Bill would force many into ER

As I assessed my very ill diabetic patient in the emergency department last week, the U.S. House of Representatives was voting on the American Health Care Act. I asked her when she had last taken her insulin. “I don’t know. A few days ago?” she responded wearily.

Lapses in her insurance coverage and the high costs of insulin had prevented her from taking care of herself. For a type 1 diabetic, missed doses of insulin eventually cause a life-threatening complication that invariably requires a hospital admission, costing an average of $13,000. Exclusion of patients with pre-existing conditions from insurance coverage will make hospitalizations like these more frequent for the 29 million children and adults in the U.S. with type 1 or 2 diabetes.

The American Health Care Act dramatically weakens the protections of the current Affordable Care Act for persons with pre-existing conditions. Diabetes is only one of dozens of diseases that might keep Americans from obtaining insurance coverage if the new act is signed into law as it currently reads.

We cannot allow our chronically ill fellow Americans to be marginalized in this way. The American Health Care Act is ethically and financially shortsighted.

Dr. Lauren Hassen Columbus officer’s stomping of suspect ‘unreasonable.’” The division has confirmed what we all saw on video: that Officer Zachary Rosen did not act within policy. It is unfortunate, however, that the Columbus police are reviewing the case for potential disciplinary actions instead of immediately terminating Rosen.

Precedent tells us that, when it comes to violent policing against black folks, “discipline” looks like a slap on the wrist. One cannot ask why there is a lack of trust when one doesn’t serve our communities equally.

When Rosen was one of two officers who fired fatal shots at Henry Green, I stood with the communities I serve when they called for justice. When Rosen stomped on the head of a handcuffed black man, I stood with those calling for his immediate termination.

The elected officials and other leaders in this city need to hear what the people are saying. Police brutality is unacceptable. Our neighborhoods deserve better than vague and empty statements.

The people are watching.

Jasmine Ayres Candidate Columbus City Council of thousands of hours in their investigations.

These agencies and groups include: the CIA, the FBI, National Security Agency, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC and many others. Classified information has repeatedly been leaked.

After all of this, what evidence is there that Trump colluded with the Russians on the presidential election? Zero, nada, none, zilch, nothing, zip.

Let us strip the politics from these investigations and bring them to a swift and professional conclusion. We need to get on with the business of growing our economy.

T.J. Feldman Columbus