To the editor:

Cal Thomas’ column on the health care bill (HR 3692, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009) in the Dec. 2 issue of the Journal-World was a pastiche of misrepresentations and egregious errors. His claims about rationing and the coverage of illegal aliens (not to mention the idea that the government will have access to your finances) are bankrupt and misleading.

Tribune Media Services, on Dec. 4, issued a statement that in his Dec. 2 column, Thomas was referring to an earlier version of the bill, as if that would let him off the hook for misrepresenting a bill designed to address the embarrassing fact that in this affluent country, 45 million people do not have assured and dependable access to health care.

In the version of the bill that passed the House, the Health Choices Administration (a broadly representative group of professionals and lay people), led by the Health Choices Commissioner, are required to establish a Health Insurance Exchange to provide employers and individuals access to a wide variety of health insurance coverage choices, including a public health insurance option. That hardly sounds like rationing.

With regard to illegal aliens and eligibility, the bill would require the Health Care Commissioner to work with, through an agreement, the Social Security Administration to verify the citizenship status of any applicant who claims to be a U.S. citizen.

Cal Thomas has done a real disservice to those millions of people who will, under this act, finally have access to some degree of health. Shame on him.