Name of Author(S): Ned Barnett Author's Title (Editor, Columnist, Etc.): Editorial Page Editor Newspaper: the New & Obser

Name of Author(s): Ned Barnett

Author’s Title (editor, columnist, etc.): Editorial page editor

Newspaper: The New & Observer

Address: 215 South McDowell St.

City: Raleigh

State: NC

ZIP: 27601

Phone: 919-829-4512

Fax: 919-829-4872

E-Mail: [email protected]

Submitted by: Ned Barnett

Title of Person Submitting: Editorial page editor

Phone Number: 919-829-4512

E-mail Address:[email protected]

What is the subject/title of the entry? Ned Barnett columns on Medicaid expansion

Date(s) of publication? May 10, 2015; Oct. 25, 2015, Nov. 8, 2015

Is your newspaper under 50,000 circulation or above 50,000 circulation? Above 50,000

Please give a brief explanation of issues discussed and the results achieved. (This space will expand as you type in your comments.)

North Carolina has refused to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, depriving as many as 500,000 people of health insurance. My columns looked at the need and the savings if the state expands. So far, the legislature has refused, but pressure is growing. C M Y K [email protected] 1ST SECTION, ZONE: OPINION, STATE 17:35:55

AF Sunday, May 10, 2015 16A+

President/Publisher Editorial Page Editor Editorial Orage Quarles III; 919-829-4659; [email protected] Ned Barnett; 919-829-4512; [email protected] n e w sobserver.com/opinion

Our Views Cap, gown, debt

It’s time to lift the student loan burden that is stifling careers and the economy.

