At a pro-and-con presentation about 2016 ballot issues, I was handed a paper titled

“No Limit Taxes Hold’em” points out the $25 billion ColoradoCare will raise, but omits the fact that $25 billion replaces the $30 billion we currently pay in premiums, deductibles, etc., and that rates will skyrocket 16 percent to 42 percent again next year (visit http://coloradohealthinstitute.org).

It also blatantly lies that “officials would be able to impose unlimited tax increases.” ColoradoCare specifies tax increases “only if a majority of the members of ColoradoCare approve it.”

“Player Roulette with Health Benefits” describes corporate plans as “well-defined.” Well-defined? They are lousy. Between the fine print and the run-arounds, most folks get very little back from corporate insurance because profit-harvesting dominates health care provision. Basically, expanded Medicare, ColoradoCare specifies 11 comprehensive benefit categories.

“The House Always Wins” refers to “21 unaccountable supervisors.” What a spin! I’d rather democratically vote supervisors in and out than have zero influence with MegaRipoff Inc.

“Multi-Payer Horse Race”: “another layer of health care bureaucracy” Really? ColoradoCare would replace the rat-tunnel maze of ever-changing, high-deductible, rate-increasing corporate plans that doctors and patients hate with one expanded-Medicare type, comprehensive plan covering all residents and all providers.

ColoradoCare would keep $4.3 billion in our pockets annually – about $900 for every resident. Businesses know that we’d spend it. Do the math: $4.3 billion divided by 150,000 businesses in Colorado equals an average of $28,660 per business of more spending money in consumers’ pockets.

Medicare has 50 years of efficient operation (3 percent administrative costs versus corporate 20-30 percent). With ColoradoCare, the rest of us get reliable health care in a solid health care cooperative that we own and jointly control.

I’ll be voting “Yes” on Amendment 69.

Kirby MacLaurin

Durango