Letters to the Editor for April 24

Ryan’s plan is much worse than Obama’s but I won’t endorse either. It’s like asking: Would you rather be shot immediately or starved to death slowly?

Ryan’s plan would repeal the 2010 health care overhaul. And his plan cuts sharply from safety net programs for the poor and contains a plan to turn the Medicare program for the elderly in 2024 into a voucher-like system. It also includes, among other things, consolidating tax brackets from six to two.

Obama’s Plan:

Cut in half the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Cut $300 million from community development block grants and limit an expansion of the Pell grant program. Also cut Social Security payments for seniors by changing to the CPI method of computing cost of living increases.

Obama’s plan includes two modest tax hikes for banks and oil companies. It also calls for ending the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans in 2013 and returning the estate tax to its higher 2009 levels.

The Pentagon will see modest cuts in its level of spending, but is 3 percent higher over fiscal year 2011. Another $118 billion is earmarked for wartime spending (?).

Anne Vance

Hood River

Kids called to ‘Soup’

We have extended the application period for Kids Gorge Soup, held May 15. We would love all the help possible to get the word out.

Ticket sales have been doing quite well so I’m hoping we can get more applicants.

Applications are to be mailed and postmarked by April 30, and sent to the following address: Gorge Soup, 14 Oak St., Ste. 302, Hood River, OR 97031. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

For details email gorgesoup@gmail.com.

Julie O’Shea

Hood River

Editor’s Note: please turn to page A2 for details on Kids Gorge Soup.