s the Class of 2015 leaves al and private loans, putting stu- college this commencement dent loans in the same exempt cat- A season, its members will egory as criminal fines and child move on with coveted degrees and support. The answer to ensuring one unwanted distinction: They repayment of student debt isn’t are the most indebted class ever. letting some debtors be crushed College graduates this year will by it. The answer is improving un- have an average $35,051 in stu- derwriting, counseling borrowers dent debt, according to a study by and limiting the amount bor- the publisher of Edvisors.com, a rowed. college planning and financing Another step for immediate re- website. That’s about $2,000 more lief would be to make federal loans than last year, adding to an overall interest-free or extremely low in- student debt that now tops $1.3 terest. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren trillion. (D-Mass.) is a strong critic of the With 7 out of 10 graduates leav- current system in which the feder- ing college with student loans to al government is collecting bil- pay, some wonder whether the in- lions of dollars in interest – some vestment is worth the burden. For of it as high as 8.5 percent on older college graduates, it is. Research- loans – from young people who ers at Georgetown University is- sought to become better educated sued a study last week that found and fuller participants in the na- The myth of the Medicaid monster the difference between the life- tional economy. time wages of college and high A broader, long-term response ome things can be settled a vulnerable population and may rising number of people enrolled. school graduates is $1 million. is to reverse the rising cost of high- with a calculator or by scien- well head off more expensive med- The Medicaid “cost crisis” was But the payoff for taking out stu- er education. That means cutting S tific consensus, yet in politics ical costs that would inflate premi- caused by not fully funding the dent loans is hardly clear-cut. Ma- administrative bloat and having these days facts are disputed as hot- ums for everyone. state’s share of the program once ny students take on the debt but states restore cuts in funding for ly as opinions. John Alexander, Community the stimulus ended. Lawmakers don’t graduate. Others are victi- public university systems. The Arguments over what should be Care’s vice president for Medicaid budgeted an unrealistically low mized by shady for-profit schools Obama administration has tried obvious are a national phenom- financial perform- amount and told the program to that teach little but saddle stu- with mixed results to tie federal enon, but North Carolina is suffer- ance and analysis, meet that mark through savings. dents with debt. And even those aid to how well colleges and uni- ing from an especially acute case of sat in a conference But Medicaid must pay for the care who graduate from good colleges versities hold down costs. confusion over what should be eas- room last week and of everyone who qualifies. It can’t can be overcharged by private Ultimately it falls to higher ily demonstrable. Is the state’s presented the reality arbitrarily cut its spending to meet lenders or fall behind in payments. education itself to wean itself Medicaid system broken or is it rel- behind the illusion. a budget target. Its cost remained They suffer damage to their credit from the easy loan money that atively effective? Did changes in the “ We f o u n d t h a t consistent, and it exceeded a bud- and find it harder to get hired or to has fed growth but also made an state tax code deliver a tax break to Comment spending on Medi- get that was set too low. buy a house or car. education increasingly unaffor- most North Carolina taxpayers or Ned caid isn’t broken, it Too troubled to expand Student debt affects more than dable. One leader in this respect are most paying more? Did the leg- Barnett isn’t unpredictable, those who owe. It’s a drag on the has been former Indiana Gov. islature increase funding for public it isn’t out of con- This bit of budgetary malprac- economy. Forty million Americans Mitch Daniels, who as president schools by $1 billion or has it let trol,” he said. tice was compounded by McCro- now have at least one student loan, of Purdue University has become funding erode? Indeed, he said, year-over-year ry’s lurching for political cover in up from 29 million in 2008. Younger a crusader against inflation in For today, let’s consider the spending on Medicaid is consis- 2013. The newly elected governor college graduates are saddled by higher education costs. Purdue dueling images of Medicaid, the tent, its administrative costs are didn’t want to appear opposed to debt and flat wages. is now in the middle of a three- state and federal health insurance relatively low and the cost per pa- Medicaid expansion out of anti- It’s time for action that relieves year tuition freeze and has cut