Opioids aren’t the only answer for pain. This bill could make alternatives available | Opinion

Alternatives to PAIN Act

As a senior and long-time advocate for Idaho’s values, I’m writing to express my strong support for the Alternatives to PAIN Act. This important legislation addresses the opioid crisis and ensures access to effective pain management for those who genuinely need it.

Too often, well-meaning efforts to curb opioid abuse have unintentionally overlooked law-abiding citizens who have fallen victim to addiction in an effort to manage chronic pain. The Alternatives to PAIN Act addresses this by tackling two key problems with alternatives to opioids: accessibility and affordability.

This bill aligns perfectly with Idaho’s principles. It empowers patients and doctors to make informed decisions about non-addictive pain management options. By expanding access to these alternatives, Idahoans will have more freedom in their healthcare choices.

Furthermore, this act is fiscally responsible. By preventing opioid addiction, we’ll reduce the strain on our healthcare system and save billions in taxpayer dollars in the long run.

I urge our congressional delegation to support the Alternatives to PAIN Act. It’s a common-sense solution that protects vulnerable Idahoans while addressing the opioid epidemic. Let’s lead the way in responsible, patient-centered pain management.

Judy Strickland, Meridian

Trump has poor character

Any adult American who admires Donald Trump needs to have their head examined. Do you want your son or grandson to be a compulsive liar, a cheater, a bully and abuser of women, and a self-pitying whiner who refuses to take responsibility for his own mistakes and failures? Didn’t think so. And would you want your daughter or granddaughter going off with someone like that, or worse still marrying that kind of person? Heaven help her.

What a relief to finally have a choice other than two doddering, over-proud old men for our next president. Yes, character counts. That’s why the cheerfully relatable Harris/Walz combo is surging, drawing sold-out crowds across the country in all the swing states, along with barn-burner endorsements from labor, women’s rights, voting rights, and youth leaders.

Meanwhile, Trump and his arrogant mini-me VP are tanking as the voting public realizes this is the same outfit that has robbed us of many of our rights and freedoms already, and is on track rob us of much more still with their disgustingly anti-American “Project 2025”. Reproductive freedom? Right to read, think, and speak freely? Social Security and Medicare you’ve worked for and earned? Poof.

Chris Norden, Moscow

Celebrating 89 years of Social Security

Today, more than 370,000 Idahoans receive the money they’ve earned over a lifetime of hard work.

Social Security is paid for by payroll taxes and the interest on those contributions that have built up in the Security Trust Funds. Before 2021, Social Security collected more in taxes and interest than it paid out, so it built up reserves to support the retirement of the “Baby Boomer” generation. Today those reserves are used to supplement incoming payroll tax income, but the Trust Funds will face a shortfall.

The shortfall is primarily caused by lower birth rates and a growing population of retirees. By 2035, Social Security is still projected to pay 80% of benefits, but a cut of 20% ($4,000 a year) would hurt both individuals and communities.

Before the Trust Funds run out of money, Congress can decide to cover the shortfall by raising taxes, cutting benefits or coming up with additional funding sources.

Let us reaffirm our commitment to Social Security’s mission and recognize the profound impact it has had on the lives of countless individuals and families across the United States.

Tom Ressler, Meridian

I see you lost once again

Dear Raul Labrador,

I was very happy to hear that the Idaho Supreme Court threw out your frivolous suit against the citizens initiative for open primaries.I am a Republican and I am so tired of you wasting our tax dollars on ridiculous lawsuits to stop what the citizens of this state regard as important issues to be voted on. NO one was fooled or hoodwinked into signing the open primaries initiative petition. If they say they were, then they simply didn’t read the petition. The citizens are also tired of a closed GOP primary. 270,000 unaffiliated voters want to vote in ALL primaries. But some Republican “leaders” are so exclusionary and fearful of others participating, that they have stonewalled their fellow Idahoans. It is time to purge our legislature of extremists. Moderate, common sense Republicans will prevail--in spite of you, Raul.

Cary Hattabaugh, Boise

Socialism is taking over

We as Americans, and our country, are in terrible trouble. Because of indifference, laziness, and not being diligent in protecting our freedoms and families, we have allowed the cancers of socialism and communism to invade our country’s body. Now it’s almost past the point of no return. But we have a chance in three months for a last-ditch effort to eradicate these cancers. If we don’t, this country will die, and we will lose what freedoms we still have. We will end up living in shacks dictated by the elite few who’ll live off our backs.

Leah Shaw, Boise

Only public schools should get funding

Dear Governor Little,

Stand strongly against any scheme or proposal that would allow public monies to pay for private or religious schools. I implore you to discourage and speak outrightly against legislation in any form that would give Idaho taxpayer monies to private or religious schools. You know about the disastrous financial experiences that Arizona, Wisconsin, and Indiana taxpayers and students have suffered including enormous budget shortfalls after they funded private and religious schools with taxpayer monies.

Stay aligned with the Idaho constitution and fund our public school system. Don’t use taxpayer money to fund private and religious education institutions, it’s unconstitutional and NOT the Idaho way.

Stand strongly against the tsunami of pressure you are no doubt feeling. Idaho taxpayers and children across the state need you to do this. Protect our public schools and our children. It is your responsibility.

Mary Tordella Ruckh, Boise