Dying for No. 1

Sen. Mitch McConnell is working hard to make Kentucky No. 1.

Did you know the state only ranks sixth with the lowest life expectancy? And although it is the fifth-fattest, fourth-most sedentary, first with most smokers, fourth-most diabetic, among the poorest and least employed, he knows we need to start dying sooner if we have a shot of overtaking Mississippi for the No. 1 spot.

Unfortunately, Obamacare undercut our chances. Hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians were suddenly entitled to new life-saving or prolonging treatment for heart disease, diabetes, cancer and drug/tobacco addiction.

Making matters worse, payment to the Kentucky hospitals skyrocketed, resulting in thousands of new jobs with health-care benefits.

Thankfully McConnell is ramrodding Trumpcare through the Senate. It will eliminate health care for more than 200,000 Kentuckians on Medicaid, and it will lead to the loss of health-care jobs throughout the state. That will accelerate the number of Kentuckians dying sooner from preventable and treatable diseases, as well as drug addiction.

Please join me in thanking McConnnell for his vision to make Kentucky No. 1. He and his millionaire buddies certainly deserve the $45,000 tax break that is part of the deal.

This story was originally published June 23, 2017 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Dying for No. 1."