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Hits and Misses

3 min read
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HIT: It was nice to see veterans of the Korean War getting their due in Greene County last weekend. Coming between World War II and Vietnam, the Korean conflict is often seen as the “forgotten war,” but the Americans who served in that war were no less brave and patriotic. Sunday was the last day that the Korean War Traveling Memorial was on display at Greene County Fairgrounds, and it was marked by hundreds of folks who turned out to honor veterans. The keynote speaker for the event, former Greene County Judge Terry Grimes, thanked all the Korean War veterans who were present, as well as those who did not make it home. “They will never forget what they went through or what their comrades went through,” he said. And we should never forget their sacrifice.

HIT: Anything the feds can do, Pennsylvania can do better. Well, maybe not anything, but officials here believe they can do a better, and more cost-effective, job of running the online health insurance exchange that has been operated by the federal government for the past five years under the Affordable Care Act. It’s all about making health care more affordable, and legislation pending in Harrisburg, and supported by Gov. Tom Wolf, could save millions. The Wolf administration, according to an Associated Press report, believes the state can operate the exchange for between $30 million and $35 million a year, whereas the federal government takes 3.5 percent of the premiums paid on exchange insurance plans sold, an estimated $94 million a year. The Wolf administration says the savings can be used to attract more federal money, which then can be used for a reinsurance program that reimburses insurers for some high-cost claims. Sounds like a winning formula.

MISS: President Trump isn’t attracting much support, even among members of his own party, with his proposal to slap new tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico as a tactic to force Mexico to crack down on illegal immigration. According to an Associated Press story, Republicans in Congress are viewing these proposed tariffs essentially as a new tax, and they’re not big on new taxes. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said there is “deep concern and resistance” in Congress. “I will yield to nobody in passion and seriousness and commitment to secure the border,” said Cruz, “but there’s no reason for Texas farmers and ranchers and manufacturers and small businesses to pay the price of massive new taxes.” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer noted that “Trump has a habit of talking tough and then retreating.” We’ll hope that’s the case this time.

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