A sampling of recent editorials from Colorado newspapers:
NATIONAL:
The Denver Post, July 30, on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ decision to let patients use medical marijuana:
The decision by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to allow patients to use medical marijuana in the 14 states where it is legal, including Colorado, is a humane and just call.
As it stood, VA patients who followed state guidelines and legally used marijuana were at risk of being denied pain medications. That’s because the VA has rules barring illegal drug use by patients who are taking pain medicine, and marijuana is still illegal under federal law.
The concern was that veterans might have to choose between the relief they find in medical marijuana and using the VA medical system.
We’re glad the VA took this tack, and we think it’s in keeping with the Obama administration’s law enforcement policy on medical marijuana.
Last October, the Justice Department issued a memorandum directing U.S. attorneys to steer clear of prosecuting people who are using medical marijuana in “clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws.”
Attorney General Eric Holder made clear, however, that going after commercial enterprises that were unlawfully marketing and selling marijuana was to remain a priority.
The VA’s new policy, spelled out in a letter earlier this month, is in keeping with that stance.
“If a veteran obtains and uses medical marijuana in a manner consistent with state law, testing positive for marijuana would not preclude the veteran from receiving opioids for pain management” in a VA clinic or hospital.
The decision to prescribe drugs to a veteran ought to be made on a medical basis, the letter said. The letter also made clear that VA doctors could decline to prescribe painkillers if they thought there would be an adverse interaction between medical marijuana and another drug.
In Colorado, we’ve had several concerns with the way the legalization of medical marijuana has played out over the last year.
First, we don’t believe the system that has emerged comports with the constitutional amendment voters approved in 2000. But we’ve also taken issue with what we believe is a widespread effort to game the system, as legions of people have claimed severe chronic pain to obtain medical marijuana cards and “get legal.”
However, we’re not too worried that those who abuse the system would get an advantage out of the VA decision.
While there always are people who can manipulate their way into obtaining pain medicine, by and large those who are getting a legitimate prescription for a narcotic painkiller have faced rigorous conditions and controls for getting that medication.
The decision by the VA merely allows these sick and injured individuals to use legitimately obtained medical marijuana to ease their pain without fear.
Editorial:
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The (Grand Junction) Daily Sentinel, Aug. 1, on a reprimand as punishment for New York Rep. Charles Rangel:
New York Congressman Charles Rangel is believed to have broken not only House rules, but federal law—including federal laws and financial disclosure requirements—while chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
And on July 30, the subcommittee investigating Rangel for ethics violations recommended an official “reprimand,” the mildest form of punishment the House could take and still acknowledge Rangel did something wrong.
Such a slap-on-the-wrist response is woefully inadequate for the infractions and crimes Rangel is accused of committing. The lengthy subcommittee report on the charges against him outline the numerous infractions in great detail.
Among the alleged violations are soliciting donations—from people who had business before Rangel’s committee—to help fund a center named for him at City College of New York. Additionally, he reportedly illegally used a rent-stabilized apartment in New York as a campaign office and failed to disclose income from numerous sources as required by congressional rules.
And for all this, the subcommittee wants to do nothing more than have Rangel stand in front of the entire House and have a reprimand read to him? What pain that would inflict.
Some members of the House Ethics Committee declared how important it is to thoroughly investigate Rangel and punish him appropriately to help restore the public’s trust in Congress. If they think a reprimand will do that, they are sadly mistaken.
As we’ve said recently regarding Colorado politicians, integrity matters. It’s especially critical for leaders of congressional committees. Charles Rangel has repeatedly demonstrated disdain for the rules he expects the rest of us to follow. That is not integrity.
The House Ethics Committee should reject the recommendation for a reprimand and conduct a full-scale trial for Rangel. If the evidence is conclusive—and the subcommittee report is very thorough—he should be expelled from Congress.
That would be a giant step toward restoring some public belief that Congress really does care about integrity.
Editorial:
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STATE:
The Aurora Sentinel, Aug. 2, a proposed initiative to exempt the state from recent federal health care legislation:
Voters need to be warned that a gravely misguided group of right-wing political fringe are flirting with disaster in their latest attempt to disrupt Colorado government services.
