18-05-2025
Medicaid cuts threaten autism and lung cancer research, endangering health care for all
I pray that our politicians remember all of us, including some of our most disabled — but often overlooked — community members: those with profound autism, which has been defined by the Lancet Commission and the International Society for Autism Research as a person who meets the diagnostic criteria for autism, is at least 8 years old, demonstrates adaptive function skills significantly below age level, has communication deficits, tests at an IQ level below 50 and is unable to independently perform most activities of daily living with increased safety risks.
I am deeply concerned over cuts to services including Medicaid. Medicaid pays for personal care, day programs, housing and therapy, which equates to jobs and keeping the parents of disabled adults employed. Many of us want to develop additional housing programs in Missouri through private-public partnerships because there are few options for adults with profound autism.
I pray that we take into account the common good of all, including our duty to others. To remember the most disabled Missourians is to remember those who need our charity and our love, like my son Isaac.
I pray we promote social justice and remember the more than 4,000 Missourians with profound autism who would be hurt by Medicaid funding cuts.
- Julia Chaney Faughn, Macon, Missouri
As a lung cancer survivor from the Johnson County area, I am deeply concerned about the massive cuts to Medicaid and health care being proposed by Congress. Taking away coverage for millions of people will jeopardize our progress in defeating this disease.
All the changes Congress is considering to Medicaid — including adding work requirements and reducing funding for expansion, as well as repealing parts of the Affordable Care Act — would terminate health coverage when people need it most.
I urge readers to contact their members of Congress and demand they protect health care. Visit to learn more and take action.
- Ann Howard, Gardner
Missourians came out and passed Amendment 1. We came out and passed the right for abortion and women's health. Did the Republicans in Jefferson City not hear us? Their constituents spoke loudly.
Americans across the country are seeing our votes dismissed by politicians ignoring our wishes and not implementing our choices
- Ken Henderson, Kansas City
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller's comment that the Trump administration is 'actively looking' at potentially suspending habeas corpus in the deportation of illegal immigrants is dangerous. (May 14, 14A, 'Trump's attacks on due process are a dangerous shift away from democracy') Miller's position clearly threatens democracy. Habeas corpus protects the civil liberty of everyone. Its suspension would be a slippery slope.
What constitutes illegal behavior? Is it any action the administration doesn't like? Would it be illegal to give an undocumented immigrant a sandwich? My point is that criminal behavior must not be defined by the predilections of any administration.
Abraham Lincoln, unfortunately, did not leave a good example by suspending habeas corpus during the Civil War, suppressing judicial dissent and ignoring judicial findings. But at least the Civil War was a real national emergency.
That brings up a second point: Our so-called national immigration emergency today is dubious at best. Already undocumented immigrants who were otherwise contributing to society have been swept up and deported, without due process. Already two judges have been arrested.
I hope Congress conducts an actual six-month National Emergencies Act review, as required by law. One thing is certain: This fails in the court of public opinion.
- Gregory Ellermann, Kansas City
I grew up in Rolla, the hometown of the very Republican John Powell, who cast Missouri's votes for Ronald Reagan in 1980. I went through school with his son. Mr. Powell would hire high school boys to unload boxcars twice a year for $10 per hour — a fortune in 1975.
Rolla was also home to Mel Carnahan, Democratic Missouri treasurer, lieutenant governor and governor, who was posthumously elected to the U.S. senate. He did not return to politics until his children were grown. I was in Scouts with an older son, Randy, and a younger son. Rusty. I rode in his station wagon many times. I will never forget Randy, the first 'big kid' who paid attention to 11-year-old me.
Rolla was a small town. I never heard one bad word about Mr. Powell or Mr. Carnahan. They were like everyone's dad. The Greatest Generation came home from World War II older, much wiser, with a little money and a dream.
Republicans and Democrats were friends. They both wanted the same thing — to preserve the world order they fought for and that their friends died for.
Things are not like that anymore. This is not normal.
- Randall Jones, Independence
Kansas City fails to celebrate its musical icons until they have passed on. People such as Tim Whitmer, David Basse, Millie Edwards, Danny Embrey, Stan Kessler and Rod Fleeman, among many others, need to be celebrated while we can still enjoy listening to them.
And Lonnie McFadden, the multitalented phenom with a rich family history in jazz, should be named Kansas City's ambassador, the official greeter for any visiting celebrities. He is handsome, charming, well-spoken and kind. There could be no better example of what Kansas City is, where it has been and where it is going than Mr. McFadden.
- James L. Mowbray, Kansas City