program that covers 1.8 million tient is going down, falling 9 per- Obama zealotry or indifference to pressure on debtors and addresses the cost of room and board and North Carolinians, mostly chil- cent in the last four years. the uninsured. He wanted to base the causes of high debt loads. The textbooks. dren, pregnant women, the elder- Alarm about runaway Medicaid his position on fiscal prudence. At first and most direct step would be In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, ly and the disabled. Expanding expenses was triggered by shifts a January 2013 news conference, to end or modify laws that bar stu- Daniels wrote that the freeze, Medicaid under the Affordable in funding sources, not rising McCrory, Department of Health dent debt from being discharged in cuts and debt counseling for stu- Care Act would broaden eligibili- costs, Alexander said. In 2009 and and Human Services Secretary Al- bankruptcy. Student debt now dents have helped Purdue stu- ty to include nearly a half-million 2010, the federal stimulus pro- dona Wos and State Auditor Beth ranks above car loans and credit dents reduce their borrowing by more people. But the legislature gram poured extra money into Wood focused on an audit that card debt in terms of total debt and 18 percent since 2012, a savings and Gov. Pat McCrory oppose ex- state Medicaid programs to keep found high administrative costs in is second only to mortgages. Yet of $40 million. In a conclusion pansion, despite federal subsidies them solvent. That federal infu- Medicaid. McCrory and Wos said student loan debtors are denied the that should be part of every col- that would cover at least 90 per- sion allowed North Carolina to re- the program was too troubled to relief available to all others who owe lege commencement speech in cent of the cost. duce its Medicaid allocation. be expanded. much more than they can pay. 2015, Daniels wrote, “As a mat- Holding back Medicaid When the stimulus program In October 2013, Rose Hoban of The bankruptcy exemption was ter of generational fairness, and ended, state lawmakers had to NC Health News published a story added in1976 to protect taxpayers as an essential element of nation- Refusing to expand Medicaid again allocate the state’s full about what was happening behind from losses on government-issued al economic success, the burden may look reflexively anti-Obama share. That looked like a surge in the scenes. Hoban showed how student loans. The law has since of high tuition and student debt and hardhearted, but Republicans state spending as the state appro- N.C. Medicaid’s administrative been tightened to include all feder- must be alleviated, and soon.” say it’s a matter of fiscal responsi- priation climbed from $2.3 billion costs are relatively low. She also bility. They say that Medicaid’s in 2010 to $3.6 billion in 2015. But showed how the new Medicaid annual costs are prone to unpre- it really was the state moving from chief hired by Wos had excised in- dictable surges and that its overall a payment subsidized by the stim- formation from the DHHS’ audit re- rate of increase means it will soon ulus back to a full state allocation. sponse that would have countered Mother’s Day crowd out the state’s ability to To see the real cost of Medicaid, the auditor’s criticism. That subter- meet its other obligations. Alexander noted, don’t look at the fuge further inflated the idea of a ever was a day more suited wrote: But the Medicaid monster is a gyrations in state allocations. Look Medicaid program out of control, to its subject than this day in “Who ran to help me, when I myth. A new analysis by the non- at what the program actually has and the Medicaid monster grew. N May, Mother’s Day. It comes fell, / And would some pretty sto- profit Medicaid management or- spent. Here is what you see in bil- But it wasn’t real then and isn’t in the month of warming sun and ry tell, / Or kiss the place to make ganization Community Care of lions of dollars for fiscal years 2010 now. blooming flower, a season when it well? / My Mother.” North Carolina found the health through 2014: $3.6, $3.5, $3.3, the bright, gentle and nurturing Mother’s Day stands at the care program to be a steady ex- $3.5, $3.3. Medicaid’s annual cost Editorial page editor Ned Barnett can be qualities of Mother Earth in gateway leading to the peak of pense. It’s expensive, yes, but it to North Carolina is consistent, reached at 919-829-4512, or spring reflect the the flowering season. Despite does a lot to improve the health of even trending downward despite a [email protected] year-round nature the wide variety of blooms and of Motherhood. beds of sweet violets underfoot, Mother’s Day cultures worldwide have chosen The People’s Forum honors the con- the noble rose with its flower and ceiving and car- its thorns to symbolize the beau- The News & Observer welcomes letters ing power that ty and the protectiveness of The mother’s role in Islam