Jon Caldara, president of the Golden-based Independence Institute, said last week that his political action group had gathered more than the 76,000 signatures needed to put a measure on the ballot exempting Colorado from recent, hard-won federal health-care reform legislation.
It’s hugely wrongheaded on a couple of levels.
First off, the measure has been misleadingly tabbed the “Colorado Right to Health Care Choice Initiative.” It has nothing to do with rights and would actually exempt Colorado residents from having important choices that could save local families thousands in annual health-care costs and have access to health care when they really need it.
Here’s the simple truth about the country’s disintegrating health-care system: for it to work for patients, providers and others, the pool of those with insurance must be increased. Even though there are several flaws with the system should it work ideally, this measure deals with none of those.
Without a solitary doubt, changes are doomed to fail if Congress doesn’t create a public-health care option, which would force bloated, unreasonable heath-insurance companies to readjust their premiums and structure.
But this measure being touted by the Independence Institute would actually decrease the pool of those who pay for insurance, driving the costs up for those left in the system, especially those who are self-employed or work for a small business.
Just as important, it’s doubtful that the measure would pass legal muster, simply tying up vast legal state resources, enriching an army of lawyers and doing nothing to solve the state’s health-care problems.
It’s too late to warn voters away from signing petitions for this misguided measure, but it’s important to start now to warn unwary voters away from this calamity before it strikes.
Editorial:
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The (Colorado Springs) Gazette, July 29, on why artist Christo’s Arkansas River installation could create wealth:
Gifts don’t get much better than “Over the River,” a $50 million exhibit proposed by a world-renowned artist.
In stark contrast, federal pork bill HR 4812 would pump $42.8 million of borrowed cash into local government. Some people want it. When the Colorado Springs City Council declined to support the bill, critics were incredulous. Anything that would push cash into the economy must be a valuable gift, right?
Only the economically illiterate view borrowed cash as an asset. Wealth is the creation and production of goods and services that elevate the human condition.
Nothing represents wealth better than literature, music and art. Michael Jackson combined melodies, lyrics and ideas that brought his customers joy.
Likewise, Christo creates wealth by daring to express the bold and unique ideas in his head. The value of his wealth is represented by cash, which he invests in more beauty.
Christo decided 18 years ago to create wealth right here in southern Colorado with “Over the River,” which will involve draping silver fabric over eight sections of a 42-mile stretch of the Arkansas River. The project will display for two weeks in the summer of 2013, if all goes well.
The artist asks for nothing other than permission of taxpayers who own the river. Permission must be granted by the federal Bureau of Land Management, Chaffee County, Fremont County, the Colorado Department of Transportation and a few other government entities.
Christo will use $50 million of his own cash, which he generates by selling artwork that improves lives, to construct “Over the River.” The $50 million will go into the pockets of people who live and work in Colorado and will circulate throughout our economy. The government estimates the exhibit will bring $121 million in economic activity to the region and create hundreds of jobs.
Unlike the gift of congressional pork, none of Christo’s gift is borrowed cash that will burden our youths while jeopardizing our nation’s standing in the world. It’s cash that represents real wealth in the form of artistic beauty. It will benefit the collective and substantially burden no one.
Those are the economic considerations. More important is the fact that Coloradans will have easy access to a world-class endeavor that others will traverse oceans to see.
Christo and his team have worked cooperatively with permitting entities, spending $2.5 million on a federal environmental impact study. A small faction of critics want to stop the display, but their complaints about traffic snarls fail to inspire. Concerns for wildlife collide with the fact this exhibit will line a bustling transportation corridor, above a river that flows through artificial embankments. A pristine, rural wildlife preserve it is not.
Those who would stop this expression might also block other social events that temporarily disrupt routines. A culture intolerant of disruption is one devoid of parades, Renaissance festivals, concerts in parks, fireworks, sporting events, motion picture productions and Woodstock.
Christo proposes a gift of art and prosperity to Colorado. We should welcome it with gratitude and joy.
Editorial:
