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Letters to the Editor

Congress can cover Alzheimer’s diagnosis

More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s would allow people to access treatments when they would be most effective and implement modifiable risk reduction strategies. As a former caregiver, I understand firsthand the importance of early detection and diagnosis. The bipartisan ASAP Act creates a pathway for Medicare coverage of FDA-approved dementia blood biomarker screening tests. The ASAP Act would also allow coverage for future test methods approved and cleared by the FDA, helping to ensure beneficiaries do ...

We must do better for immigrants

Years ago I attended a friend’s naturalization ceremony. She was in America after her family left their homeland to escape oppression. The ceremony was deeply moving and filled me with pride and love for our country — feelings my grandfather must have experienced many years earlier when he became a citizen. That friend is now a nurse practitioner promoting the health of her fellow Americans. Today masked federal agents wait outside public buildings to prevent people like my grandfather from becoming productive American citizens. Instead, they will be forcibly returned to situations ...

Remember to vote in special election

Tuesday, March 17, marks St. Patrick’s Day, which celebrates the snakes driven from Ireland. This March 17 will be when voters select a replacement for now-Judge Lou Schmitt. Using the snakes as an analogy, voters of the 79th District (Altoona, and Logan and Allegheny townships) must do the same and vote Republican. This special election requires voters to vote again to ensure funding continues for community safety, education and transportation. All registered voters overwhelmingly elected Republican Schmitt to serve as the 79th District representative, so logically, voters should ...

Verobish will be accountable leader

I proudly support Andrea Verobish for State Representative in the 79th District. Our community deserves principled leadership rooted in family values, constitutional rights, and fiscal responsibility. Andrea understands that strong families and safe communities are the foundation of a thriving district. She supports protecting parental rights and ensuring our schools reflect the values of the people they serve. Andrea is also a strong defender of the Second Amendment. In our region, that right represents personal protection, heritage, and freedom. She is committed to standing up for ...

Sensible minds need to prevail over budget

I felt compelled to write about Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $53.2 billion budget outline. I am dismayed when politicians continually increase spending instead of staying within fiscal limits of good governance. I am not saying Democrats are the only ones guilty of spending tax dollars, but they certainly have a penchant for spending over and above incoming revenues. When I was a local politician, we looked at our revenues and then decided what items our budget could accept and then planned accordingly. This governor and his cohorts believe that legalizing marijuana and taxing skill games ...

Joyce appreciated for health care stance

As a Keystone Stater through and through, I appreciate leaders who believe in accountability, competition, and limited government intrusion, especially in health care. That is why I appreciate U.S. Rep. John Joyce’s principled leadership on health care issues and his strong advocacy for constituents during recent congressional hearings with insurance executives. Too often, patients are left paying higher costs while large corporations face little scrutiny. Dr. Joyce understands that when insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers and other health care entities become too ...