from readers. Letters must include the g u i d e s l i f e ’s motherhood. writer’s name, address and daytime phone struggle first to While we consider the celebra- Mother’s Day is an annual holiday that esteems mothers and ma- number and must be signed (except those become and then tion of maternal bonds as a rela- ternal figures as irreplaceable caretakers/educators of future gener- sent by e-mail). The length limit is 200 to become more. Thackeray in tively modern event, the origins ations. words. Letters selected for publication Vanity Fair captured that power appear with the much earlier Islam recognizes the great role mothers play in the upbringing of may be edited and may be republished in well when he wrote, “Mother is Greek celebration known as the their children and the future of mankind and that society’s success any format. All letters submitted become the name for God in the lips and Cybele and the Roman celebration depends greatly on mothers. In many cases, mothers are the ones the property of the News & Observer. hearts of little children.” The known as the Hilaria festival, both who nurture and influence their children the most in comparison to Questions? Please call 919-829-4825. same sentiment in a more practi- devoted to honoring the impor- the fathers. Mailing Address: cal sense is contained in the Jew- tance of motherhood. In Islam, women and especially mothers are given a much higher The People’s Forum, ish proverb, “God could not be Those who honor or fondly re- status than men. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon P.O. Box 191, Raleigh, NC 27602 everywhere and therefore he member their mothers today him) has stated, “Paradise lies under the feet of mothers.” This para- E-mail: [email protected] made mothers.” know they are, as Ralph Waldo dise refers to both the social paradise in the family and community And of that mother’s work, the Emerson wrote, “what their moth- and heavenly paradise. Therefore, mothers have been placed at a 19th century poet Ann Taylor ers made them.” position of the highest respect. With their example, mothers can instill lifelong values/morals in- Batter up, Raleigh to their children so their lives may be prosperous. Celebrating Mother’s Day shouldn’t be confined to a single day; I remember the days of watching the rather mothers should be respected year-round for the uncondition- Raleigh Capitals play at Devereux Mea- The News&Observer al love they give their children. Showing sincere gratitude to moth- dow in the late 1950s when I was 11 ‘The Old Reliable’ ers is a full-time duty to honor throughout life. years old. I loved it! A McCLATCHY NEWSPAPER Mothers are the integral backbone of society and mold the world’s I also love downtown Raleigh, with heirs. all the new projects and new high-rise “I advise and enjoin those who direct the paper in the tomorrows never towers now being built. I would love to to advocate any cause for personal profit or preferment. I would wish it Adeelah Sayed see baseball come back to our down- always to be ‘the tocsin’ and to devote itself to the policies of equality Apex town. and justice to the underprivileged. If the paper should at anytime be the I am aware of the 30-mile baseball voice of self-interest or become the spokesman of privilege or selfishness Celebrating mothers’ ways rule between two teams. I have also it would be untrue to its history.” written Jim Goodman to ask him to FROM THE WILL OF JOSEPHUS DANIELS, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER 1894-1948 Regarding the May 6 features article “The heart of the kitch- support Raleigh downtown baseball. I en”: Andrea Weigl once again led us into the lives of our contem- do realize that it would take a miracle poraries and their forefathers’ domain. for this to happen. Sr. V.P./Executive Editor for News As a former New Yorker, I felt that she opened up a whole new All of our large cities in North Car- John Drescher, 919-829-4515; [email protected] world of North Carolinians of the last century and permitted us a olina have a downtown professional V.P./Advertising glimpse of how this country grew to its present stature. baseball team, including Asheville, Gary Smith, 919-836-5680; [email protected] Thanks for giving us small vignettes of how the average housewife Durham, Charlotte, Greensboro, Win- V.P./Audience Development coped with difficult circumstances, overcoming hardships and pre- ston-Salem and smaller Hickory. Jim Puryear, 919-829-4727; [email protected] vailed triumphantly in raising families that are proud to have learned Raleigh is a booming city, and base- their lessons at their mother’s and grandmother’s knees. ball would add many positive factors V.P./Finance What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day. for our city. Caroline Willingham, 919-829-4849; [email protected] V.P./Human Resources Ruth B. Melchet Dwight Nipper + Liz Mark, 919-829-4771; [email protected] Raleigh Raleigh

