Republicans won’t fix health care subsidies. Washingtonians suffer | Opinion
House won’t act, the people suffer
The failure of the U.S. House to extend subsidies under Affordable Care Act has brought the government to a standstill. If a deal is not struck, more than 20 million will face higher premiums, and 2 million may lose coverage. Rep. Dan Newhouse, in a party-line vote, favored these cuts. This is on top of his previous vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill that cut $500 billion from Medicaid.
According to a report published by the Washington State Health Care Authority in June 2024, 70% of children under the age of 19 in Washington’s 4th Congressional District (represented by Newhouse) are on Medicaid. Cuts to Medicaid and subsidies to the ACA will mean hospitals and clinics, especially in our rural areas, will close their doors.
Newhouse, in tacit admission of the impacts of these cuts on rural health care, recently requested disbursement from a fund that is inadequate, according to health policy research organization the Kaiser Family Foundation. Medicaid cuts could lower federal Medicaid spending in rural areas by $137 billion over 10 years.
In these cuts to medical care, the Republicans have lost sight of the bedrock that makes democracy possible: humans have inherent values, inherent rights and inherent obligations to each other.
Mickey Beary, Richland
Voicing concerns about Valentine
I want to talk about the concerns I have about Micah Valentine. I’ve been trying to get him to explain his platform and the reasons for it. He declares that he is working on keeping trans children out of Title IX sports programs. I had no idea this was a problem in our schools. I have asked him repeatedly to give me just one example of this happening in our schools, and he refuses to answer or even acknowledge the question.
Yet he has, on his webpage, in bold letters, that this is one of his main goals. I see this as him running on a non-issue which is sure to get people excited and upset but has no real substance. I find that concerning.
There are other issues he’s claiming to do battle with which are equally hard to get him to actually explain, I see him fearmongering more than wanting to be an effective leader for all our children. I prefer leaders who embrace every child and look out for them instead of fanning the flames of imagined threats that have no basis in facts.
Susan Sorenson, Kennewick
Time for changes to KSD’s board
It is time for a change on the Kennewick School Board. Robert Franklin deserves to be elected, and Micah Valentine removed. Valentine has dropped the ball on academics and achievement via his laser-like focus on right-wing culture war topics and public verbal attacks on trans-students (as reported in the Tri-City Herald).
Meanwhile, Amistad Elementary in Kennewick was on its way to becoming one of the lowest-performing schools in Washington state. I attended most of the school board meetings during Micah’s tenure and never once heard Micah ask any questions or show any interest in Amistad or test scores or any academic achievement metric. Not once!
Kennewick schools and students deserve someone like Franklin, who has promised to focus on academics and achievement. We need someone, like Franklin, who is not captive to outside influences and culture-war topics. We need someone like Robert who will be sensitive to students with special needs and who will uphold the KSD vision of “All students will be safe, known, and valued.”
It is time to get back to basics and simple decency. Help elect Robert Franklin to the Kennewick School Board. Franklin in, Valentine out. Back to basics. Say yes to decency.
Chuck Henager, Kennewick
Hegseth failing to honor our military
On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman issued Executive Order 9981 abolishing segregation in the Armed Forces and ordering integration of all branches. Executive Order 9981 states, “There shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the Armed Forces without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.”
It is essential that there be maintained in the Armed Services of the U.S. the highest standards of democracy, with equality of treatment and opportunity for all those who serve in our country’s defense. Eisenhower was inspired by the heroic service of black troops, and his administration was responsible for the actual enforcement of the desegregation of the military.
In February 2025, Hegseth fired a number of top military officers, including Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as the Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations, and ousted Joint Chief Chair C.Q. Brown. Hegseth has accused generals and other leaders as being “woke,” and that their focus on diversity, equity and inclusion has weakened the military. He believes U.S. troops need not respect the Geneva Convention, and lobbied with impunity for service members accused of war crimes.
Hegeth dishonors our military.
Amy Small, Richland
Proud supporter of 2 incumbents
I’m proud to support Gabe Galbraith and Micah Valentine for our local school board. Both Galbraith and Valentine believe decisions about our schools should be made here at home — not dictated by Olympia.
