Rural hospitals will be decimated by President Donald Trump’s budget bill | Opinion
Rural hospital closures
“Trump’s bill threatens rural care. Will it hurt Valadao?” (sacbee.com, July 10)
Rural hospitals will be decimated by President Donald Trump’s budget bill, which ensures that 12 million people will lose their health care nationally, disproportionately affecting rural districts, such as the one Rep. Kevin Kiley — who voted for the bill — is supposed to be representing.
When people lose health care, they are forced to rely on emergency rooms for care, then default on the costs. Small rural local hospitals will have to eliminate services and lay off staff. Many will have to close altogether. Three hospitals are projected to close in Kiley’s District 3. My nearest hospital is on that list.
Kiley claims he is protecting our hospitals through a $50 billion supplemental program, but $155 billion is projected to be lost. Kiley pretends to care about his constituents but continues to vote against their interests.
Tracy Wade
Browns Valley
CalPERS must finally divest
“CalPERS reports strong gains and plans private equity boost,” (sacbee.com, July 16)
Buoyed by higher returns on its investments, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System is considering more private equity investments. The fund does need a new direction — one that doesn’t include fossil fuels.
California is always on the edge of a climate disaster. State residents are seeing their homes go up in smoke while breathing dirty air. Meanwhile, fossil fuel companies continue to pollute and profit. Now, the federal government won’t come to our rescue — in fact, it’s going to make it worse.
CalPERS should be reshaping its portfolio and investing in the green energy projects that the feds have abandoned.
Kate Lenox
Sacramento
Protect animal welfare
“Trump’s latest attack on California could leave him with egg on his face | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, July 11)
I appreciate this stand against the Trump administration’s attempt to overturn California’s animal welfare laws. The Biden administration already gave it a try, backing the pork industry in its suit before the U.S. Supreme Court. Let’s hope the current administration is equally unsuccessful.
Let’s also hope that animal advocates on both sides of the aisle let legislators know how closely we are watching them, and how little they can rely on our votes when they take them for granted.
Karen Dawn
Animal advocacy nonprofit director
Blame Trump for egg prices
“Trump administration blames California for high price of eggs as feds file suit,” (sacbee.com, July 10)
Since early 2022, a lethal strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza has ripped through U.S. flocks, forcing the death of 160 million birds, mostly hens used for eggs. That’s why we’ve seen egg price spikes.
Other poultry-producing nations manage the same virus with standard veterinary procedures developed to prevent bird flu. But the federal government won’t allow U.S. egg producers to give their birds the veterinary care needed to prevent this virus. Instead, the Trump administration is bowing to the chicken‑meat lobby’s fear that some foreign meat buyers might object to the preventative veterinary care.
Humane housing did not erase 160 million birds. A virus did.
Alene Anello
Sacramento
Water crisis
“Netanyahu says Israel to take over all Gaza, start aid flows,” (sacbee.com, May 19)
Although media coverage of Palestine has decreased, the sanitation and water crisis have progressively worsened. Israeli forces have cut water, electricity and food supply to Gaza, leaving thousands of individuals starving, thirsty and cold.
According to Doctors Without Borders, most people living in Gaza are forced to drink unsafe water or struggle to find water sources entirely.
I urge our representatives to speak out about the inhumane treatment of Palestinians.
Sofiya Buchko
Sacramento