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President/Publisher Editorial Page Editor Deputy Editorial Page Editor Orage Quarles III Ned Barnett Jim Jenkins 919-829-4659, [email protected] 919-829-4512, [email protected] 919-829-4513, [email protected]

Serve UNC, not politics

BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD ecause Margaret Spellings was chosen under a veil of secrecy, her plans and priorities as the newly elected president of the University of North Carolina system remain unknown. BAll the public can examine is her resumé. Spellings, 57, was schooled in politics by Karl Rove, the long-time, hard-line Bush family maven, and she worked in several jobs, including as U.S. secretary of education, for Presi- dent George W. Bush. She is said to be direct, and tough, and to care about public education. She deserves not just the benefit of the doubt, but the support of those within and without the university system’s community. She will be tested early on, and often. Spellings has work to do to build confidence in her administration. And that work is largely the result of the way in which Margaret Spellings her hiring came about. Presi- dent Tom Ross was ousted because he was a Democrat and the Board of Governors and General Assembly are dominated almost entirely by Republicans. He has been a capable president. His was a partisan dismissal, pure and simple. Then the search for a successor began and dragged What’s needed is a new on, with those involved knowing the new president surge to save more in- would first have to be a Republican and a conservative, Medicaid holdout puts fants. In 2014 in North above all else. Some potential candidates declined. And Carolina, more than 800 the circumstances of the removal of Ross didn’t help. babies died in their first Then, state Senate President pro tem Phil Berger and infants at risk year. his allies got in on the act, reportedly with a candidate “We’ve done what it has of their own, and certainly they’ve signaled they intend birth affects their health health programs and coor- taken to get where are, but to have input into the running of the UNC system, in and that of their babies. dinated care for pregnant we have in some ways hit particular in an effort to “de-liberalize” the main cam- “In the first prenatal mothers under a program a wall,” Thompson says. pus in Chapel Hill. visit, I spend most of the run by Community Care of “If we want to make sig- Spellings has a big job. She won it on her political time talking about diet North Carolina, a nonprofit nificant progress, we have rather than her educational credentials. But despite the and how to be as healthy that oversees the delivery to take some bold steps, politics of her hiring, she will have to demonstrate she as possible for their baby, of health care to Medicaid and the easiest one is can resist political pressures. The greatest pressure will but by then they are usu- beneficiaries. On any given Medicaid expansion.” likely come from the hard-right ideologues in the Gen- ally 12 weeks pregnant,” day, there are about 17,000 Sarah Verbiest, a clinical eral Assembly, not from the liberals in Chapel Hill. BY NED BARNETT DeGuzman says. pregnant women on Med- associate professor and She may be sure that almost immediately, Berger and Expanding Medicaid to icaid. Pregnancies covered executive director at the his allies will expect the president to report to them in include some 500,000 by Medicaid account for 55 UNC Center for Material addition to reporting to the Board of Governors. hile Repub- North Carolinians who percent of the state’s an- and Infant Health, says This won’t work, not if Spellings is to be a successful lican leaders would qualify under the nual births. there is no “silver bullet” president. She will have to display independence early in Raleigh Affordable Care Act would Despite strong efforts, that will sharply lower on, to show that she is open-minded and willing to refuse to improve the health of the state’s progress infant mortality, though listen to all viewpoints. That will mean, on occasion, Wexpand Medicaid, Dr. mothers – and fathers. against infant mortality expanding Medicaid taking up the case of a professor or a course or a cause Dorothy DeGuzman DeGuzman says that im- has stalled around the the would help. in the name of academic freedom, though her own spends her days in rural provement would increase 7.0 level since 2010. That Verbiest says there viewpoint may differ from the one she is defending. Yancey County dealing the chances of a child indicates that lowering needs to be a broader If Spellings caves in to political pressure, she may with the consequences. being born at full term infant mortality further response that focuses on gain the temporary support of GOP lawmakers (though DeGuzman works for without injury or birth may require more than the root causes of high not their respect), but she will lose, quickly, the support Celo Health Center in defects that ultimately access to medical care infant morality: poverty, of her constituents on the 17 UNC system campuses. Burnsville, a nonprofit, cost the taxpayers in hos- during pregnancy. Now violence and stress of Margaret Spellings has what has become the most community-owned family pital care and education efforts need to focus on coping with racial preju- difficult job in North Carolina. She must remember not practice that serves low- expenses. the health issues women dice. About a dozen areas why she was hired, but whom she serves. Now she re- income people in the “There is more and bring to pregnancies: hy- of the state contribute ports to all the state’s residents., not to one party or the mountainous county north more data that preconcep- pertension, diabetes, obes- most to the disparity in other, not to legislators. Those residents, hundreds of of Asheville. Most of the tion health is very impor- ity. If the father is in poor the infant mortality rate thousands of them in one way or another touched by center’s patients do not tant to the health of the health, that also contrib- between African-Amer- the branches on the UNC system, want her to succeed. have private health insur- baby,” DeGuzman says. “I utes to potential birth icans and whites, Verbiest Their support comes, at least for a while, with the job. ance, and their health think (Medicaid expan- defects and can add to says, and resources should Thereafter, it will have to be earned. reflects a lack of access