Keeping a close eye on Republican Party

I am trying to determine which direction to go regarding the coming elections. I am a member of the middle class and an independent voter. Also, I am a selfish voter as I look at the issues and try to determine how my family and I will best be served by a particular individual or party.

The Republican Party has strongly fought against the Affordable Care Act that is designed to provide health care coverage for 42 million uninsured Americans. Their major complaint was cost; however, this cost was already in our system as our government requires all hospitals to provide services to all people who visit emergency care centers. The hospitals provide services to the uninsured, absorb the cost and pass it along to us taxpayers.

The ACA got off to a shaky start but recovered and is working. It could have been much better with the cooperation of both parties.

We are all aware that we have an acute unemployment problem. I was very disappointed when the Republican Party voted down an extension of the unemployment benefits. Their reason was they wanted to offset the increased cost with cuts in spending so as not to increase the deficit. Republican Dave Camp, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, will take the first step to make permanent certain business tax breaks when his committee marks up legislation that would increase the deficit by $200 billion over the coming decade. There is no proposed offset in spending to cover this cost.

Five times under President George W. Bush when the unemployment rate was above 6 percent, unemployment insurance was extended without paying for it and with the support of the majority of Republicans. I'll continue to evaluate.

Ronald Fuchs

St. Charles