Biden’s message on health care is a hopeful one
Pelham, N.Y.: In his 2024 State of the Union address, President Biden reaffirmed the core goals of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and spotlighted its critical role in lowering health care costs and fostering economic equity. By focusing on enabling Medicare to negotiate drug prices and instituting a cap on insulin costs at $35 monthly, the president underscored a significant advancement toward mitigating health care disparities and enhancing health equity.
Recent analyses highlight that these actions reflect a commitment to addressing the urgent need for broader coverage and more affordable medications. This call for Congress to bolster Medicare’s drug price negotiation capabilities suggests that the initial steps under the IRA are just the beginning of a more profound, more expansive effort to reduce health care expenses. Such measures are pivotal to the broader vision of cultivating an economy that uplifts everyone — mainly working families, the economically disadvantaged and communities disproportionately burdened by high prescription drug costs.
Especially among racial and ethnic groups who face higher barriers to health care access and affordability, the IRA’s impact on promoting health equity is profound. Biden’s push for further legislative actions to solidify and widen these benefits showcases a continued commitment to these principles.
Combining Biden’s address with insightful commentary on the IRA presents a unified narrative on the administration’s health care reform ambitions. It marks a deliberate effort to leverage policy as a tool for bridging economic and health disparities, signifying an enduring endeavor to guarantee equitable health care access and promote the financial well-being of all Americans. Brian MacColl
Wide awake
Easton, Pa.: Only in America — President Biden, the leader of the Free World, was getting kudos and taking bows for simply staying awake during his SOTU address. I’d like to know what coffee brand he drank so I can do some spring cleaning. Barbara Cusano
Much improved
Valley Stream, L.I.: Voicer Bobby Pascarella! Hold your horses! You sit there and criticize Biden for his tone on the night of his SOTU address. Are you kidding me? Joe spoke the truth! It is Trump who doesn’t care about the border, Ukraine or the Middle East conflict. Trump stood in the way of a bipartisan deal because he wants to campaign on it. Does he really care about America? It’s hard for you and the rest of the Trump sycophants to believe, but your orange orangutan was way worse during his chaotic four years. There were so many lies, gaffes and screwups that there isn’t enough room to list them. So, Bobby, crawl back under that rock you hid under and let the Biden administration clean up Trump’s mess. Vince Sgroi
Tough task
Scarsdale, N.Y.: Do you know what job is lonelier than the Maytag repairman? Republican speech-writing fact-checker. John Kern
Unpopular policies
Hicksville, L.I.: I read with amusement letters from some really hateful people about Donald Trump. “He’s going to end democracy” and “He is another Hitler.” He was president for four years and our nation still stands. And to compare him to a man responsible for the deaths of millions is pretty despicable. Am I a fan of Trump? Absolutely not, but when your party favors illegal immigrants over the native-born, giving them benefits many Americans are not afforded, it turns people away. When you protect career criminals at the expense of honest, law-abiding citizens, it turns people away. When your party defends transgender athletes who sucked as males but now dominate the female field, erasing women, it turns people away. When the elite tell us to go back to the Stone Age to save the planet while they live in palatial mansions and fly around in private planes, it turns people away. John Gelormino
Pun-pleased
Manhattan: I always enjoy the strip “Pearls Before Swine,” especially the 50-yard pun-ts, even if the rat would say the cartoonist has gone “Pastis” prime! John Stout
Self-defense
Brooklyn: On Thursday, an aggressive passenger with a gun confronted another passenger who defended himself, taking the gun away and shooting the aggressor. He rightfully was taken away in handcuffs. It seems to me and many others that those defending themselves are treated worse than violent criminals. The ridiculous conceal-and-carry law, which does not allow firearms on mass transit, is another reason I will not ride, being unable to defend oneself — especially in Midtown Manhattan, where criminals do not care about conceal-and-carry law restrictions. As a former Transit Authority employee, before I retired, it was fine to ride mass transit. Now it is a nightmare. The NYPD or National Guard can’t be everywhere, so hopefully, a real conceal-and-carry law is made to protect honest, hardworking people who can protect themselves. Joseph Comperchio
Trapped
Bergenfield, N.J.: To Voicers Perry Greenberg and L. Veneroni about using the installation of the floor-to-ceiling turnstiles, aka iron maidens: While it seems like a good idea, they can jam with you in the middle and robbers in front and behind you. There is no way to get free until the robbers get what they want! That is the reason I will turn around and go to another entry that has regular turnstiles. Think about it. Jim Kerner
Sunday hours
Briarwood: Why do you keep writing that all New York City library branches are closed on Sundays? In Queens, the Kew Garden Hills Library is open on Sundays — it was never closed on Sundays, even when the original cuts were announced. Also, the Borough Park Library in Brooklyn is open on Sundays. A simple search of the Queens and Brooklyn libraries’ websites will show the days and hours each branch is open. You may notice that both branches I mentioned are in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods. Cliff Mitchell
Vital workforce
Manhattan: Re “City pumps $741M into ‘long overdue’ raises” (March 15): Mayor Adams’ and Speaker Adrienne Adams’ commitment to a cost-of-living adjustment for human service workers is not just the right thing for the workers themselves — it’s good for all of New York City. These city-contracted staff provide housing, workforce training, health care, substance use disorder treatment and mental health support services that are not only life-changing, they are often life-saving. With better pay, they’ll be more likely to remain in these critical roles longer-term, supporting the stability of the recipients of these services. They may no longer require public assistance, and their hard-earned dollars will circulate in the economy. This is a step in the right direction in recognizing the tremendous value of our essential workers, and a boon for all New Yorkers. Eric Rosenbaum, president and CEO, Project Renewal
Buck up
Bronx: Why do these ballplayers wait until spring training to get hurt? They have the entire winter to get in shape. That’s what you do when you’re making millions. Just unbelievable. Ralph Canzone Sr.
Unsupported claims
Bronx: To Voicer Eric Cavaballo Callvado: Again, I ask you to please explain critical race theory. Also, please show me the websites of the schools claiming to teach CRT. As for my education, I’m obviously smarter than you are. W. Twirley
Corporate connivance
Manhattan: The decline of Boeing lays bare that companies can not regulate themselves. Without a watchful eye, the free market harms consumers. Boeing was once a great American company. Now it’s a disgrace — a business that compromised on safety in an effort to make a quick buck. Boeing has rendered “Made in America” a synonym for shoddy work and cutting corners. Regulations can be burdensome. Sometimes, regulations are performative more than purposeful. But conservative ideology around an unbridled free market and corporate self-policing must be debunked — and Boeing is yet another reason why. Sadly, with Boeing, the material has prevailed over the human. Daniel Dolgicer
Saved by victory
Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.: Now that the Knicks and Rangers are winning, nobody is badmouthing Jim Dolan. I guess winning solves everything. Peter McKenna