to sion) could improve infant financial stress during the focus on improving the doctors and preventative mortality and probably infant’s first year. general health of people in programs that would help maternal mortality as Rob Thompson, policy those areas. reduce obesity, hyperten- well.” director of the nonprofit The obstacles to further sion, smoking and sub- North Carolina could NC Child, said there reducing infant morality stance abuse. use some improvement in should be a greater sense are daunting, but Verbiest False golden days The medical care gap infant morality. It stands of urgency about the loss says they can be over- shows up most profoundly at 7.1 deaths per 1,000 of newborns, especially come. As evidence she in the pregnant women babies. That compares about the higher rates of points to states that have BY BOB SIMPSON DeGuzman sees. Many are with 6.0 nationally and infant deaths among Afri- rates well below the na- ays of gold and growing cold have arrived overweight and smoke, with rates as low as 4.8 in can-Americans. The gap tional average. with the awakening of the Hunter’s Moon. and some are using sub- California and 4.4 in Mas- between black infant mor- “We should at least The brilliantly gilded evening skies are tinted oxone, a drug that eases sachusetts, two states that tality and white infant aspire to reach what other in the shifting gold of autumn’s colors, bright their dependence on opi- have expanded Medicaid mortality has widened in states have achieved,” she andDyellow, metal hard and uncaring, but it’s a false ates, a change they hope under the Affordable Care the last 20 years. says. “They have shown gold that provides a lure and illusion to man’s dreams. will protect the fetus. Act to include all low- “We’re still well above that it’s not a pipe dream. The eager stands of goldenrod are Low-income pregnant income adults. the national average,” he It can happen.” making a better showing than usual this women qualify for Med- After rating among the says, “and we still have year, but it would be difficult to argue the icaid during their preg- worst states for infant mor- these shameful racial and Ned Barnett: golden brilliance that is being displayed nancies and for a brief tality – the rate was 9.2 in ethnic disparities, and 919-829-4512, these autumn days. period afterward. But their 1995 – North Carolina there is no way we can be nbarnett@newsobserver The Latin name hung on this persistent lack of insurance before made strides in reducing it. complacent with where we .com pesky golden thermometer translates “to conception and after the Help came through county are.” strengthen.” Cold strengthens? Again, it reminds us that the ever-increasing bril- THE PEOPLE’S FORUM liance of the gold flower is a warning of passing days and falling tides of summer. October brings summer to nature’s traffic light, shift- An early endorsement YOUR OPINION ing from summer’s green to a golden yellow, warning of Regarding the Oct. 18 editorial “Cooper stands up”: Sending a letter: We welcome letters from readers. Letters must include You have endorsed Attorney General Roy Cooper before a red light taking precedence. the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. The length limit is Cooper answered a single question about his 30-year 200 words. record in Raleigh or laid out any plans for North Carolina. Have a Point of View?: For op-ed articles, the length limit is 750 words. As a former journalist, I have never heard of a paper Authors of selected articles will be notified. We can’t acknowledge unused endorsing a candidate before accounting for his record letters or op-ed submissions. By submitting your letter or opinion, you or detailing policy proposals. (It obviously reads as an The News&Observer grant The News & Observer a royalty-free license to publish and republish endorsement no matter what you call it.) ‘The Old Reliable’ your submission in print and online. A McClatchy Newspaper Did you review the fact that Cooper raised taxes by “I advise and enjoin those who direct the paper in the tomorrows more than $9 billion for North Carolina families? Did Email letters or op-ed submissions to: [email protected] never to advocate any cause for personal profit or preferment. you examine that Cooper cut funding to education? The mailing address is: The People’s Forum, P.O. Box 191, Raleigh, NC 27602 I would wish it always to be ‘the tocsin’ and to devote itself Should these factors not weigh heavily in a decision to newsobserver.com/opinion to the policies of equality and justice to the underprivileged. support a candidate? If the paper should at anytime be the voice of self-interest The only real explanation is that your paper is pur- GA not impressive or become the spokesman of privilege or selfishness it would be untrue to its history.” posely donating its services to support the Cooper for I read Michael Jacobs’ Oct. 18 Point of View “Regard- governor campaign, in which case your editorials ing N.C. lawmakers, what we didn’t read.” He tried FROM THE WILL OF JOSEPHUS DANIELS, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, 1894-1948 should be disclosed as in-kind contributions under state very hard to convince us that the state legislature is Sr. V.P./Executive Editor for News campaign finance laws. While your publication con- working hard for our benefit and should be admired for John Drescher, 919-829-4515, [email protected] stantly complains about the state of campaign finance, the lawmakers’ sacrifice. I, for one, was not impressed V.P./Advertising readers should know these types of nondisclosed politi- by his article or by the latest debacle that I observed by Gary Smith, 919-836-5680, [email protected] cal advertising expenditures are a reason for the sky- that body. rocketing cost of campaigns. In addition, since I am retired, our rise in the Tax V.P./Audience Development Jim Puryear, 919-829-4727, [email protected] More than a year before the election, your editorial Foundation’s Business Tax Climate Index cost me a lot board has made its position perfectly clear, and readers of money. V.P./Finance should take that into account from this point forward. I did not know that poor people only shop at Costco. Caroline Willingham, 919-829-4849, [email protected] – Dallas Woodhouse Better luck next time, Jacobs. V.P./Human Resources Executive director, N.C. Republican Party – Robert L. Mitten + Liz Mark, 919-829-4771, [email protected] Raleigh Raleigh

