<strong><span class="subhead">Representatives&rsquo; votes on health reform bill</span></strong></p><p>Saturday night, the U.S. House took us one step closer to providing Americans choice, quality and affordability in health care. It has been a contentious six months. But the House, in spite of the misinformation being spread by the opposition and the emotional and explosive August town halls, successfully passed the historic health care legislation. </p><p>Congressman Emanuel Cleaver voted with the majority in passing the Affordable Health Care for America Act. I know I speak for many Missourians when I say thank you to Cleaver for supporting real health care reform.</p><p>Cleaver understands that if the insurance companies win, we lose. His vote says loud and clear that he&rsquo;s on our side. So I want to say back to him &mdash; loud and clear &mdash; thank you. </p><p><p align="right"><strong>Mindy Brissey</strong></p></p><p><p align="right"><em>Kansas City</em></p></p><p>Rep. Ike Skelton again has proved he is the right person to represent us by voting against the House health care bill. Few of us have read the 2,000 pages of the House health care bill or the rest of the legions of legislative proposals flooding Congress.</p><p>Ike has, and he has exercised an honest independence of judgment reflecting the interests and philosophy of his constituents and his own deep commitment to and understanding of the long-term needs of this country. </p><p>His courage in opposing the extreme pressures of his party to ram the Obama administration&rsquo;s keystone project through Congress irrefutably proves that Skelton is not House Speaker Nancy Pelosi&rsquo;s pal or pawn, but rather is an independent voice for Missouri and America. </p><p>We in the 4th District are privileged to have him representing us in Congress. If only the rest of America were so lucky.</p><p><p align="right"><strong>Hibberd V.B. Kline III</strong></p></p><p><p align="right"><em>Centerview, Mo.</em></p></p><p>I was disappointed that Congressman Ike Skelton voted &ldquo;no&rdquo; on the health care reform bill and was against a government option. </p><p>For several days now, and even since the bill passed, an ad has been aired urging phone calls to be made to Rep. Skelton urging him to vote &ldquo;no.&rdquo; </p><p>Instead of spending millions on ads, perhaps it would be beneficial for the health insurance companies and the health care industry to seriously collaborate to decrease the cost of health care for individuals. Having seen my health insurance increase at a rate of 25 percent per year with unreasonable deductibles, I gladly welcome a government option. Would this not be a stimulus to the economy? </p><p><p align="right"><strong>Paula Kolster</strong></p></p><p><p align="right"><em>Lexington, Mo.</em></p></p><p><strong><span class="subhead">What about health insurance for farmers?</span></strong></p><p> Has any consideration been given to farmers and other self-employed people in the Democrats&rsquo; new health care plan? If so, I haven&rsquo;t seen it in of the many articles I&rsquo;ve read about the plans.</p><p><p align="right"><strong>Jeanette Welch</strong></p></p><p><p align="right"><em>Warrensburg, Mo.</em></p></p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Racism is not dead</span></strong></p><p>On Oct. 29, I read an article in the Washington Examiner saying the Gallup Poll suggested a hope that racism would dissipate in the United States. The hope soared after Barack Obama was elected president, but now is plunging just one year after the election.</p><p>I could have saved the pollsters a lot of time if they would have talked to me first. I keep hearing we have come a long way in this country when it comes to race relations. People tell me racism is on its way to extinction and then point to the election of this country&rsquo;s first black president to prove their point.</p><p>If racism has almost disappeared in this country, why do I, a middle-aged, college educated, African-American female, still get followed around retail stores, but they don&rsquo;t give me a second thought when I go with a Caucasian friend? Believe me: Racism is not dead.