In response to Nick Moret's letter in the June 14 Forum lauding Gov. John Hoeven's efforts in the area of prescription drugs:
I thought about it a lot before sending this letter to make sure that I wasn't simply reacting due to the timing of picking up my Monday paper. Sunday was the first anniversary of the death of my father from chronic lymphocytic leukemia and, ultimately, lung cancer. He was 74. My mother is now 71 and has health problems of her own. At times during the last couple of years of Dad's life, their combined prescriptions cost as much as $1,000 a month.
My folks lived almost exclusively on Social Security and these high costs were obviously a life-altering burden. After reflecting, however, I don't believe I am reacting exclusively to my parent's struggle. Rather, I am concerned for the burden of high prescription drug costs on many North Dakotans, all over the state. Hoeven has done scant little for people struggling to pay for healthcare until now.
Prescription drug costs have always put tremendous pressure on individuals and families - not only in election years. Calling his present actions "leadership" is a misuse of the term.
Consider how this "leadership" compares to that of our neighboring governor, Tim Pawlenty. Within months of his taking office, Pawlenty had established a Canadian drug buying program for the people of Minnesota. It took Hoeven his entire term. Last minute election-year efforts aimed at the polls are no way for a governor to address issues.
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Ask yourself, what has Hoeven really been doing about healthcare costs for the past four years? Think about it when you vote in November. I, for one, am going to cast my vote for change.
Lisa Edison-Smith
Fargo
