Gardenhire deserves re-election to Senate
My wife and I are strong and contributing District 10 constituents of Sen. Todd Gardenhire. I have called his office on several occasions to show our support for not expanding Medicaid. As a taxpayer, I am not in favor of expansion that will eventually fall on the shoulders of Tennessee taxpayers through either an increased sales tax, property tax or both.
Yes, ObamaCare is currently paying the health care costs for expansions in those states that expanded their programs, but this will drop in succeeding years to 90 percent in 2020. Almost every health care economist, including the nonpartisan GAO, has stated repeatedly that ObamaCare is not sustainable in its current form.
Sen. Gardenhire has stood fast in the face of strong opposition of expanding Medicaid to protect taxpayers from increases in the not too distant future.
He and his opponent, Khristy Wilkinson, do agree on the importance of investing in schools. However, Sen. Gardenhire already has accomplished much in this area from his position on the Senate Education Committee.
Dr. Ron and Carole Morin
Gardenhire mailing defames outsiders
Todd Gardenhire’s recent postcard mailing tries to highlight why he is the right candidate to be re-elected for state Senate District 10. Instead, he insults not only his opponent, Khristy Wilkinson, a well-educated, committed, hard-working mother, wife and teacher, but insults all of us who have moved here from somewhere else, referencing that since she/we are not from here, there is no way we can have decent “Tennessee” values. His claims of her wanting to bring Detroit’s ruin here are inaccurate; Wilkinson grew up in Grand Rapids, Mich., lived in Detroit but moved here years ago with her husband for job opportunities. Who is he to say she wasn’t raised right? I certainly will tell all I know who have lived elsewhere or were born outside of Chattanooga that we are less than worthy in his eyes and apparently don’t have decent values. And he thinks only he can represent all of us “others?” Despicable.
I thought Chattanooga wanted to be a city that attracted passionate and talented folks from all over. But according to Gardenhire, we can’t have a voice because we are not “from here.” Pathetic.
Sally Faulkner
Lookout Mountain, Tenn.
United, Memorial breakup concerning
I am concerned that Memorial Hospital plans to terminate its relationship with United Healthcare insurance members effective Tuesday, which is two months shy of a full year of coverage. This is most unfortunate for one who has already scheduled or needs to schedule a procedure there. This shows the importance of patient care vs. money. Could you not have waited until Jan. 1, 2017?
Gail Marshall
Lookout Mountain, Ga.