Op Ed in LHL

Ok back to political rant time.

Op Ed piece in the by Dave Adkisson got my attention today.  The State of Ky, and most others, have budget problems this year.  Adkisson is the president of the Ky Chamber of Commerce, and he shares his ideas on how to solve those issues and made my blood pressure rise.  Please read the article and then look at the source and tell me what you think.

My thoughts start with the the idea that the Chamber will not want to have any tax reform that could include a tax on services or would hurt their members.  But the article is not an attack on taxes or tax reform.  It is a denial that anything besides reform in government spending is needed to solve the budge issues.  He wants to government to spend less on jails, Medicare, and State employee insurance.  So the Chamber says we need to be soft on crime by not keeping criminals locked up as long.  We should reduce the amount we spend on health care for the poor and elderly by making them go to wellness training and smoking session classes but do not raise the tobacco tax another cent.  State employees should pay a "reasonable contribution" for health care coverage, which is another way to lower the payroll cost of the state instead of the reduction of state workers that is being discussed.

He does not address why insurance cost are going sky high. Could it be because the Chamber Day at the Capital is being hosted by Anthem Blue Cross?  The Chamber has came out against any heath care reform but its on stats used in this article show that the cost of health care for employees and Medicare have far out stripped the rise in the States budget and revenues.  But Adkisson does not come out against his sponsor, no he says the people should be asked to pay more for less services.  This is a great idea for the insurance companies, not so much for the people or the state.

Enough of the rant. Please read the article and let me know what you think