Letters

A betrayal of values

As a child, I was taught that senators and representatives listened to and represented all the people in their districts. I was so proud of America.

Now it seems I've been told by Steve Womack that he works for the Republican Party and only represents that point of view.

I guess the rest of us still have taxation, but Congressman Womack excludes us from representation. I am so disappointed by his betrayal of American values.

LINDA LOVELL

Bentonville

Support bill's passage

We agree with Dr. Joshua Chance's recent letter: Teamwork in health care is very important for patient safety. SB171 is not about the anesthesiologist's role in Arkansas health care. It is about the relationship between the certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and the physician working together to safely care for patients.

CRNAs provide 90 percent of all anesthetics in rural hospitals, 100 percent in critical-access hospitals in Arkansas. In 25 counties, supervision for CRNA anesthesia practice is not provided by anesthesiologists, but by other physicians who are highly skilled in their specialty but not as familiar with the specialized field of anesthesia. These physicians rely on the CRNAs for their anesthesia expertise. Don't expect to find an anesthesia care team in rural hospitals; nearly two-thirds of Arkansas anesthesiologists are found in Pulaski and Faulkner counties.

SB171 addresses supervision, an outdated concept that raises unfounded liability concerns for non-anesthesia-trained physicians already stretched thin by the demands of modern health care. The good news is that a 2010 study published in the journal Health Affairs found that CRNA anesthesia was safe whether or not supervised by a physician. Better news for Arkansas' budget is that removal of this barrier to CRNA practice can result in a more flexible, cost-effective model for anesthesia care, saving money for everyone.

Supervision of CRNAs, as addressed in SB171, deserves thoughtful and evidence-based discussion, not confusing statements. The citizens of Arkansas deserve better. Arkansas CRNAs strongly support passage of SB171.

MARK DUNAVAN

Marion

Mark Dunavan is president of the Arkansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

Protect our children

It is long past reasonable time for our Arkansas legislators to pass a bill providing for the protection of Arkansas children riding school buses to and from school each day and to extracurricular activities. I know from my own history that this critical issue of safety for our kids has been ignored by our elected representatives and senators for over 50 years.

Now a very reasonable bill, HB1002, has passed the House and will go before the Senate Education Committee and, if passed, then to the Senate for passage or another defeat. As I understand this bill, it gives each county the option of choosing to fund the costs for seat belts on new school buses or to choose not to do so.

It is time Arkansas voters stand up and expect our legislators to support legislation which provides proper safety for today's children.

WILLIAM R. BARLING

North Little Rock

Trump's true enemy

In answer to Ms. Denise Myers and Mr. Jim Lite about pictures and comments of Donald Trump, you cannot blame the press for reporting and depicting the news Trump creates. No matter who you voted for, the images and verbiage Mr. Trump produces tell the tale. I believe the true "enemy" of Mr. Trump is his own appearance and actions!

BILL FRITZ

Hot Springs Village

Ditch the reds, blues

We've had an election, yet still the party lines are pushing the agenda. In two or four years, the sides in charge may flip. Don't matter, the party line is the boss.

There is perhaps but one way to solve this fight and give us laws that are good for all of us, not one side or another. It's called a centrist party, but the only way it can take hold is if current members from both parties step away from the wings and join in the middle.

So decades now it's been Red versus Blue; it's time now for the Purples. Eight to 10 existing senators and 35 to 50 representatives would have to resign from their parties and form the Purples. Should this happen, this group of Purples would have control on a bill from either Red or Blue to make it have enough votes to pass. If the Purples have all Americans in mind, they can force compromise on final bills or appointments.

Think it won't work? It used to when Congress stayed in town and the members got to know each other and knew how to make deals. Today is nothing but gridlock or rancor.

I ask former members of Congress who remember those days to approach all our current moderate congressional members and try for a Purple Party. David Pryor, Ed Bethune, are you listening? Please contact your former colleagues and try to convince current members who are centrist to form the Purples and stop the Red/Blue war.

STEVE HEYE

Little Rock

Would be very helpful

I agree with Richard Moore's suggestion that the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette start a new feature titled "Trump vs. The Truth Scorecard." It would be very helpful for us readers who are seeking the truth in this "fake news" climate to be able to go to the scorecard for a daily comparison of Trump's statements with verifiable facts.

This service would reflect the paper's Statement of Core Values, as printed daily on Page 2. To quote the fourth paragraph, "The pursuit of truth is a noble goal of journalism. But the truth is not always apparent or known immediately. Journalists' role is therefore not to determine what they believe at that time and reveal only that to their readers, but rather to report as completely and impartially as possible all verifiable facts so that readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine what they believe to be the truth." (Walter Hussman)

BARBARA BURKS HANLEY

Little Rock

Wasn't the only one

I have only one question for Mr. John Deering concerning his cartoon that stated George Washington was the only one who promised change that followed through: What planet are you living on?

B.E. SPURGEON

North Little Rock

Editorial on 02/24/2017

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