Readers write: Letters to the editor, September 1, 2017

Murkowski fights for what's right for Alaskans

To Sen. Lisa Murkowski: Your steadfast refusal to bow to political pressure and pass health care legislation that would have harmed Alaskans struggling with mental illness and substance-use disorders is a lesson in honesty, integrity and care for your fellow citizens.

Members of the Alaska Behavioral Health Association who offer behavioral health treatment services and support to our friends and neighbors across the state have carefully followed the developments in Washington, D.C., with particular interest in how the decisions would impact Alaskans. We appreciate your unwavering dedication to doing what's right for Alaska as well as your commitment to fixing the problems we have with our health care system through a comprehensive, deliberative approach.

The Affordable Care Act is not perfect. Many Alaskans are struggling with high premiums, copays and deductibles that prevent them from receiving the care they need. The proposal being considered would have stripped health insurance from thousands of vulnerable Alaskans and radically restructured the Medicaid program. Since 2015, Medicaid expansion has brought more than $500 million into the state, and provided access to health care for close to 35,000 Alaskans previously shut out of the health care system. We applaud your recognition of both our struggles and successes and your decision not to throw out the good with the bad.

Even though the latest proposal was defeated, we know we cannot rest and rely on the status quo. We are not where we need to be. While federal leaders reshape and refocus efforts to improve health care, on a state level, providers, policymakers, and legislators are working hard to increase access to quality, cost-effective, access to health care for all Alaskans. With your leadership and support, I am confident we will reach our goal.

We appreciate your willingness to vote your conscience when it might have been more expedient politically to go along, and get along. You have our ongoing gratitude and support as you continue to fight for what's right, for Alaska and for America.

— Tom Chard
executive director,
Alaska Behavioral Health Association
Juneau

Youth deserve transition to clean energy from their elders

Bravo to the young Alaskans who are petitioning the state to actively address climate change by limiting greenhouse gas emissions. While Larry Hartig, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner, excuses past inaction on the importance of our two primary sources of greenhouse gases (the oil and aviation industries) in Alaska's economy, much can still be done:

1. It's time to transition away from the dominance of oil in Alaska's economy and as a transportation fuel. Nearly 3.4 million Americans are directly employed in the clean energy industry, while fewer than 3 million work in the fossil-fuel industries. The price of solar energy has dramatically decreased in the last decade and a 30 percent federal tax credit continues through 2018. Our family has joined many other Alaskans in recently adding solar panels to our house.

2. Solutions to the tremendous cost of heating and fuel in rural villages include a diversity of energy sources, designed to fit the unique situations of each community. Wind, small hydro, solar and tidal power can be environmentally fine-tuned to local environments, particularly if we invest in studies and technological advances to ensure that potential impacts to birds, fish and other natural resources are avoided. Again, more jobs, and more local jobs, are created to maintain and operate such local energy sources.

Tomorrow is here — we don't need the tremendous health, social or economic costs of eroding villages or more people with health issues due to the burning of even more fossil fuels. Certainly we can continue responsible oil development and fuel efficiencies underway, but we need to shift our emphasis to renewable energy and emerging technologies to ensure the young petitioners have a bright, clean future to share with their own grandkids someday.

 For data on clean energy vs. fossil fuel employment.

— Ann Rappoport
Anchorage

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