The Wall Street Journal should read The Wall Street Journal

The editorial page of The Wall Street Journal has consistently followed the right-wing line, blasting the Affordable Care Act at every opportunity. Perhaps if they read their own paper, they'd sing a different tune. This Sunday's WSJ contained an article titled, "How Obamacare Benefits Older Workers."  The article points out that, for older workers not yet eligible for Medicare, "the ACA could provide an opportunity to get more-affordable insurance than in the past and make it possible to get coverage for those who might otherwise be denied insurance or find it too costly." The article goes on to say:

"For those age 65 and older, the ACA doesn't change the landscape much. 'Your Medicare is your health coverage, and you aren't required to buy anything new,' says Nicole Duritz, an AARP vice president for health and family issues. Still, there are improvements. Medicare coverage for preventive services, such as mammograms or colonoscopies, is being expanded, and Medicare will now provide free annual 'wellness' visits."

The author forgot to mention the closing of the prescription drug "donut hole." That's OK; another article in the same day's WSJ was titled, "Obamacare Aims to Close Medicare 'Doughnut Hole' - Shrinking Since 2010, It Will Close in 2020." That article says that "thanks to the Affordable Care Act . . . Medicare beneficiaries will see [the donut hole] shrink . . . in each year until 2020."

It's too bad the editorial board of the WSJ is blinded by right-wing ideology. Its reporters know better.


The conspiracy to deny Americans health care

The New York Times published an extensively-researched article about the "blueprint for defunding Obamacare" created "shortly after President Obama started his second term." The plan was devised by the usual right wing conspirators: Tea Party Patriots, Americans for Prosperity, Freedom Works, the Club for Growth, and Heritage Action. Where did the money come from? Charles and David Koch, through one of their front groups, spent more than $200 million on this sinister effort.

When Hillary Clinton said there was a "vast right-wing conspiracy," people said she was exaggerating. We now know she was right.

The shame is that all this money and suffering is being caused to prevent Americans from getting affordable health care.


Palatine Township Rejects Voter Initiative

The Palatine Township Board has refused to allow voters at the April 16th annual meeting to consider asking the Board to study the benefits of eliminating the township's Road District.  In a March 19th email, Township Clerk Lisa Moran stated that the petition by 30 voters to include the item on the annual meeting agenda was denied based on advice from the Board's attorney. "The electors at an Annual Town Meeting cannot direct the Township Board to commission a study and make findings, as it is not a power granted to electors under the Township Code," said Moran.

Matt Flamm, one of the voters who had requested the agenda item, replied to Moran. "The agenda item we requested would not 'direct' the Township Board to do anything," said Flamm in an April 3rd email to Moran. "By its plain language, it would 'request' that the Board commission a study and make the results available to the citizens of the Township. It is certainly within the power of the citizens to make a request. The Township Board is violating Section 30-10(b) of the Township Code by refusing to include this agenda item for consideration at the annual meeting."

 
"Even if the Board believes it is not obligated to include this item in the agenda, there is nothing in the law that prohibits the Board from including it," continued Flamm. "The Board could have respected the right of its citizens to be heard, but instead made a choice to keep this item off the agenda. Why would the Board not want to consider the benefits of following a procedure that the General Assembly recently made possible? What are they afraid of?"
 
Based on audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, the Palatine Township Road District had revenues of more than $2 million  including almost $1.5 million in real estate taxes. It spent less than $1.2 million of that amount, leaving more than $844,000 unspent. It had more than $2.6 million in the bank at the end of the year. "All this for 18 miles of unincorporated road!," said Flamm.
 
Flamm's email concluded, "I can understand why the Highway Commissioner would not want to see such a study done. I do not understand why the Township Board wouldn't welcome it."
 
Proponents of the request plan to attend the annual meeting on April 16th and to ask that their proposal be considered.

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