Why Government Matters

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor:

Michael Lipsky and Dianne Stewart are right on (“The Common Good Depends on Government,” My View, February 23). Their column recalled an “Aha!” moment I experienced several years ago.

At a stimulating Grantmakers in Health conference in Los Angeles, I was inspired by the wonderful programs and innovative solutions that were being supported by the foundations great and small.

Leaders were thrilled to report that there were now about $4-billion of endowed funds, whose earnings could be devoted to health funding. We all felt very good about ourselves.

Following the meeting, I took a much-needed walk in the sunshine around Beverly Hills, where the hotel was located. On my return, as I approached the hotel entrance, I noticed a short man, garment bag thrown over his shoulder, waiting alone for a taxi.

I stopped in my tracks. It was Henry Waxman, a senior Democratic Congressman from California. I was well aware of his role as a great champion of federal health efforts. Most recently he had succeeded in creating a Medicaid program providing about $5-billion of federal funds that year for child health, part of a total Medicaid budget of over $150-billion.

Humbled, all I could do was to shake his hand and thank him, profusely, for all he was doing.

Leslie J. Scallet
Washington