Letters on efficiency study, bicycle safety, Medicaid expansion, WSU plane crash anniversary

Fox heading up efficiency study?

The fox is being hired to watch the henhouse, as far as I can tell from “Panel names choice for efficiency study” (Sept. 19 Local & State). If they can help it, current Kansas legislators are not going to choose a company that will fairly report the terrible state of affairs here.

Other states studied by the preferred company had failed as much as Kansas, and none is better for the experience, judging from what I have read or heard. The $3 million for the study would be better spent helping our local community.

David Javdan, the consulting firm’s managing director, said: “We don’t write pretty reports that sit on the shelf. We implement and execute.”

But the company has no power to turn around anything without the express intent of the legislators’ willingness to implement the results without fear or favor.

The largely closed-door proceeding in selecting the firm did not allow sufficient information for the Kansas Organization of State Employees or Kansas media – let alone poor me trying to understand the insensitivity of spending money we don’t have in order to find out what else to cut. Proprietary information, my fanny.

All things said, it appears that this company will be hired to support the governor’s version of how Kansas should be governed. The decline in Kansas has proved that his version is flawed.

We need more and accurate information about this huge expenditure.

Promote safe riding

The city of Wichita was recently recognized by the Kansas Public Health Association for adopting the master bicycle and pedestrian plans, multimodal policy, and street design guidance. Last week the Wichita Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board recommended that the City Council direct staff to provide an option for bicycle equipment violators to receive a “fix-it” ticket (Sept. 28 Eagle).

If the council approves, riders of an unlit bicycle who get a “fix-it” ticket could put a light on their bike and have any police officer sign off that they had corrected the problem. Yet again, we see our city’s leadership taking bold actions to ensure that alternate forms of transportation are safe and convenient.

I was deeply saddened by the manner in which an individual addressed our city’s leadership at a recent City Council meeting, but I applaud the City Council and mayor for being thoughtful and consistent, in spite of the disappointing manner in which they there treated. Bravo to our community’s leaders for not wavering on the decision to ensure cyclists are safe by having a light as a requirement. I look forward to seeing what progressive strides they will take next to make our community healthier.

Ride safely.

Wrong solution

The only ones engaging in “ideological obstinance and bullying” are those who claim that expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act is needed to save Kansas hospitals (“Expansion helps hospitals,” Sept. 25 Eagle Editorial). A better diagnosis of the problem is that Obamacare – which hospitals fought for tooth and nail, mind you – is driving up the cost of health care for everyone involved.

Reams of evidence show Medicaid is both fiscally unsustainable and harmful to patients. Instead of an expansion of Medicaid, we need a system that is affordable for taxpayers and provides high-quality health care to those who’ve fallen on tough times.

That means instituting state-based reforms that bring down costs by increasing choice – and get the government out of the doctor’s office. That includes reforms such as expanding access to direct primary care, which removes insurers and government from the health care equation. It also includes expanding scope of practice for midlevel health care providers so that more patients can get more care at better prices.

These are but a few of the state-based reforms Kansas state lawmakers should focus on passing. They are much better options than simply expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

The Eagle editorial board may not agree, but government intervention in health care causes more problems than it solves – something Obamacare has already proved.

Remember crash

Friday is the 45th anniversary of the Wichita State University plane crash that killed football players, coaches, administrators, supporters and crew. At the time, it was the worst disaster in NCAA history.

Inspired by crash survivor Rick Stephens’ bicycle ride in 2011 from Cessna Stadium to the accident site in Colorado, several of his classmates joined to create the Football ’70 Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund serves to honor the survivors, remember those who died in the crash and provide means for students in financial need to pursue a degree at WSU. Our hope is that those who are able to graduate as a result of the scholarship will look at the memorial near Hillside on the WSU campus and be thankful that there were many people who remembered and cared about the people named there.

If you would like to participate, send your check made payable to the WSU Foundation (with Football ’70 in the memo line) to the Wichita State University Foundation, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS, 67260-0002. The annual ceremony of remembrance will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at WSU’s Memorial ’70. It is open to the public.

This story was originally published September 30, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on efficiency study, bicycle safety, Medicaid expansion, WSU plane crash anniversary."