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OPINIONS
Voice of the people
Marshall sports lack good dividends
As a graduate and sports fan of Marshall University, I see her spending enormous amounts of money for coaches, traveling and playing in a superior league in which Marshall, in the last few years, has been predominantly a loser in most sports.
In high school locally every year, most outstanding players choose larger universities like West Virginia University or Ohio State where they have a chance to become professionals later. Lately unfortunately, Marshall has, with a few exceptions, been able to attract only second- and third-tier players, followed by resultant low ratings the last few years.
I love Marshall, but believe we are spending too much money for poor results.
We prospered in the Mid-American Conference and previous to that by playing teams in our geographical area. It would give us some real good competition, and cut traveling costs tremendously. Just a suggestion to help my favorite team. Thank you.
Robert Browning
Huntington
Ketchum a voice of reason on court
Huntington native and West Virginia State Supreme Court Justice Menis Ketchum has become the voice of reason on the court. In a recent ruling, he once again stepped up for taxpayers in dissenting on a case involving lawsuit awards and settlements to Medicaid recipients ("W.Va. proposal aims to help Medicaid recover costs," Feb. 19).
A family with a child who was enrolled in Medicaid was awarded $3.6 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Unfortunately, the court ruled that West Virginia's Medicaid program would not be able to recover at least half of the money it had spent caring for the child.
"As a result of the majority holding," Justice Ketchum wrote, "West Virginia's taxpayers will not be reimbursed for the millions of dollars a year it pays on the medical bills of Medicaid recipients. Settlements paid by insurance companies to Medicaid recipients will be kept by the recipients, and West Virginia will keep paying their medical bills."
Now, legislation has been introduced that could help our state Medicaid program recover some of its costs. Let's hope that our legislators will see this issue the way. Justice Ketchum does. The state should be able to recover what it is owed, while those enrolled in the program receive the medical care they need.
Greg Thomas
Executive director
West Virginia Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
Charleston
