Letters to the Editor: Oct. 19, 2020

I am really worried about the direction our political arenas are going both on the state and national levels. I wonder what this world is going to look like in the future. I feel sorry for my grand kids and really wonder what they have ahead of them!

I believe we could do better in a lot of areas. When I look at our state, I hear from the people in power that they may have to cut down on spending. One of the reasons for that is that the income tax in this state has been cut in half in the last 12 years. Nobody talks about that because everyone likes low taxes. The only problem is that as your income tax has been going down, your property tax has been going up. My property tax has gone up by 70% in those same years.

Cities, counties, and townships were scheduled to get some money from the oil revenues in the “Prairie Dog Bill” but as those revenues decreased so went the funding. Maybe the legislature could have used some of the Legacy Fund to replace the anticipated oil revenue money, until oil prices increase. Our county was going to do some paving with the money, but now it is not affordable.

I think we really need to look at health care in this country and state. As we know, the cost is going through the roof. There is much discussion about doing away with the Affordable Care Act, but nobody seems to come up with a replacement.

We also have a coal fired power plant in this state that is on the verge of closing. If we can have a successful Bank of ND and a State Mill and Elevator why can’t we have a state-run power plant?

I think we need a good balance of government and private industry, because I do not think on their own either one works very well. I live in the country where we are served by a local power cooperative and a rural water system. I believe if it had not been for government assistance in those two entities, we would probably still be burning kerosene and pumping water by hand. I see no reason why the state could not run a state-owned meat packing plant as well. A major reason private enterprises fail is because they do not have the capital to get through the initial stages of getting their markets established.

I get a kick out of people in this state who condemn government as they stand in line waiting for there checks to show up in the mailbox. Last time I looked; ND got about $3.50 from the federal government for every dollar we send to them. I wonder where this state would be if it was not for things like FEMA and the subsidies on everything from wind farms to farm programs. I do not think it would be pretty.

My old shop teacher once told me “There is a difference between scratching your butt and tearing a hole in it but some people don’t know the difference”!! If I am elected, I will try and use some “Common Sense” to come up with “Responsible Government”!!

If you vote for me for Representative in District 14 will you also vote for my running mates, Mark Nelson for House, and Jenna Vanhorne for Senate!! We think we can do better!

Richard Lynne

Maddock, ND

Candidate for N.D.

State House, District 14

Questionable Medicaid Decisions

Medicaid leaders in the capitol are making questionable decisions for the health of vulnerable North Dakotans. Many low-income individuals, pregnant woman, children, and others have health insurance through Medicaid. To be sure these people are getting the right care, the government contracts with organizations like Quality Health Associates (QHA) of ND to verify these vulnerable people are getting good, appropriate, and timely care.

After performing this work in collaboration with health care providers and consumers for over 30 years, Medicaid leaders in the capitol have chosen an out-of-state company to do this work, and it’s costing the taxpayer $250,000 more per year. This should be troubling to any taxpayer who wants their hard-earned dollars supporting North Dakota first.

More upsetting is the fact that medical decisions for these vulnerable populations will now be outsourced to a for-profit, Pennsylvania company, instead of a company like QHA, a non-profit out of Minot, ND, that employs local health care professionals who are familiar with rural healthcare in our great state.

As an ER physician who has taken care of patients in North Dakota for 20 years, it’s clear to me these leaders have failed to place North Dakota first.

Jeffrey Sather, MD, MBA, FACEP

Board of Directors Chair

Quality Health Associates of North Dakota