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Boost Social Security benefits

BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

ermont Sen. Bernie Sanders likely will not be the Democratic Party’s nominee, but he already has performed a great service in the 2016 presidential campaign by calling for an Vexpansion of the Social Security tax and an increase in benefits. Sanders says increased benefits will be necessary in the face of a looming crisis of workers who haven’t saved enough – if anything – for retirement. Paying for the increase wouldn’t affect most workers. Sanders would simply have Social Security taxes adjusted to reflect the sharp increase in economic inequality. The tax now applies only to income up to $118,500 and doesn’t apply to unearned income from capital gains. Sanders’ plan would apply the 6.2 percent tax to the current limit plus all income – earned and unearned – over $250,000. Calling for increased benefits is heretical in a political environment in which even most Democrats concede that Social Security will not be able to sustain current benefit levels by 2033 unless changes are made. That dim outlook has prompted some Republican presidential candidates to call for cutting benefits, increasing the expand Medicaid under age for eligibility and replacing much of the retirement the ACA puts sicker and program with 401(k)-type savings plans that workers Goodwin: The ‘stubborn more expensive patients would manage themselves. into the ACA insurance Cutting, freezing or replacing Social Security has been pool, driving up rates. And a Republican quest since Franklin D. Roosevelt signed tax’ hikes N.C. premiums the lack of expansion the Social Security bill into law 80 years ago. Repub- increases costs for hospi- licans at the time warned that the program would kill licans, the messier and ing how to respond, but the tals, which leads to higher jobs and cripple business. It didn’t. Social Security has more expensive “Obama- law forbids the state De- premiums for anyone spared millions of older people from falling into poverty care” gets in North Car- partment of Insurance from buying health insurance in and stabilized both society and the economy. olina, the better. After all, offering advice on how to North Carolina. Social Security “reform” should not bring a reversion they said it would be a shop for a more affordable No state exchange, no to the very state of elderly poverty that Roosevelt “trainwreck,” and in plan. Callers to Goodwin’s state insurance department sought to prevent. That almost certainly would be the North Carolina they did department are told they advocacy, no Medicaid effect of leaving more of the responsibility for retire- all they could to bend the need to talk to Uncle Sam. expansion have “put us in ment savings to individuals. rails. What’s maddening for North Carolina, in many Meanwhile, raising the eligibility age would impose BY NED BARNETT A 2013 law passed by Goodwin isn’t simply that respects, at ground zero for the heaviest burden on low-income manual laborers the Republican-controlled he can’t give advice to the worst possible result,” who may not be able to do demanding work – or even ayne Good- General Assembly barred consumers. It’s also that Goodwin said. find it – beyond their mid-60s. Cutting benefits for win, North the state from expanding the lack of a state exchange For a state official com- well-off retirees would push the program from being an Carolina’s Medicaid, setting up its hobbled his ability to at- mitted to getting the best earned benefit toward an entitlement and narrow its insurance own ACA exchange or tract more insurance com- deal, Goodwin is bewil- political support. Wcommissioner, isn’t a partnering with the federal panies to sell ACA plans in dered that partisan animos- The fairest and most effective way to bolster Social household name, but his government in running North Carolina – an in- ity is taking money out of Security is to extend the tax to high incomes. Private work on behalf of consum- one. By default, North crease in competition that the pockets of North Car- pensions are disappearing. Wages for the great majority ers affects almost every Carolinians who want the would have held down olinians. He said cooper- of Americans are stagnant and that leads to stagnant household. His pushback ACA subsidies must buy rates. ation in Congress could fix Social Security tax revenue. Meanwhile, the top 1 per- against rising homeowners insurance through the “In 2011, I already had some of the ACA’s flaws cent of earners have seen their after-tax income grow insurance rates has insur- federal exchange at two companies that ex- and the General Assembly by 275 percent since 1979. The three-fifths of earners in ance companies suing him Healthcare.gov. The state pressed interest in coming could reduce costs through the middle saw an increase of just under 40 percent. in state court. And his law also ordered the De- to North Carolina,” Good- Medicaid expansion. Tying Social Security’s solvency to the nation’s over- skepticism about request- partment of Insurance and win said. “I’m confident if Goodwin calls the effect all earnings would reduce income inequality and pre- ed hikes in auto insurance the Department of Health we stayed on the path of of the GOP’s hardline “a serve a program that has given millions of older Amer- has helped give North and Human Services to (setting up) a state ex- stubborn tax.” And he icans protection from poverty after a life of work. Carolina the lowest rates return $74 million in fed- change, we would easily thinks it’s time for that tax in the nation. eral aid that was intended have five more compa- to be repealed, But when it comes to to educate North Car- nies.” “The point that was to be health insurance rates olinians about the new The insurance commis- made has been made,” he under the Affordable Care health care law and help sioner also regrets that he said. “Let’s move on. Let’s As winter nears Act, the consumer’s cham- them choose the best plan is blocked from taking a help North Carolinians, pion has done little. It’s for their