Opinion

The Plumas County Economic Recovery Committee (PCERC) wishes to voice its opposition to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) submitted State Plan Amendment (SPA) 11-010, which seeks authorization to reduce MediCal reimbursement rates for certain facilities, including skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and sub-acute-care units that are distinct parts of hospitals, to 2008-09 rates less 10 percent. If approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the reduced rates will be effective retroactively to June 1, 2011.

Gov. Jerry Brown has delivered on his campaign promise to tackle pension reform. The plan he put forward is bold and comprehensive. It is also politically risky.

Public employee unions, longtime allies of the governor, will strongly oppose key portions of it, as will many of Brown’s fellow Democrats in the Legislature. Even Republicans may balk when it comes to rollbacks for police officers and firefighters, the most politically powerful public employees who enjoy the most robust pensions.

Gov. Jerry Brown has delivered on his campaign promise to tackle pension reform. The plan he put forward is bold and comprehensive. It is also politically risky.

Public employee unions, longtime allies of the governor, will strongly oppose key portions of it, as will many of Brown’s fellow Democrats in the Legislature. Even Republicans may balk when it comes to rollbacks for police officers and firefighters, the most politically powerful public employees who enjoy the most robust pensions.

The “Occupy” movement has unleashed its ire on the wrong people. Based on comments from protesters in the news, distribution of wealth has become the standard by which protestors evaluate American democracy. Hmm, I thought democracy meant majority rule, one person, one vote.

In fact, America is a republic: Its citizens elect representatives to represent them in government. It might even be argued we are now an oligarchy — ruled by an “elite.”