Pushed by Congress to the brink of catastrophe
Manhattan: The failed Senate vote left millions of people facing a painful reality: The health insurance credits that help more than 20 million Americans afford health care will likely expire on Dec. 31. For months, we warned lawmakers what would happen if the subsidies were allowed to expire. Families, caregivers and community members spoke up. Despite every warning, Congress failed to protect people from skyrocketing costs — all while working families are already struggling to afford daily groceries, bills and basic necessities. I’m writing so lawmakers understand the impact of stripping health care from our community.
Lawmakers and their staff will not be personally affected financially by the expiration of the Affordable Care Act subsidies in the same way their constituents are because they receive health care through an employer-sponsored plan with a large, consistent government contribution separate from the ACA’s temporary premium tax credits. Members of Congress and certain staff must obtain health insurance through the DC Health Link marketplace created under the ACA. However, their experience in that marketplace differs sharply from that of ordinary enrollees because of how their coverage is funded.
An estimated 4 million people could lose coverage altogether if the subsidies lapse. Rising uninsured rates increase uncompensated care costs, strain hospitals and clinics — especially in rural and underserved areas — and have ripple effects on local health outcomes. Ordinary citizens will be placed in serious health care jeopardy. Lawmakers opposed to extending these subsidies are clearly unaware or living under a rock. One-seventh of our GDP goes to health care costs. The elimination of these subsidies will result in the collapse of our health care system as we know it. Jamie H. Bassel
Taxation tradeoff
Staten Island: To Voicer Joe Salerno: I’m sure the people living in Sweden (population 10.6 million), Denmark (6 million) and Norway (6.6 million) are happy to live a more peaceful life. The U.S.A. has a population of 340 million and growing. I don’t see or hear of any of our residents flying to any of those countries for a better life. Yes, having a universal health care system is nice, but it’s not free. People are heavily taxed for it. In addition, not everything is included. Thomas Bell
Strategic stalling
Brooklyn: Am I the only one who thinks President Trump is just buying time for his friend Vladimir Putin to take over Ukraine? Kathy Barry
Inexperience in abundance
Manhattan: There seems to be some commotion in the airwaves regarding the appointment of Lillian Bonsignore as the new fire commissioner. Her name was not familiar to me, but reading her credentials and professional experience, I have to say she has ample background and knowledge for the job. There seems to be a fair amount of people pushing against her experience and aptitude for this position. To them I would say pick five or 10 of the current people now embedded in the Trump administration and check their background and experience for their appointments. You can start with the secretary of defense. Go ahead, your turn. Don Cerrone
Paid for by us
Brooklyn: Zohran Mamdani wants to make buses free. He has to pay money to bus drivers — minimum wage from taxpayers’ money. Who wants to work for minimum wage? Believe me: minimum wage, minimum service. He wants to make government stores with low prices. Will farmers sell their products for low prices? The quality will be the same — low. And stores with no profit for what? For taxpayers’ money. We pay when stores are open, then for products, and then when nobody buys low-quality products and workers go to unemployment — again, from taxpayers’ money. He wants to freeze rents for stabilized apartments. Some time ago, we stopped rent control. Remember? The Bronx was on fire. We will have it again. Fight for our safety? How? Nothing in his program is about powerful police. He wants big corporations to pay more taxes? They’ll leave New York. Oleg Samuylin
Fleeced by fraud
Manhattan: The recent discovery of the massive tax fraud in Minnesota illustrates the current state of our severely defective welfare system. The lack of accountability and the scale of mismanagement likely establish a legitimate rationale for criminal-neglect indictments against one or more government officials. The fiasco is assuredly not an isolated situation, and with no major political party in the country representing the American taxpayer, the continued existence of the United States is genuinely in doubt. Math and its laws are indisputable, and the “affordability” issue in this country might not exist at all if not for so many billions being stolen annually from the pockets of the average struggling taxpayer. Perhaps (and hopefully) our future elected officials will see their positions as something essential and serious, not just a pathway in which to attend fundraisers, disseminate political propaganda and sell books. Lloyd Litwak
Cherished tradition
Queens Village: Every Christmas, I look forward to your printing of “The little lamb: A Christmas parable” (op-ed, Dec. 24) by Karen Zautyk. A few years ago, I sent copies of the story to all my Xmas card people, so much so that one of my longtime relatives who I only hear from during the holidays, if at all, actually called me on the telephone! That’s how much that story moves people. Thank you for keeping the story alive in your printed newspaper. Joan Silaco
Overlooked champs
Bayside: Re “2025 was a year to remember!” (Dec. 28): You left off a team that did win a championship — Gotham FC. They’re the only team that has won two championships since 2023. All the other teams were losers in 2025! Michael Sternbach
Snubbed a star
Brooklyn: Shame on the Daily News! In the article paying tribute to those people we lost over the past year (“Those we lost, but whose lives left a lasting impact,” Dec. 28), you properly included Bernie Parent, the great goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers. However, you neglected to include the great Ken Dryden, one of the greatest goalies of all time. I realize that your editors may be sore about Dryden winning six Stanley Cups with Montreal over his eight-year career while the Rangers stand at one Cup over 85 years, but this is an inexcusable omission. Howard Berglas
Don’t drop the ball
Matawan, N.J.: The Jets must do whatever it takes to sign Breece Hall to a long-term contract to provide their next quarterback with one of the best multi-talented running backs in the league. Using him in a trade to move up in the draft to get a quarterback would be detrimental to the offense and would make no sense. Does the name Barkley ring a bell? Don’t make the team stay the Jets by getting rid of one of the most productive players, like David Stearns is doing to the Mets. Robert Wyshynski
Second-stringer
Hoboken: I’m sorry, Abbey Mastracco (“The Wright thing? Case for inducting David into Hall of Fame a tough one,” Dec. 28), but if Donnie Baseball isn’t in the Hall, no way David Wright is. You swung and missed on that reference point. Joe Ewansky
In the way
Brooklyn: I have a complaint that I’m sure is shared by many of your readers. It involves different television news stations and the weather forecasters who stand directly in front of the screen to not only explain whatever the situation involved, but wait until the very end of their segment to block and overshadow the usual seven- to 10-day review of the temperatures. We’re in a rush to go to work, school or whatever destination. We don’t have the time or patience to try and view what’s being provided by these forecasters and their need to be the center of attention. We get it, you’re responsible for providing accurate and detailed information, but this behavior is unacceptable. Just picture sitting at a movie theater with loved ones and some jerk comes along and blocks your view of the screen. That’s what these forecasters on CBS, NBC and ABC are doing. Steve Craig
Feminine icon
Hallandale Beach, Fla.: RIP Brigitte Bardot, a French legend forever. She embodied an entire era where sexy could also be classy and intelligent! One of the all-time greats. Paul Bacon
