By: centraljersey.com
Somerset County voters voted for many things last November, but they certainly did not vote for more asthma attacks and more contaminated drinking water.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7) supported by voting for the outrageously anti-environmental House funding bill (HR 1).
Passed under cover of night on Saturday, this bill endangers the health of our children, elderly citizens and other vulnerable populations by blocking the Environmental Protection Agency from cleaning up coal-fired power plants and other large sources of dangerous carbon dioxide pollution.
It also cuts EPA’s overall budget by the largest percentage in 30 years, severely threatening the agency’s ability to ensure that we all have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.
To his credit, Rep. Lance voted to oppose efforts to block cleanup of industrial facilities that poison our air and water with toxic mercury pollution. Nevertheless, I am disappointed that Rep. Lance voted to let dirty fossil fuel companies off the hook and, ultimately, supported a final bill that eviscerates our core environmental and public health programs. It is now up to Sens. Lautenberg and Menendez to help defeat the biggest assault on our air and water in recent history.
Alisa Tao Campaign Coordinator Environment New Jersey
AARP says thank you to governor
To the editor:
AARP commends Gov. Christie for supporting a budget for the state’s two pharmaceutical assistance programs, PAAD and Senior Gold.
Because of health care reform, the state is able to increase efficiency through coordinating PAAD and Senior Gold with Medicare Part D. The resulting savings allow New Jersey to continue full funding for both programs without any reduction in eligibility or benefits. In other words, the state saves money while vulnerable disabled and older adults who rely on pharmaceutical assistance are not hurt in the process.
Efficiencies include increased enrollment of PAAD beneficiaries into Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy, which covers almost all of their prescription costs. In addition, drug manufacturers will cover half the cost of many drugs; this reduces the doughnut hole that pharmaceutical assistance programs must pay.
On behalf of our almost 1.3 million members in New Jersey, we thank Gov. Christie for setting the standard for other states. While he could have reduced funding or cut the two programs altogether, as some states are considering, he chose a plan which would balance the state’s need to close the budget deficit with its desire to protect its most vulnerable citizens. Thank you, governor! Marilyn Askin AARP chief legislative advocate Plainsboro