To the Journal editor:
In U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek's guest op-ed to The Mining Journal on July 1, his response to the U.S. Supreme Court's upholding of the Affordable Care Act was unfortunate, but not surprising.
He stated that "to my dismay, the Supreme Court has declared the Affordable Care Act constitutional." With Mr. Benishek being ultra-conservative and a Tea Party supporter, his response was easily predictable.
The remainder of his op-ed was again not surprising, as it was full of ultra-conservative rhetoric. Given the number of people in his district that are uninsured or under-insured, you would think he would offer his support to the Affordable Health Care Act.
His ultra-conservative (Tea Party) philosophy is dangerous to the middle (ever shrinking) and lower class of our country. Even conservative chief justice Roberts understands the need for health care reform.
According to Census Bureau statistics, we now have over 50 million people without health insurance in our country. The Census Bureau article stated that the largest increase in the uninsured came from employers discontinuing health coverage for their employees and dependents.
The percentage of employers offering health care coverage has declined from 64.1 percent in 2000, to 55.3 percent in 2010, (source-Census Bureau). There is no reason to believe that this trend will change, as employers cannot continue to absorb the ever rising cost of health care.
To add to the bleak news on health insurance, the cost to purchase health insurance for a family of four through a private insurance company is now close to $14,000 annually, (source- Kaiser Foundation).
If you are still fortunate to have employer-sponsored health coverage, you are paying, on average, 47 percent more for this coverage than you did in 2007, (source - Kaiser Foundation).
Given this disturbing information, the Affordable Health Care Act is clearly a step in the right direction to reducing the number of uninsured in our country, and making health care affordable to all Americans.
In closing, keep Mr.Benishek's ultra-conservative agenda in mind when you go to the polls in November.
Mike Frustaglio
Negaunee