circumstances. tougher line on rates sub- let’s have lower rates, let’s BY BOB SIMPSON not that Goodwin doesn’t With another round of mitted by the few compa- serve our families, let’s help want to help North Car- ACA enrollment starting nies that are selling here. people in rural hospitals, ovember’s sky arrived, clad in misty robes, olinians facing double- Nov. 1, North Carolina’s “It would have helped if let’s save our budget from shadowless and silent, no birdsong to cheer digit rate hikes. It’s that average premium increase the state had left me with sending more and more its chilly winds sweeping the fields and for- he’s not allowed. is among the highest in the the muscle to push back money down a hole when ests bare. “I’m frustrated, angry nation. Blue Cross/Blue and fight for consumers,” the money could go to our NNovember breeds autumnal winds that sing loud and and sad that in many ways Shield, the only insurer he said. public schools.” shrill, warning of wintery days soon to come wearing our office is prohibited selling ACA policies state- The legislature’s resist- It all makes sense, but the armor of nipping frost. from acting in ways that I wide, is boosting premiums ance to all aspects of the the reflexive opposition Most of summer’s birds have found sanctuary from expect and the people by an average of 32.5 per- ACA is costing consumers that contributes to North winter’s desolation by migrating across land and sea to expect. We can do better, cent. The two other compa- several ways, Goodwin Carolina’s higher rates sunny lands beyond the frost line. as a state we can do bet- nies selling ACA policies says. There’s a 4 percent doesn’t have anything to Not all creatures take flight. Hibernation ter,” said Goodwin, a regionally are increasing tax for using the federal do with sense. provides their solution for survival. Black Democrat elected state- premiums by an average of exchange that might be bear and groundhog, after fattening them- wide. more than 20 percent. lower with a state ex- Barnett: 919-829-4512, selves with emergency rations, choose win- Republicans who control About a half million change. Insurance compa- nbarnett@newsobserver ter-long dozing in cave or burrow. Similarly, the legislature are unlikely North Carolinians who nies bake that federal tax .com various reptiles, the frog and toad, the to sympathize with Good- bought insurance through into their rates. The legis- snakes and lizards, find tunneling beneath root, through win’s lament. For Repub- Healthcare.gov are wonder- lature’s unwillingness to fallen leaf and debris, provides survival as they doze below the frost line. But it was the dog that found that man and his THE PEOPLE’S FORUM fireplace provided the most comfortable and successful solution for surviving the harsh and deadly forces of Wrongful prosecution YOUR OPINION winter. Thanks for publishing the Oct. 31 news article “Ex-CIA agent Sending a letter: We welcome letters from readers. Letters decries torture” and Ned Barnett’s Nov. 1 column “Blowing the must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone whistle on fear” on the speaking tour of John Kiriakou, the CIA number. The length limit is 200 words. operative and only person prosecuted for torture, not because he Have a Point of View?: For op-ed articles, the length limit is participated in it but because he confirmed and condemned it. 750 words. Authors of selected articles will be notified. We His revelations led to exposure of crimes, lies and cover-up all The News&Observer can’t acknowledge unused letters or op-ed submissions. By the way to top of the Bush White House. They also brought the submitting your letter or opinion, you grant The News & ‘The Old Reliable’ full weight of the federal government down on him. A McClatchy Newspaper Observer a royalty-free license to publish and republish your We knew then that torture is illegal (against U.S. and interna- “I advise and enjoin those who direct the paper in the tomorrows submission in print and online. never to advocate any cause for personal profit or preferment. tional law), ineffective (no actionable intelligence) and immoral I would wish it always to be ‘the tocsin’ and to devote itself (brutally sadistic). Email letters or op-ed submissions to: to the policies of equality and justice to the underprivileged. We know now from the Senate Intelligence Committee Sum- [email protected] If the paper should at anytime be the voice of self-interest mary Report, American Psychological Association’s Hoffman or become the spokesman of privilege or selfishness The mailing address is: The People’s Forum, P.O. Box 191 it would be untrue to its history.” Report, flight logs of extraordinary rendition flights (many from Raleigh, NC 27602 Johnston County airport) and personal testimony that torture FROM THE WILL OF JOSEPHUS DANIELS, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, 1894-1948 newsobserver.com/opinion was widespread, systematic, orchestrated from the top, falsely Sr. V.P./Executive Editor for News justified by White House legal counsel and counterproductive to No big surprise John Drescher, 919-829-4515, [email protected] fighting terrorism. Regarding the Oct. 31 news article “McCrory V.P./Advertising Yet no one except the person who spoke “truth to power” is brokered meeting to extend donor’s Gary Smith, 919-836-5680, [email protected] being prosecuted. Even George W. Bush and Dick Cheney boast contracts”: I am astonished at the news of our in their memoirs that they endorsed torture. governor’s “possible” involvement with Char- V.P./Audience Development Jim Puryear, 919-829-4727, [email protected] Why are we not outraged at this tarnish on American ideals of lotte big money corporate friends! In other justice and human rights? As Kiriakou said, “America deserves breaking news: Ice is slippery, ducks like water V.P./Finance better.” and New Year’s Day will fall on Jan. 1. Caroline Willingham, 919-829-4849, [email protected] – Curt Torell – Roger Shaffer V.P./Human Resources Carrboro Raleigh + Liz Mark, 919-829-4771, [email protected]

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