Health care: This is why we need town hall forum

Re: “Reichert rises nobly to big challenge,” (TNT editorial, 5/5).

Rep. Dave Reichert, your no vote on the American Health Care Act was noble but very calculated. This is how you’ve conducted yourself throughout your service in Congress.

You’re thinking if there are enough votes to pass a bill, why stick your neck out? You knew there were 217 yes votes to pass the bill, thus your no vote would raise your standing in your district.

Again, it is very noble to think about the poor, elderly and children. But what about the millions who would lose their health care; the insurance companies that again could raise premiums on anyone with pre-existing illnesses; the millions who would be pushed off Medicaid; and the women’s health issues which are so different from men’s?

And worst of all, the money gained from cutting Medicaid will go to the ones who need it the least, the super rich, in the form of tax cuts.

With so many questions unanswered, Rep. Reichert, we need a town hall meeting. This is no time to hide, and as a former sheriff, you surely can muster the courage and let your constituents have a dialogue with you.

This story was originally published May 14, 2017 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Health care: This is why we need town hall forum."