A necessary defense of ACA

It was good to see Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors joining about 20 other states’ top lawyers in legal defense of two separate aspects of the Affordable Care Act. The broader brief, filed in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, aims to preserve the validity of the ACA, and therefore, health care for tens of millions of Americans. The other filing, in the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, backs a stay on the Trump administration from implementing new regulations aimed at rolling back ACA requirements that employers include birth control coverage in health insurance plans. Rather than work to improve the ACA, too much effort, unfortunately, is being expended to kill it, on the judicial and congressional fronts.

Rebuilding funds for Hawaii County

There should be some measure of relief heading for Hawaii County, now that the state Legislature has approved a $60 million aid package that’s before the governor. It won’t be nearly enough to put things back the way they were — the massive Kilauea eruption that began on May 3 last year covered nearly 14 square miles of land and destroyed 700 homes.

But it will help. Roads need rebuilding in Puna, and businesses that cater to tourists and locals alike need to reopen. Slow but steady will be the way to go.