Care providers will suffer cuts

A quick observation on your editorial Friday regarding Medicare cuts in health care reform. While you are technically correct when you say "Health care reform aims to preserve standard Medicare benefits, not cut them," what you fail to mention is that the providers who offer the services who depend on Medicare, e.g., nursing homes, home health, hospice, etc., are being cut. What providers will now have to do is make the tough decisions on how to absorb those cuts which will ultimately affect the patients receiving those services as well as the employees providing those services.

-- Chris Downing, vice president

government affairs

UHS Pruitt Corp.

Norcross, Ga.

Why not shoot to disable?

Why is it that police officers shoot to kill when they could shoot to disable potentially dangerous people?

Police officers used a taser to shoot a woman who pointed a shotgun at them early Saturday morning and didn't know if they hit her or not.

Then five of them shot her and killed her. Couldn't they have aimed for her arms or legs instead? I just don't understand the reasoning behind this.

-- Susan Luce

Anchorage

Tax issues hurt state in long run

David Reaume's Sunday column accurately outlines the complex tax case involving the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, concluding that Alaska could lose in the long run when it changes rules on industry. Reaume is correct: It is difficult for any capital-intensive business to succeed with an unpredictable tax structure.

For decades the state of Alaska valued TAPS using the income approach, taxing TAPS owners accordingly. In 2005, the state changed to replacement cost approach. TAPS value for tax purposes increased from $3 billion in 2005 to $9.04 billion in 2009. Taxes now represent about 25% of operating expenses and will significantly increase as throughput declines, pushing a higher burden on the industry.

Today TAPS is valued $2 billion more than at 1988's peak volume of 2.1 million barrels per day. Throughput is one-third of 1988 volumes and declining steadily.

The ad valorem tax issue is one example of fiscal uncertainty that's facing Alaska's oil industry. Fiscal policies weigh heavily in industry investment decisions, and Alaska competes with locations around the globe.

I recognize the importance of tax revenue to Alaska. Alaskans should be concerned about policies that favor short-term gains yet discourage industry investment that pays in the long run.

We believe there is a right answer for both the state and the industry. The state and industry need to partner to find that answer.

-- Kevin Hostler

Alyeska Pipeline president and CEO

Anchorage

New building in budget disaster?

On page one Thursday, we saw that 10 states are headed for budget disasters. The day before, the headline was the proposed legislative building in Anchorage. Gee, I'm so glad we have so much money in Alaska we can spend $28 million to provide second offices for our legislators.

I think our legislators have lost touch with their constituents, the state budget and their duties as legislators.

If we have a surplus of $28 million dollars I suggest it go to the overworked, understaffed social workers in Health and Social Services working in foster care, and distribute the rest to communities across the state where it will benefit all the people of Alaska.

-- Phyllis Dalton

Anchorage

C-Klatt intersection dangerous

It is very difficult and dangerous to turn left from Klatt onto C Street, especially at rush hour. Apparently a roundabout is planned for that intersection eventually. In the meantime how about placing an "all way stop" at the intersection of C Street and Klatt?

-- Linda Lafield