Simple solution to expert problem in Oscarville
I can't blame the residents of Oscarville for not wanting to live in a place without clean water, modern sewer treatment, affordable housing, electricity, mail delivery, an economy, etc. Why live in such a place?
Too bad three boatloads of "experts" have come to the rescue. The answer is obvious — and affordable. Leave Oscarville! Don't build a road to Bethel to gain access to Bethel. Just move to Bethel or some other town that already has clean water, sewer treatment and all the rest. These self-proclaimed experts wouldn't be there if they didn't have access to boatloads of other people's money.
— Mark Slama
Anchorage
Mushers, dogs not only victims of Sockeye fire
Nearly three weeks have passed since the Sockeye fire swept through our community, taking with it the homes of many longtime Willow residents. While a great outpouring of assistance from the state and the Red Cross has helped everyone affected begin the difficult process of rebuilding their lives and homes, there seems a notable absence of private fundraising efforts on behalf of ALL people displaced by the fire. With the exception of a generous financial contribution made by Geneva Woods that was equally distributed to everyone who lost their home, it would appear the majority of fundraising efforts and media attention has been directed toward the exclusive benefit of mushers. Let us not forget that roughly 80 percent of the Sockeye fire victims are not mushers, rather they are elderly folks, people with disabilities and families with children. Many had limited resources prior to this terrible disaster and many were uninsured. While the comfort and safety of the dogs is no doubt important, one has to wonder if the task of rebuilding hundreds of doghouses for commercial kennels should take precedence over the difficult task of rebuilding family homes throughout our devastated neighborhood.
— Laura Stine
Willow
Senators need to get behind price reduction bill
U.S. Senate Bill 31, "Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2015" says it "Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate with pharmaceutical manufacturers the prices that may be charged to Medicare part D prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors and MedicareAdvantage (MA) organizations for covered part D drugs for part D eligible individuals who are enrolled under a PDP or under an MA-Prescription Drug plan."
AARP president Jeannine English states in the organization's June/July 2015 magazine "Negotiating prices for prescription drugs could potentially save billions of dollars." So why aren't Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan cosponsoring this legislation?
— Gary Miller
Juneau