Jeff Hurd votes to cut Medicaid funding

Jeff Hurd, the Western Slope’s representative in Congress, voted to strip funding from Medicaid. He voted for a resolution that tells the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, to find cuts of $880 billion.

According to HHS.gov, Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps cover medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. It provides free or low-cost medical benefits to low-income adults, children, pregnant women, people age 65 or over, and people with disabilities.

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26.3% of the people in Jeff Hurd’s district (CO-03) are enrolled in Medicaid. (Source: congressionaldistricthealthdashboard.org).

Matthew Gillen, Glenwood Springs

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Ash Wednesday Walk for Justice

We need to take action — together.

Several local congregations committed to making a positive difference for neighbors who are vulnerable, marginalized, or minoritized encourage other community members to join us in a public Walk for Justice.

On March 5, which is for us Ash Wednesday — an annual commitment to accountability and renewal — we invite both Christians and others who care about justice to join us anytime from 4-5:30 p.m. at The Bluebird Café, 730 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, to engage as you choose with various activities, including expressing laments over injustice, sharing specific calls to action, receiving inspiration, creating protest signs, and/or receiving a smudge of ashes to mark the day.

At 5:30 p.m., whether or not you’ve participated in the gathering at the Bluebird, please join us in a silent Walk for Justice, carrying our newly created protest signs along Grand Avenue toward Sayre Park.

We will counter divisiveness with community, cruelty with compassion, intimidation with resistance, and fear with joy.

Questions? Please contact Pastor Jeff Carlson at 970-945-6848.

In God’s mercy, the pastors of the Episcopal Churches of Garfield County, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Roaring Fork Methodist Churches, and First Presbyterian Church.

Jeff Carlson, Glenwood Springs

Garfield Re-2 board silences dissent

The Garfield Re-2 School Board has made it clear: If Board President Britton Fletchall doesn’t like what you have to say, he will simply refuse to hear it.

For months, the board has allowed public comment to exceed the 30-minute limit they imposed. Even at the Feb. 12 meeting, they extended the time. In fact, they have never enforced the limit — until last meeting, when, for the first time, Fletchall cut off public comment.

This decision wasn’t about time management — it was about silencing dissent.

Public officials are not kings. They do not get to dictate which community voices matter.

Ashley Stahl, New Castle

Protect baby wildlife by leaving them be

Thank you for helping to spread the word as spring approaches that baby animals who are alone are usually okay, and human interference can often do more harm than good.

It’s natural to be alarmed at the sight of a fledgling hopping on the ground or a fawn seemingly abandoned, and those who try to rescue these animals have admirable intentions. But, as your article pointed out, fledglings must learn to fly, and their parents are typically keeping a watchful eye.

A good rule of thumb is that animals should generally be left in peace unless they’re clearly injured, their parents were killed nearby, or they’re otherwise in obvious danger.

Jessie Olson, Longmont

Trump’s tariffs and Musk’s ambitions hurt working Americans

Recently, a friend said that if I really want to make a difference in our political environment, I needed to tell people how the Musk/Trump dual dictatorship directly and personally impacts me.

This is how:

Trump’s tariffs

Horse feed and ranch product prices are already high. Potash (for fertilizer) comes from Canada, along with gas, oil, steel, wood, aluminum, and many raw materials that we use for everything we do. Prices will greatly rise, affected by Trump’s tariffs.

I have a friend in Longmont, Colorado, who grows grain for USAID. He and many Colorado farmers are out of luck.

I am also angry and sad about removing USAID’s “soft power diplomacy,” which made nations look up to America as a kind and caring leader in the world.

Then there’s Musk

One of Musk’s old friends, who has disavowed him, said that he bought the U.S. government (for $250 million) to further his goal of being “the first trillionaire in history.”

This is personal.

Holly McLain, Carbondale