Manchin is in coal’s pocket
Conflict of interest
Regarding “Joe Manchin says he will not vote for Biden’s Build Back Better bill,” (Dec. 20): Following Manchin’s disavowal of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act, I was interested to read White House press secretary Jen Psaki’s statement.
Although it was more vitriolic than a typical statement from the White House, what surprised me was the description of his renouncement as an “inexplicable reversal in his position.”
Inexplicable, really? Unlike the White House, I have no need to beat around the bush: Manchin is a walking conflict of interest. He has made millions from coal, and currently has holdings in Enersystems Inc., a coal brokerage business which he founded.
Biden’s act included extensive provisions to combat climate change, including the Clean Energy Performance Program, in which utility companies would be paid to quickly change over from fossil fuels to clean energy, and would be fined for not doing so. Coincidence? Perhaps if one is naive.
Add to that provisions in the bill that would have added a $35 price cap on insulin, as well as the ability for Medicare to negotiate prices for high-cost prescription drugs. Drug companies would have stood to lose millions had this piece of the bill passed, so is it really out of the realm of imagination that they would have preferred to spend just $1 million or $2 million to buy the vote of one man?
Inexplicable? Seems clear to me that he’s only been stalling this whole time, until enough checks cleared from his “donors.” What a joke. Andrew Carothers, Tampa
Medicaid rejected
Regarding “Health care moves toward value-based care at sluggish pace” (Dec. 17): I called to schedule a consultation for my lower back with a local surgeon. I have Medicare and am 72 years old and a disabled vet. I was told the doctor does not take Medicare and I cannot pay in cash since the system is not set up for cash payments. So … what? This is not right! Bruce Balchunas, Pearland