They understand that every community has its own values and needs, and they’ll fight to ensure our district retains the freedom to educate our students in a way that reflects them.
Galbraith and Valentine have shown steady, practical leadership rooted in common sense. They listen to parents, teachers and taxpayers, making balanced decisions that put students first. I trust them to stand up against unnecessary mandates from the state while keeping our schools accountable, excellent and focused on what truly matters — our kids.
Let’s keep local control where it belongs. Vote for steady leadership. Vote for Galbraith and Valentine.
Annette Rose, Kennewick
Kennewick school admin did the right thing
Thank you to the Kennewick School District administration, especially Superintendent Lance Hansen and Chinook Middle School Principal Jake Davis.
Six weeks ago, a special education teacher at Chinook Middle School was suspended from her position, leaving students on the autism spectrum without their teacher, potentially impeding their educational progress.
The KDS administration did the right thing. They followed the course of due process and, thankfully, the special needs students now have their teacher back.
The administration faced pressure from a small group of woke, Christian nationalist extremists, spearheaded by one of Kennewick City’s own council members, Brad Beauchamp, and stoked by the fringe, woke extremist group, Moms of Liberty, who, in bad faith and with no evidence, pushed for KSD personnel to be fired with no due process over a Facebook post.
We parents of children with special needs commend the courage of the KSD administration, knowing that a woke cancel culture mob of immature adults was nipping at their heels.
May all of our public servants be more like Mr. Hansen and Mr. Davis, and less like Mr. Beauchamp.
Kyle Blodgett, Kennewick
Retain Roy Keck on Port of Benton
Roy Keck has the experience and proven commitment to continue representing us as a re-elected Port of Benton commissioner. I had the opportunity to work closely with Keck at Energy Northwest for almost two decades. His extensive experience with construction management, regional planning and project funding/financing will be vital as we continue to attract new jobs in the advanced nuclear sector and related supply chains.
The recent Herald article on progress on small modular reactors here in our area confirms the real potential if our community and governmental entities actively support the industry.
While Keck is committed to moving our community forward with new, competitive jobs, supporting small business and representing our local issues at the state and federal levels, his opponent is narrowly focused on protecting the unfair leases at the Richland Airport for his associates.
The airport is an important part of Port responsibilities, but these other expanding economic development areas for the Port will provide higher benefit to the taxpayers and community.
On Nov. 4, please join me in re-electing Keck for Port of Benton commissioner. To read more on his priorities and experience, visit his website www.ReElectRoyKeck.com.
Jim Lewis, Richland, retired, BPA
Creating Richland city voting districts
What I look for in a candidate for city council has nothing to do with where they live. What matters is the candidate’s history of public service, involvement in civic affairs, integrity, desire to achieve consensus and demonstrated knowledge of city issues.
Neighborhood districting cheapens the responsibility of elected officials to act in the best interest of the city and reduces their representation to a fraction of the whole.
Districts to “level the playing field” does not guarantee the public that decisions will be made in the best interest of the citizenry, but more likely creates a more divisive council, pitting neighborhoods against each other.
A good council member considers the impact of any decision on many factors, and if the only thing that matters is whether it benefits their neighborhood, they are failing to consider the future of the city.
Carol Moser, Richland
‘No Kings’ rallies show
Millions of freedom-loving Americans turned out for the No Kings rallies, including thousands in Washington State’s 4th Congressional District. Rep. Dan Newhouse hasn’t commented, however, maybe because no matter what he says, he loses.
The Republican leadership framed the participants as America haters, Antifa and terrorists. That’s an obvious lie, though, and echoing it would only offend the many patriotic people who took part. That wouldn’t be good for him.
What if, on the other hand, he expressed empathy for the fears and frustrations of voters who face skyrocketing medical insurance premiums, inflation, fear of abuse by DHS, and many other problems brought on by the Trump administration? The difficulty with that is why would anybody take him seriously, given his voting record and public pronouncements? It would also infuriate Trump and the very rich people who rule the GOP, so that doesn’t seem likely.
Maybe the safest option for him is to stay mum but be ready with an inoffensive general statement about American rights of peaceful protest in case he’s pressed. The path Newhouse has chosen has boxed him in when it comes to responding to his constituents’ needs.
Greg Carl, Richland