The Milwaukee Post

10 • Milwaukee County Post • March 24, 2017 709 W. Oklahoma Ave. 481-8170 Accepting Blue Cross, Anthem, TRICARE, Express Scripts and more... Health Tip of the Week Registered Pharmacist Bob Stresing and the Serv-U Team 254594137 Another Reason To Eat Fish Eating fatty fish may cut the risk for blindness in those with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of type 2 diabetes that can cause blindness because of reduced blood supply to the retina. A new analysis of data on 3,400 people with type 2 diabetes looked at the correlation between intake of omega 3 fats from seafood and the risk of diabetic retinopathy. The researchers found that those who regularly consumed an average of two servings per week of fatty fish had a 50% reduced risk of developing diabetic retinopathy than those who ate less than that. Weekends: April 22 thru May 7, 2017 This year's tour will feature: New Homes • Condos • Lots • Developments The MBA Spring Tour guide has all the details. Look for it inside the April 7th edition. Check out the MBA Spring Tour for fresh ideas to make your dream home a reality. Get Inspired OPINION By MICHAEL J. MURPHY I am shocked at the short-sighted and mean-spirited federal budget proposed last week by President Donald Trump. In its attempt to pander to the most extreme wing of the Republican Party, what this budget proposes could hamstring economic devel- opment here in Milwaukee and have very serious consequences for low income and working class people nationwide who are just trying to get by. The draconian cuts included in this budg- et include the complete elimination of many programs that reasonable people can agree serve vital purposes in our society. While it's difficult to discern which will be the most detrimental, there are several that would hurt us a great deal here in Milwaukee that I would like to highlight: The Community Development Block Grant program, in a recent USA Today, is called the "bread-and-butter funding source for local communities," and that is no understatement. CDB grants provide mil- lions of dollars to the city of Milwaukee each year to help fund vital city services, urban revitalization, employment initia- tives, community-based organizations and many more important programs. The loss of these support services would be devas- tating to our most vulnerable residents. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps the elderly and the poor pay their heating and power bills when times get tough. This program has served as a literal life- line for Wisconsinites struggling to survive our cold, unforgiving winters, and its pro- posed elimination is simply callous and unnecessary. The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery pro- gram has provided Milwaukee with an important tool to help modernize our city's infrastructure while creating jobs for our residents. These grants have helped us turn around Milwaukee's economic fortunes, and it seems President Trump is targeting them just because they're part of President Obama's legacy. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and dozens of other programs that President Trump is proposing to eliminate under the Environmental Protection Agency are important, not only because of the jobs they provide Milwaukee as a fresh- water sciences hub. But this agency and these programs are needed to preserve the quality of water and air necessary for future generations to thrive. The National Endowment for the Arts has been a particular benefit to us in Milwaukee through its support of the MKE Plays program, which is building new play- grounds for children in underserved neigh- borhoods throughout the city. I hope that, for the good of Milwaukee and especially for its most vulnerable resi- dents, congressional leaders will see the folly of these proposed cuts and cooler heads will prevail. (Alderman Michael J. Murphy represents the 10th District.) By SAM WILSON If you were to ask a typical Wisconsin res- ident how to fix health care in America, you can be sure he or she would not suggest that Washington allow insurance companies to price people out of affordable coverage. Yet Congress is now considering the American Health Care Act — a bill that would do just that. The bill would impose an "age tax" on older Americans. People in their 50s and 60s who are buying health insurance on their own might have to pay up to $8,400 per year more than they do now. Right now, insurance companies are allowed to charge people over three times what other people have to pay. If this legisla- tion passes, insurance companies could charge older Americans five times or more what other people have to pay. Such a policy change fails to take into con- sideration that a typical older American seek- ing private health insurance has a median annual income of under $25,000. Having to pay thousands more for health insurance could force many to make hard choices between food, medicine, housing and other basic necessities. The legislation also reduces tax credits that help older Americans with low and mod- erate incomes pay for their health care pre- miums. The legislation could price more than 3 million older Americans age 50-64 out of health insurance. Additionally, the legislation would allow insurance companies to overcharge older Americans while giving $200 billion in tax breaks to big drug and insurance companies. The legislation includes other provisions that would harm older Wisconsinites. The bill would weaken Medicare by causing Medicare's trust fund to dry up four years earlier than forecast. And it would end the guarantee of coverage for people who receive care in nursing homes and those whose fami- lies depend on Medicaid to help seniors and people with disabilities live independently in their homes. Health care costs are out of control. But this bill would mean higher prices, less cov- erage,and billions in tax breaks for big drug and insurance companies. AARP is ready to work with members of both political parties on responsible ways to move forward. If you agree, please tell your elected representatives to vote a resounding "No" on the American Health Care Act. (Sam Wilson is the director of AARP Wisconsin.) Cuts in aid for community development, energy, transportation among areas that would hurt city President Trump's budget plan attacks working-class people Overcharging elderly won't fix health care Murphy Send your letters to: The Milwaukee Post, c/o Dan Muckelbauer, 3397 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207, or by email to: dmuck@conleynet.com. 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