zones," etc.BOB HENTGESCape May Court HouseColumnist unfairto Barack ObamaCharles Krauthammer's June 29 column, "Media lapdogs silent as Obama flip-flops shamelessly," is journalism at its worst. He doesn't like Barack Obama, plain and simple. So the answer is to write something ridiculous and confusing? Definitely not smarter than a fifth-grader. Hey, Charles, the fat lady's not ready to sing, but she's warmin' up. Unless there's an October surprise, this one's over. The old guy's got no shot. Go, Obama.HENRY WARDACHVentnorObama's fineon qualificationsIn response to letters about Barack Obama being unqualified to be president:Beside the fact that Obama practiced as a civil-rights attorney, graduated from Harvard Law school, taught constitutional law, worked as a community organizer and currently serves in the U.S. Senate (all of which seem like respectable qualifications to be president), I have to wonder: Is experience the absolute most crucial thing? The president has an entire Cabinet to assist him with years of their own experience. What he needs is merely the intellect to make an honest judgment about whom to bring in, as well as not being stubborn in surrounding himself with yes-men and thinking he can do no wrong (cough-Bush-cough).Also, I wouldn't worry too much about people voting for Obama simply because he is black. Their votes will most likely be canceled out by people voting against him simply because he is black.I'm concerned with electing the person who will be in the best position to get us out of Iraq and at least start the process of healing our health-care crisis.DAN KOV
VentnorPolillo will endyears of corruptionRegarding the July 5 story"Officials fear Board-
walk's decay unsafe":I was born at the corner of New Hampshire Avenue and Dewey Place in Atlantic City. I walked and rode on my bicycle the stretch from Oriental Avenue to Captain Starns, passing Hackney's restaurant a million times. Now it sounds as though my birthplace wants the casinos to pay for something that was well maintained before gaming. It further reinforces my sad belief that casino gambling did nothing but create political corruption, which will continue unless Joe Polillo is elected mayor. I've known Joe for at least 45 years, and he has taken nothing from the city and given back 100-fold. It is about time people in Atlantic City looked outside the box and the corruption and elected someone who will put Atlantic City first and not the casinos.HOWARD LEVINE Las VegasWhy won't clerkanswer questions?State Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, recently defended Atlantic County Clerk Ed McGettigan, saying he was doing a "capable job" in discharging his election-related responsibilities.If that is the case, then why has McGettigan refused to appear before the freeholder board to answer questions about how he conducted himself in handling absentee ballots during this past primary? Former county Clerk Mike Garvin came before the freeholder board to discuss the absentee ballot system when previously asked. Why won't McGettigan?Perhaps Whelan can convince his friend that public servants shouldn't hide in the face of controversy.KEITH DAVISLinwood(Editor's note: Keith Davis is the Atlantic County Republican Chairman.)
|
Print Story
Email Story
