Rockefeller bill was mischaracterized

I am writing to set the record straight about my legislation, the Medicare Drug Savings Act, after some quotes mischaracterized it in a recent article ("Hanabusa, Schatz differ on Medicare drug rebates," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 5).

The Medicare Drug Savings Act would eliminate, from the 2003 Medicare prescription drug law, an egregious loophole that is allowing drug companies to charge Medicare higher prices for some seniors’ prescription drugs.

Instead, my bill would require prescription drug manufacturers to pay rebates to Medicare for dually eligible beneficiaries in Medicare and Medicaid.

Closing this loophole means we would no longer be giving drug companies an unnecessary, taxpayer-funded giveaway. We would be saving the program money so that it’s in better shape for seniors and future generations — and at the same time, help reduce the deficit by more than $141 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

U.S. Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV
Chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

Health Department not blocking VA loans

State Rep. Bob McDermott is wrong to accuse the state Department of Health of denying financing on homes that collect rain off the roof for drinking water ("Health Department ruling blocks loans for isle veterans," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Aug. 7).

The DOH has never regulated catchment water in single-family homes. We have not changed our practice or issued any "ruling."

The Veterans Administration, after years of offering loans to its beneficiaries for these homes, has recently disqualified catchment houses for funding.

Rainwater collected off of a roof can be easily contaminated, and testing or treating the water can be very expensive to the home owner.

The department has published design guidelines that homeowners should follow to protect catchment water quality.

More than one year ago, DOH wrote to the VA suggesting that these guidelines be implemented as a condition to qualify for one of their loans.

We are committed to help the VA protect public health and restore its financing of affordable home ownership for veterans.

Gary Gill
Deputy director, Environmental Health Administration, Hawaii Department of Health

GMO debate bringing out the worst in folks

The entire anti-GMO issue has really brought out the worst in people.

This issue is no longer about science and evidence. It is about who can be the loudest and most obnoxious about the whole issue.

From U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and her support of the anti-GMO marketing of Down to Earth to state Sen. Mike Gabbard’s proof of dangers using the debunked Seralini rat study, as well as the activists’ online attacks against farmers who use biotech or support it, there is no aloha in the discussion.

Hawaii agriculture does not need this.

Bill 2491 on Kauai and Bill 79 on Hawaii island are meeting these activists’ demands, which are based on fear and emotion and do not serve our islands well. Passing laws like these will only perpetuate this kind of harmful behavior that threatens the future of Hawaii’s food sustainability.

Our lawmakers have an obligation to do the right thing and educate and use evidence as their guide, not primal emotions like fear.

Joni Kamiya
Kaneohe

Danger of pesticides is they kill pollinators

I’m glad you are reporting on the community debate on Kauai about regulating pesticide and GMO companies. I think, though, that by framing the opponents of regulation as the ones preventing "long-term detriment to the state’s agricultural industry," and by framing "health" issues mainly as schoolyard contamination, an important point is left out ("Don’t overreact to farm fears," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Aug. 2).

Syngenta is part of the development of neonicotinoid pesticides, which the European Union has already restricted for their bad effects on bees. Monsanto has genetically modified plants to accept its Roundup insecticide, also harming bees and butterflies. Because these very beneficial insects pollinate up to 80 percent of our fruits and vegetables, failure to regulate pesticides and GMOs has a huge potential to hurt the long-term economics of the state, as well as health.

Kathy J. Phillips
Moiliili

Deedy’s role as agent is at heart of incident

Kollin Elderts may have been a bully, but did he deserve to die?

Fights break out all the time, especially among the late-night populace in Waikiki. The difference in the Deedy trial is that an armed federal agent got involved and killed a man.

The prosecution repeatedly asks the great question of why Christopher Deedy had to approach Elderts in the first place, and not just leave the restaurant. These days it seems the evidence continues to lean in favor of the defense because Elderts is now an established bully. But the question of whether Deedy was acting as a concerned fellow citizen or as a federal agent wanting to utilize his power seems important.

The bottom line is that perhaps a few people may have walked away with cuts and bruises and the authorities could have handled it. But that’s not what happened. Instead, shots were fired by a trained federal agent and a man is dead.

Marssia Kim
Hawaii Kai