Faso enriches the wealthy at expense of our health

Proposed Ulster County fire training center is needed

Dear Editor, I support the proposed Ulster County fire training facility.

The requirements to become a firefighter in our country have been aggressively increasing to better train and prepare our emergency responders so in that we can mitigate incidents with positive outcomes. The man hours and training requirements we instill in our current members and on to the new recruits we bring in every year must train vigorously ensuring not only their safety, but that of the public to whom we respond. With training being a very important aspect to our daily operations, we must have a facility that is able to handle such requirements and offer the newest in technologies to better our training outcome and fine tune our responders.

The proposed training facility has been talked about since I began my fire service in 1993. It has taken us at least 24 years to move forward on this issue. To see a plan that incorporates the centrally located SUNY Ulster campus in Cottekill and a training facility excites me, knowing that a facility is being planned to not only handle the fire service in Ulster County, as a whole, and to not just a plan to host live burns, but to serve all emergency responders.

I applaud Ulster County Executive Michael Hein the Legislature’s office in supporting this plan to go forward for our most valuable emergency services and hope that this plan becomes a reality with a much-needed, county-run facility.

Christopher M. Mancuso Assistant Chief, Past Chief Plattekill Fire Rescue Plattekill, N.Y. Dear Editor, After listening to U.S. Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, answer questions about the new health care legislation, it became clear to me that it is not a health care bill; it is deficit-busting, tax-cut bill.

Not once did Faso comment about the reduced quality of the care provided in the proposed law. His answers were all about the savings for the wealthy. For example, the reduced capital gains: “I justify the capital gains tax reduction because it is impairing economic growth . ... ”

Obamacare is grounded in preventative measures, while this bill will strip them away. The new legislation eliminates Obamacare’s 10 essential benefits and coverage for millions of people with preexisting conditions. For examples, having had a cesarean section or having donated a kidney to a loved one are both pre-existing conditions which would put one at risk for increased premiums. These “savings” will be used for a tax break for those making more than $250,000 by eliminating the tax on their interest and dividends. Fasocare will eliminate the very important Obamacare subsidies and move the savings over to “tax breaks” that will not be available to many states, including New York.

The biggest tax change in this proposed tax bill chisels away at Medicaid. Millions of people will lose their coverage and the savings will be given to the wealthy. Those making $1 million will get a $50,000 yearly rebate and the rebate for top-tier earners will be an incredible yearly $200,000. When people lose their health insurance, their death rates go up. With Fasocare, the number of losers is a staggering 23 million. And the rich get richer. Dave Minch Saugerties, N.Y.

Dutchess Legislator Tyner cares about the little guy

Dear Editor, Re “Dutchess Legislator Tyner faces unprecedented censure for implying county official was acting like World War II-era Nazis,” June 14, 2017: I support Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner, D-Clinton.

We all say things in the wrong way from time to time, but that does not mean that our true beliefs or intentions are wrong. Many have been out to get Tyner because of his unorthodox ways and now they want to crucify the guy.

So what if Joel used some so-called improper words in trying to make an important point? Joel has every right to be upset. Overall, many of our representatives care very little about the poor and the handicapped people of Poughkeepsie; whereas Joel, who lives in Northern Dutchess, does care about them. He could very easily turn a blind eye and overlook them, but he doesn’t. That is why we here in Northern Dutchess elected Joel. He is our “watchdog.” For a long time, the City of Poughkeepsie did not even have a supermarket in its city limits, but it always concerned Joel.

Who is going to help watch over the less fortunate? Representatives like Joel Tyner, that’s who.

That being said, readers should let Joel Tyner know that they support him, as I do. Keith Greeney Rhinebeck, N.Y.