Retirees did what was asked

According to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF), retirees were required to enroll in Medicare Part B to save the state’s health care plan money, because it was more cost-effective to provide the same coverage through it than under the state’s plan, of which the retirees were entitled to without Medicare Part B.

Now the governor — even though the retirees were saving the state’s health care plan money by enrolling in Medicare Part B — is saying that they’re not entitled to the reimbursement and, "I’m not your pal. I’m not your counselor. I am the governor."

Maybe it’s time the retirees demand that the EUTF disenroll them from Medicare Part B and go back to being covered totally by the state’s health care plan and let it figure out the financial implications of it all.

Keep funding cancer research

As a cancer survivor, I listen to the president’s State of the Union address each year in the hopes of hearing a renewed commitment to the fight against cancer.

In this tough economic environment, I understand the importance of placing a priority on jobs and growth. One way to do that, and to improve the health of Americans, is through a sustained investment in cancer research. The disease kills more than 560,000 people in America and costs $228 billion every year. Recent discoveries have unlocked many of cancer’s mysteries, but flat or reduced funding for cancer research would diminish our potential to leverage that new information into the development of lifesaving treatments.

Not only does cancer research have the potential to save lives, but the funding creates stable jobs at research facilities across the country. In Honolulu, we have a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, recognized for scientific excellence and the ability to conduct a wide variety of research.

Investing in research is the surest way to continue to reduce human suffering and the economic burden caused by cancer.

Use College Hill for the homeless

Let’s not plead with the university president to live in that huge mansion.

Just tell her that after spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to renovate the house, if she does not like it, fine — we have plenty of homeless women with children who would be happy as hell to live there and have a nice yard for the children to play.

State Library in pretty good shape

A recent letter writer who excoriated the Hawaii State Library as an unfit building was out of line ("State Library in poor condition," Letters, Star-Advertiser, March 1).

I disagree, and would classify the library as one of the cleanest public buildings in the downtown area. The janitors clean the building before it opens to the public each day.

The library is used by several hundred people daily, including some of the homeless. The janitors go into the restrooms at various times during the day to assure they are clean. They take pride in the cleanliness of the building. The courtyard is sometimes closed off when it rains because someone might accidentally slip and fall. Due to lack of funds the cheapest way is to use yellow tape.

Animals have same spark of life

I was heartbroken after I read the article on the Waimanalo puppy mill, and the owner’s lawyer’s comments about the beautiful dogs ("Crackdown vowed on animal cruelty," Star-Advertiser, March 2).

Animals have the same spark of life that we do. Playful or angry, affectionate or afraid, sad or joyful, they experience and love life just as we do. They deserve the best that we can give to the cause of their protection.

Prosecutor has mixed priorities

Our city prosecutor seems to have his priorities mixed ("Crackdown vowed on animal cruelty," Star-Advertiser, March 2).

He said, "Our office will be more proactive on animal cruelty cases," yet he apparently has no such concern about abused children.

His recent disgusting deal to allow David Stegenga to walk with only a five-year probation sentence after years of sexual abuse of a child reflect exactly where he stands on child predators ("Former UH professor to get probation in sexual assault of young girl," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 18).

Makes one wonder: If the abused child was one of his own, would he have done anything differently?