Lawmaker needs to examine the facts
To the editor:
In his recent column, Rep. Bob Saucier (D-Presque Isle) calls on state lawmakers to expand the state’s medical welfare program under ObamaCare because he says it would benefit about 3,000 veterans. He ignores the fact that most of those veterans, if they do not qualify for VA services, are already eligible for federally-funded private insurance plans on the exchange. Why is Rep. Saucier proposing a cost-shift from the feds to cash-strapped state taxpayers by advocating state-funded medical welfare instead of better, federally-funded private plans?
Furthermore, under the Medicaid expansion scheme Rep. Saucier recommends, veterans are under-represented among those who would benefit and over-represented among those who would pay. According to the US Census, veterans make up 10 percent of Maine’s population, but only 3.9 percent of those who would benefit from Medicaid expansion. Alternatively, according to the Veterans’ Administration, veterans earn about $5,000 more than non-veterans, and therefore pay more taxes (maybe it’s the work ethic and skills you get from serving your country?).
Why does Rep. Saucier want veterans to shoulder a disproportionate share of the $800 million burden in paying for welfare expansion? Maybe he should examine the facts and stop regurgitating liberal talking points.
Ricky Castonguay
Washburn
