Restore long-term unemployment benefits
I was laid off from my job of 23 years at age 63. I never received any job offers after sending out resumes for the 79 weeks that I collected benefits.
My unemployment benefits were less than half of my working wages so I do not understand Republicans saying collecting more than 26 weeks encourages people to remain on unemployment.
Extending unemployment benefits without offsets has always been bipartisan in previous administrations. Why the sudden change? The deficit has already been cut in half. There are three to five applicants for every job.
Over 1.6 million Americans lost their lifeline Dec. 28 and it will increase to almost 5 million Americans by the end of the year if nothing gets done. This doesn’t include more than 2 million children whose parent(s) are on unemployment all across the country.
The Democrats were unable to get this extension included in the budget before they adjourned for recess. They tried again when they returned in January with no success. Over half of the budget went to defense. Congress could restore the funds with less than 1 percent of the defense budget.
Congressmen and women earn $174,000 yearly with premium health care. Make them earn their salary. Americans need to unite and fight this injustice.
— Carol Reardon, Alta Loma
Help is available for insurance exchange
I read the letter about someone’s friend who lost a health plan. She was upset about her friend, who was 60, made $30,000 a year and lived in Rancho Cucamonga.
She claimed her friend went to CoveredCA and was told she would not qualify for a subsidy, and insurance would cost $800 a month with a deductible.
So I went to the same website, put in the same information (age, wages and zip code). I must say, I got a completely different outcome.
She would qualify for a subsidy, and could get a Gold plan or Platinum plan for approximately $300-$400, with no deductibles.
I get that some people might not understand how to navigate a website, but there is help available. I suggest she get help.
Spreading misinformation does not help people such as the letter writer’s friend.
I myself finally have insurance for the first time since I lost it about 15 years ago. I did not qualify for a subsidy, and I have a pre-existing condition. I now have a great plan.
— Kevin Bossick, Pomona
Teachers can be fired if evaluators do their jobs
I was employed by the San Bernardino Unified School District for 35 years (1967-2002). In those 35 years, I served as the president of the teachers union for four years and met with district personnel and teachers who were being determined for termination.
My opening statement in each case was, “We (the union) do not want incompetent teachers in our classrooms any more than the district does, but terminate teachers according to their rights!”
This meant that there was to be an “improvement plan,” in which the teacher was given specific strategies on how to improve and specific supports offered by the evaluator (usually the principal or vice principal).
This plan was to be accomplished within a reasonable time. The teacher was evaluated again on his/her improvement or lack thereof.
If no improvement was made the evaluator started the documentation for dismissal.
In other words, teachers can be dismissed if evaluators do their jobs!
— Alyce R. Papin, San Bernardino
