Letters: Decline of religion connected to partisan divide; Partisan bills hijack fair elections, government

Decline of religion connected to partisan divide

It seems to me that the decline of ritual public religion has led to the intensity of the partisan divide.

For religion places the present world in light of what is beyond it. This then gives proportion to our contentions here and allows world loyalty to emerge, a loyalty to the good that is there, however hidden, in each one of us.

If one does not have old fashioned religion, remember that beyond is present every time we pray. And prayer is the secret heart of language.

Partisan bills hijack fair elections, government

Shame on the naked power grab by Republican state leaders to hijack our democratic government. GOP legislative leaders want to subvert our elections by weaponizing state constitutional amendments to hold hostage the judicial and executive branches of PA government.

Sen. Jake Corman, Rep. Kerry Benninghoff and Rep. Seth Groves are pushing multiple bills in haste and secrecy to be included on the ballot for the spring primary election, which traditionally has the lowest voter turnout. In this way, they hope to sneak through amendments that will seriously take away voters’ rights in future elections.

With zero chance for legislative or public debate and awareness, the Republicans are now cramming through the state legislature new bills that will:

• create a partisan commission to replace the independent redistricting commission that recommends fair district maps;
• establish vague voter ID requirements that could block millions of voters;
• eliminate statewide elections for judicial races in favor of gerrymandered regional races;
• empower the Auditor General to hold up election results, likely to de-certify votes not favoring GOP candidates.

Call or email your legislator, of either party, to oppose these obscene bills now, before the Republicans put them on the primary ballot for final voter approval. Speak up in protest before our state becomes another Texas. Every voter —independent, Democrat, Republican — needs to stand up now before our democracy is smothered.

Draft decision would deepen health care divide

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its draft decision on coverage for monoclonal antibodies targeting amyloid for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

This draft proposes a coverage decision that is so restrictive, it can hardly be considered coverage at all. It effectively denies access to all current and future FDA-approved treatments targeting amyloid in those living with Alzheimer’s disease.

As leaders of the Alzheimer’s Association in Pennsylvania, both who have personally witnessed the impacts of Alzheimer’s disease, we are shocked, disappointed and incensed by this draft.

In a country where the gap in access to health care is so wide, we are concerned that this decision will only deepen that divide — resulting in access for only the privileged few who live near research institutions, or who can afford to pay out-of-pocket.

Pennsylvanians — and all Americans — living with Alzheimer’s are entitled to therapies, just as people with conditions like cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS. Treating people living with Alzheimer’s differently than those with other diseases is discrimination and simply unacceptable.

Stand with us and with your neighbors across the commonwealth in calling on CMS to change this decision, to ensure equitable access to FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatments.