Letters on KanCare expansion, prosecuting teachers, merit pay, private school tax credits, new nation, soldier send-off

Expanding KanCare is common sense

As a rural health care provider, I find it difficult to understand why policymakers in Topeka refuse to expand KanCare. It is a commonsense solution for a problem too many of my patients face: limited access to health care.

I see patients in my community wherever they present. Office or emergency room, it is the same doctor providing care. It is better for patients to be seen in my office instead of the emergency room. Expanded KanCare coverage would mean more people could gain access to lower-cost and earlier care before a minor illness turns into a major problem.

As a physician working in a critical-access hospital, I see patients who lack coverage in the ER when that major problem becomes a crisis. Often the high cost of that care must be written off by the hospital, ultimately putting it at financial risk. Potential loss of a hospital due to this issue is frightening for the entire community. Expanding KanCare would allow hospitals to be reimbursed for the instances when ER or inpatient care is necessary.

When will the Legislature wake up to this reality?

Harmful to teaching

The Kansas House held a hearing recently on Senate Bill 56, which would make it legal to prosecute teachers found to be teaching “harmful” material to students (Feb. 3 Eagle). This bill, which passed in the Senate last year, effectively crosses the line between the protection of students and the endangerment of teachers.

English, sociology, sex education and art history are all classes that contain valuable subject matter that could be deemed inappropriate by a prosecutor. If a teacher were to be convicted, he or she could face up to six months in prison or a fine of up to $1,000.

Additionally, this bill would negatively affect students, because teachers would undoubtedly gut their curriculums and remove educational but possibly controversial material in order to avoid legal trouble.

SB 56 is crafted on the false premise that pornography is being taught in schools. It is not. There is no reason to strike fear into the hearts of thousands of teachers statewide in order to solve a nonexistent problem.

As a senior at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School, I urge residents to contact their state representatives and implore them to oppose Senate Bill 56.

Deserve merit pay

As ranked by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Kansas’ academic quality is tied for 11th best in the nation. Meanwhile, its average teacher salary – less than $48,000 – is 10th worst.

Based on this evidence, I propose Kansas teachers should be averaging $50,655 or more – the average salaries of other states in that tie for 11th best.

One of those states is Ohio, where the average teacher salary is $56,307. Hawaii ranks 18th best academically and averages $54,300. Illinois ranks 49th and averages $59,113. New York ranks 34th and the average salary is $75,000. Alaska is 11th from the bottom academically but averages more than $65,000.

If Kansas education was only average, salaries might merit $53,649.

I think Kansans do believe in an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. Teachers deserve their merit pay.

I propose that the people of Kansas pay the elected officials of this state based on merit, on the evidence of productive and positive achievement.

No tax credits

Americans United for Separation of Church and State opposes any effort that takes tax money out of the state general fund to subsidize private schools in Kansas. That was essentially the intent behind a bill that passed last year in the Legislature creating a tuition tax credit program, which could now be expanded (House Bill 2457) to give corporations not just 70 percent but at least 90 percent income tax credits for donations to organizations that would provide money to students to switch from public to private schools (Feb. 9 Eagle).

The bill originally applied only to low-income students in low-performing schools, but this bill lifts such requirements, and students currently attending private schools would now qualify to use public funds.

Let’s be clear: Tax credits constitute public funding. When the government grants a tax benefit, it forgoes income. Because the majority of Kansas private schools are religious schools, these tax credits are simply backdoor vouchers to fund and promote religious schools.

Another disturbing fact is the lack of oversight of private schools receiving government money. Private schools may limit admissions based on gender, race and religion as well as discriminate in hiring practices. Public schools, however, must comply with federal civil rights laws.

With vouchers, there is also no accountability to ensure academic progress, whereas public schools must comply with teaching standards and state accreditation requirements, and adhere to strict fiscal oversight.

As state revenues continue to fall, it seems outlandish to provide such generous tax credits to corporations for a program that is costly to the state and harmful to public education.

A new nation

Four score and seven years ago, our nation faced a Great Depression. Unemployment, poverty, hunger and disillusionment were everywhere.

A heavy-hearted people found a great leader who guided them to a new and better life. Together, the poor and the rich began to build bridges, dams and highways. A nation slowly rose from the ashes of psychological and financial defeat to restore a national pride.

But then a global conflict erupted. A devastating worldwide horror developed. The world was torn and shattered in war.

Then this nation, these same people, rose up to the challenge, fighting alongside other nations to defeat this heinous evil.

We look at what that generation accomplished and we marvel. “What a great leader.” “What a great people.”

Now is the time for us “to come to the aid of our country.” Now is the time for us to rise up again and become, for this and for future generations, a great people.

It starts with me. It starts with you. Let us each search our hearts and together find that great people, that great nation.

Send off soldiers

The Eagle published a substantial article concerning the impending deployment of Wichita’s 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command to Kuwait (Jan. 10 Eagle). The send-off will take place at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 21 at Intrust Bank Arena, and the unit members hope that many local citizens can be there. The unit consisting of 250 Reserve soldiers who, after the send-off, will board buses and go to Fort Hood in Texas.

The unit is commanded by a reserve brigadier general and 1 in 3 members is from Wichita. The unit will coordinate the logistic support of the active-duty military serving in the multiple conflicts going on in the Middle East. It is a critical responsibility to support our minimally adequate forces in the area.

Unit members are fellow local residents who, while deployed, will spend almost a year away from their employment and businesses, possibly suffering economic and personal losses.

I hope many will decide to go to Intrust Bank Arena to send them off, and keep them in our prayers while they are in theater.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on KanCare expansion, prosecuting teachers, merit pay, private school tax credits, new nation, soldier send-off."