To the editor:

In your article of Sept. 23, titled “Case for health care reform is pressed at City Hall,” the City Commission expressed great hesitancy at taking a stance on health care reform, citing concern about jurisdiction. While it is true that our city cannot feasibly make any laws in this arena, we can certainly take a reasoned stance.

Thus, I encourage the commissioners (of both our city and county) to adopt a resolution supporting reform of health care with affordable insurance, services and equipment for all. According to recent articles in this publication, the city itself has seen rising costs in the insurance plan for its employees and recently changed insurance companies. The rising costs of insurance and health care are even more dramatic for small businesses, individuals and, especially, the uninsured.

Health care reform is a local issue as much as it is a national one. A lack of reform will adversely affect our local governments. The city and county will surely see an increased need on its health care-related services (ambulance, fire, police, county health department etc.) over time. An unhealthy populace means more social problems. Local agencies providing free health care will see more demand for services.

So, I ask our local governments (which are clearly adversely affected by rising health care costs) to take the moral and ethical stance of asking our federal government to ensure the basic health of all Americans.