State benefits from it

The Affordable Care Act varied in its effects from state to state. Arkansas is one of the states that benefited most from the ACA.

First, Arkansas took advantage of ACA’s Medicaid expansion. That extended health care in Arkansas to everyone in poverty and up to 138 percent of the poverty level, paid by federal money.

Second, with the Affordable Care Act, the number of uninsured people in Arkansas went down by over one-third, more than the average state.

So why are Sen. John Boozman and Sen. Tom Cotton not opposing the Republican plan to do away with all this? Don’t they represent the people of Arkansas, and work to do what’s best for this state?

Why would Senator Boozman and Senator Cotton vote for legislation that hurts the people of Arkansas? It seems they are not even negotiating for something in return that benefits Arkansans.

They seem to be going along with eliminating health care for Arkansans because they themselves benefit from it. Follow the money. The amount they make as salary is small change compared to the money they take from special-interest donors. They work for the interests of those who pay them—and it’s not us.

Remember, this new legislation is not a health-care plan. It is a plan to do away with health care, and instead give the money to rich special interests, who it appears in turn donate some if it—quite a lot of it—back to Senator Boozman and Senator Cotton. RALPH ELLIS

Fayetteville