Posted April 9, 2017 06:59 pm – Updated April 9, 2017 07:14 pm

We read with great disappointment that members of the Kansas House of Representatives failed to override the governor’s veto on the Medicaid expansion. Even with the problems incurred by our state budget, it is appalling that we cannot take care of the poor and disenfranchised within our state, much less our medical systems.

I know firsthand the angst and disarray caused by not having a hospital in the community. Our community of Independence has felt a complete abandonment by our state through the loss of our hospital. Many have stepped forward to create something new and appropriate for our community, but it came with hurt feelings, intense indignation and unease among our fellow citizens.

If the legislators who voted “no” on the override could just come to our community and see what they have caused, they might understand our feelings and change their vote. Yes, we have fiscal issues in our state, but they can be resolved by looking forward to common solutions and avoiding the “stuck in the mud” attitude that is so prevalent in some of our legislators.

We moved from Oklahoma to Kansas some 50 years ago, and we thought we were escaping negative thinking. Now we think that we are slowly becoming Oklahoma and what they have never overcome. Please rethink this harmful action to so many in our state of Kansas.

Don Farthing, Independence

Go to Source

Letter: Not expanding Medicaid in Kansas is a huge mistake – Topeka Capital Journal