To the Editor: I commend you for your editorial in support of giving Rhode Island businesses and individuals the choice of a public insurance plan as part of national health care reform (“Public health plan needed for balance,” June 1). more

To the Editor: I was surprised and disappointed to read a recent Providence Business News editorial calling for a public health insurance option (“Public health plan needed for balance,” June 1). While I understand the frustration of individuals and businesses faced with ever-increasing health insurance premiums, I do believe that people should be a bit reluctant in looking to the federal government to swoop in and save the day. more

To the Editor: You recently reported on a Genworth Financial Inc. study showing sharp increases in the cost of long-term care in our state (“R.I. Long-Term Care Costs Rising Fast, Study Finds,” April 30, PBN.com). The article should serve as a valuable wake-up call to Rhode Islanders. more

To the Editor: “If government takes over America’s health care system, where will Canadians go for treatment?” more

To the Editor: Here’s a bold new idea for tax-exempt properties. more

To the Editor: Regarding eliminating the sales tax in Rhode Island for a weekend (“Proposed R.I. tax holiday stalls in House committee,” April 6), how about trying a rate between 7 percent and zero? Concern is that eliminating the tax will hurt state revenue. According to the article, that’s what happened with Massachusetts’ sales tax hiatus in 2008. So might cutting Rhode Island’s sales tax to, say, 3 percent encourage shoppers while still generating tax revenues? Does any state have experience with a temporary tax reduction? more

To the editor: Readers who were distressed by Marion Davis’ article, (“Study: Bedsore rate highest for Hispanics, blacks,” PBN.com, April 16) may take some consolation in the fact that the study described in that article was carried out thousands of miles from Rhode Island. The study was based on nursing home residents in urban counties in California, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Texas. more

To the Editor: Your story (“Waterfront bill would expand CRMC’s jurisdiction,” March 9), while fair and informative, needs amplification because of the enormous ramifications of this so-called “Working Waterfront Protection Act” – a phrase as deceptive as P.T. Barnum’s “This way to the egress.” more

To the editor: With regard to the opinion piece (“Pure capitalism hurts society,” March 2) by Ted Almon, I would like to point out that it is not capitalism that Mr. Almon describes, it is totalitarianism. more

To the editor: So 74.3 percent of Rhode Islanders polled by Brown University think the stimulus plan will work (“Poll: R.I. voters expect stimulus plan will work, but worry about how quickly,” Feb. 17, PBN.com)? That opinion is the triumph of ignorance over mountains of evidence to the contrary. more

Marion Davis’ piece (“Study: Cost a big barrier for cancer patients,” Feb. 9, PBN.com) recently highlighted a new report by the American Cancer Society and the Kaiser Family Foundation. The report demonstrates that the critical link between health insurance status and cancer outcomes is not just a problem for the uninsured. People who depend on their employer for health insurance may not be protected from catastrophically high health care costs if they become too sick to work. And if left to the individual market, cancer patients and survivors are often unable to find adequate and affordable coverage. more

The boat-building industry – indeed the entire marine industry – is a strong and innovative part of the Rhode Island economy. More than 2,000 companies are involved in the business, and there are more than 6,000 people employed in jobs related to the marine recreation industry. more

On Jan. 16, the new R.I. Medicaid Global Waiver officially went into effect, despite the opposition of our congressional leadership and a multitude of advocates for Rhode Island’s most vulnerable populations. The decision of the General Assembly to not take action against Gov. Donald L. Carcieri’s proposed waiver holds them equally responsible for the outcome (good or bad). more

To the Editor: Recently, the Providence Business News published an article (“R.I. is No. 2 for emergency medicine,” Dec. 15, PBN.com) regarding a new national report card by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). more

To the Editor: I believe our best teachers are underpaid and that our very high per-pupil costs come from other than teacher salaries. This must be remembered as we try to address a very serious problem. more

To the Editor: Sorry folks but I, for one, will pass on the Justice Frank Williams Kool-Aid (“Williams to step down as chief justice,” PBN.com, Dec. 11, 2008). Why? more

The recent article on Providence Business News’ Web site (“R.I.’s abysmal year continued in September,” Nov. 10, PBN.com) discussed Rhode Island’s recent movement to becoming the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country and how there were no real signs for a potential improvement anytime in the near future. Rhode Island’s economy will take a long time to recover, but there is some hope with what was showcased recently. more

Kudos to Providence Business News for the excellent coverage on hospital-acquired infections (“Kit provides tools to ward off hospital infections,” Nov. 17), and the awareness Denise Perreault’s thorough reporting offers your readers. more

The R.I. Department of Human Services reiterated the fact that there will be no savings to the state of Rhode Island via the Rhode Island Global Compact Waiver at an update meeting held at Rhode Island College recently. Gary Alexander, director of the Department of Human Services, stated “there will be no savings to the state with this plan, simply a reallocation of saved revenue to alternative care settings,” [due to the Perry-Sullivan legislation]. more

To the Editor: I admire and respect your guest columnist Brian Bishop (with whom I have joined in a major constitutional enterprise), especially when he states that “Conley has added immeasurably to Providence city life” (“Industrial uses are not in official mix for Providence waterfront,” Sept. 29). more