Dr. Matias Bruzoni, the chief of pediatric surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin Campus, holds Nikkia Pigeon almost two months after Bruzoni performed surgery on the baby as he was being born. A reader says proposed Medicaid funding cuts, which would put specialty programs at risk, are terrible policy.
Aaron E. Martinez, Austin American-Statesman
Cuts will harm children
Re: Aug. 25, article, “Fund caps threaten children’s hospitals”
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It sure looks like the most vulnerable Texas kids will lose access to critical healthcare as children’s hospitals face massive Medicaid cuts and likely closure.
The huge cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill are damaging enough. Now the feds propose further cuts three times as large, in the name of reducing spending.
Yet, the article correctly identifies that 80% of Medicaid beneficiaries are kids living in poverty, with the remaining 20% being expectant mothers, babies from 0 to 12 months, older adults and people with disabilities, all living in poverty. Medicaid is also a terrific financial deal, as the state pays only 39% of the cost, whereas the newly-uninsured-by-Medicaid would show up at local hospitals and other providers, which are paid 100% by local dollars.
Texas families, communities and taxpayers benefit from Medicaid. The proposed cuts are terrible policy.
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All candidates, especially for federal office, should be asked to explains their positions on these cuts.
Aqua Texas caused problem
Re: July 28 article, “Jacob’s Well flowing again after storms”
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Recent rains certainly helped replenish Jacob’s Well iconic swimming hole in Wimberley. The article explains the reason for low water levels is “prolonged drought and groundwater pumping.”
The main culprit for harming the water flows to Jacob’s Well is the introduction of corporate water provider Aqua Texas. This water company has pumped much more groundwater than its permits allowed, sued county regulators whose job it is to enforce water protection laws, and refused to pay civil penalties.
Aqua Texas has pumped nearly 238 million gallons in excess of their permits from 2022-24. Water rates have increased. They refuse to provide proper upkeep of water lines, causing more wasteful loss.
Corporate bullies are a classic problem citizens must challenge. There is no accountability to local needs.
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It is best for communities to keep water utilities local instead of relying on an investor-owned utility. The same is true for electric utilities like Austin Energy.
Education competition
Re: Aug. 16 commentary, “Texas can’t achieve equity by underfunding schools”
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Kudos to a dedicated teacher and analyst. She makes the argument for private schools at the outset.
What is missing is innovation by effective competition between schools.
The recapture system known as Robin Hood has failed because it has destroyed local control and put all of our schools at the mercy of politicians who must appeal statewide to influences that harm competition with irrational requirements.
We have, in the cause of equity, destroyed the quality that is necessary for a successful society.
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Private schools, funded well and allowed the freedom to innovate, compete, succeed and yes, occasionally fail are at least an attempt to solve the problem.
Competition has proved successful in private American industry. Perhaps we should give it a chance in education.
Sen. Darline Graham speaks to supporters Aug. 25 after winning a special Republican primary runoff to replace her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, in South Carolina. A reader says it goes beyond nepotism for Darline Graham to inherit her brother’s seat.
Meg Kinnard/Associated Press
Inheriting Senate seat
A Senate seat is not a family heirloom to be passed from one family member to another, but we now have Darline Graham Nordone who was gifted the seat of her late brother, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.
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She has never held elected office and has reverted to using her maiden name of Graham.
Darline Graham has also inherited her brother’s salary, his campaign chest, all his offices, staff in Washington, D.C. and in various state offices.
Now, she is the official GOP candidate on the November ballot as the incumbent U.S. senator from South Carolina.
This goes beyond nepotism.
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Does any of it make sense?
Give Dorie his due
Among the many heroes who were present at Pearl Harbor during the Dec. 7, 1941 surprise attack by the Japanese on the American Navy, one stands out.
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It could be because Doris “Dorie” Miller was assigned to kitchen (galley) duty aboard the USS West Virginia. He was not trained to use the anti-aircraft guns, either. No one expected Miller to be able to handle the guns against the enemy, but he did.
In addition to his quick action, Miller carried his wounded commanding officer to safety and then assisted in evacuating sailors from the sinking ship. He was one of the last three men to leave the sinking ship.
The sudden rise of Miller to hero status occurred without thought to what he was doing. He was an American fighting the enemy just like so many of our young men.
In May 1942, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, who served as the commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean, presented Miller with the Navy Cross.
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So many years later, Miller’s name is being considered for a great honor — as the name of a new aircraft carrier. How appropriate.
The U.S. Navy must not deviate from its original plans to name the new aircraft carrier after this young man who thought nothing of his safety, but rather focused on fighting the enemy that was attacking his ship.
Esther Bonilla Read, Corpus Christi
U.S. Navy Mess Attendant Doris Miller was the first African American awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism during the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. The U.S. Navy must not deviate from its original plans to name the new aircraft carrier after this young man, a reader says.
Austin American-Statesman
Your vote is valuable
I know how it feels to be too busy to sort through news stories. I used to catch one or two and I formed opinions. Still, I couldn’t imagine that I belonged in the political world. I swallowed hard to deal with home and work on my plate.
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Although I knew who I wanted in office, I didn’t have time to figure out the system and vote.
I told myself it didn’t matter anyway.
If you are that person who isn’t likely to vote, I ask you to consider that your ideas and opinions are important to our democracy.
The satisfaction of claiming your voice and using it rewards voters with personal and participatory power. I wish I had known that experience when I was younger.
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The upcoming midterms may be a good time to engage in a learning spree. There are no dumb questions.
Call the League of Women Voters of the Austin Area at 512-451-6710, or visit vote411.org.
It’s their job to figure out voting logistics and help you know exactly what to do. Participation is vital to all of us. It is how we make democracy effective and real.
Casting a vote is a privilege to cherish.
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Think about what you value and give it power in the ballot box.
The Rev. Leona Stucky-Abbott, Austin