Recently, an insurer discontinued our policy due to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). None of the employees or their dependents can use alleged benefits. Forty years, we had good policies, tolerable premiums; that served needs of “current” employees well. Obamacare only offered policies with over 100 percent premium increases this year.

Cost up to $1,106 monthly per employee, compared to $443 under existing policy. Same coverage, same network, similar deductible; equals nothing new for employees. That is about $16,000 per person paid each year in premium and deductible, before any “real” return in coverage. That is not insurance, that is rip-off. Freeborn County commissioners plan a 4 percent tax increase because of health insurance costs. This was before another insurer pulled out of MNsure, leaving only four remaining. Our area faces the highest premiums in the nation because our current representatives failed to properly oversee this insurance market. Our area’s representatives allowed high-cost insurance to happen while rural northwest Minnesota and Twin Cities representatives obtained the lowest premiums in nation. Future premiums will drastically rise if more competition drops out of the market.

Shannon Savick voted for a costly Senate Office Building used only part of the year. Costing six times money spent on crumbling roads and bridges. Truck drivers and the public are at risk every day traveling those roads. Truckers make real world decisions traversing those roads in 75-foot rigs, through congestion, construction, etc. They make split-second decisions and must be right the first time every time. They don’t have the luxury offices to work in. Just like you, traveling in your car, they have the small space in their truck as their office. We need Peggy Bennett who would vote for more money for roads and bridges that we all need and use. The return on investment would have benefitted all Minnesotans and out-of-state travelers, instead of an office building used part time by a select few.

Peggy does NOT slant the truth, making herself look better than her opponent. When discussing federal issues, Peggy Bennett politely reminds you, those are congressional matters, then Peggy seeks your state issues. Unfortunately, Shannon Savick apparently allows misleading ads about federal issues.

Those ads repeatedly make promises about federal programs that Savick cannot possibly keep. When seeking Minnesota representative positions, it is definitely not fitting the dignity of the office to allow promises to uphold federal laws when Minnesota representatives do not control federal matters. Allowing ads to imply or contain statements that federal programs may someday be transferred to the states is poor cover for such fake promises. Such ads tend to needlessly scare the less fortunate and retired; making it despicable. Candidates may have no control over some ads, issued by independent groups. In that case, Shannon, it is past time for you to disavow such ads and set the records straight as to what Minnesota representatives handle. Candidates, please run honest campaigns. If that is not possible, then it is just one more reason that Peggy Bennett deserves your vote.

 

Joseph Becker

Albert Lea