Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs down to a federal judge who ruled last week against the Affordable Care Act. Most legal experts do not expect the ruling to stand, and the law has weathered a number of other legal challenges since its 2010 enactment. But there’s no guarantee when it comes to the judiciary, and the health coverage of millions of people, to say nothing of protection for people with pre-existing conditions, is now in question. Thumbs up, though, to Connecticut’s exchange, Access Health CT, in announcing amid the confusion that it would extend the 2019 signup period by another month.

Thumbs up to a popular brewery for giving back. Bad Sons Beer Co., which makes its home in an old factory in Derby, planned an event over the weekend in conjunction with a California brewery to benefit people who lost everything in recent wildfires. It joined with hundreds of other breweries across the country to brew a special beer, Resilience IPA, with proceeds helping people and businesses that are starting over after the Camp Fire destroyed their homes.

Thumbs up to plans from Gov.-elect Ned Lamont promising an administration that will put a focus on diversity. Connecticut faces many challenges, as Lamont is well aware, as well as numerous constituencies across the state. As a gathering called “The 94% Black Leadership Summit” — a reference to election results that showed 94 percent of African-Americans voted for Lamont last month — Lamont on Saturday said he would put a priority on hiring people from across the spectrum, and his early appointments came in for praise from leaders at the summit. Thumbs up to a plan by State Comptroller Kevin Lembo that could help bring down prescription drug prices. Lembo is taking a fresh look at pharmacy benefits provided to state employees with an eye on examining the profits made by insurers that serve as a middle man between doctors and patients. He said he is concerned that price breaks and benefits are not being passed on to the consumer.

Share your tradition

Is there a tradition that you cherish following every holiday season? It may be a gathering, the placement of an ornament, or a tribute to a friend or family member.

Share your traditions, at no more than 200 words, and consider including a photo. We’ll publish them on Christmas Day. Please send them by Friday, Dec. 21, to letters@nhregiser.com.