I wish Executive Director Jeff Wennberg of Vermonters for Health Care Freedom would actually add value to the discussion of how to improve health care in Vermont. Instead he seems focused on complaining about my alleged “misinformation,” and the week before, he implied that I was a bully. I suppose he is doing what the anonymous backer of the 501(c)4 he works for wants. Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about that. In fact I’m not paid at all, and I represent only myself. I do try to call out half-truths and spin when I see them.

Let me try to correct some of his misinformation. He does seem to be gaining some understanding as he no longer says Vermont is “clawing (money) into the state treasury,” which was not true, but now he says more carefully, but still not correctly, “federal funds ... under the Affordable Care Act will be captured by the state to finance .... single payer called Green Mountain Care.”

These Affordable Care Act funds are federal tax credits (i.e., direct payments to the individual taxpayer) to low- and middle-income Vermonters who will use the money to buy health insurance directly from private companies under the health care exchange during the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. Note the exchange starts in 2014, not Jan. 1, 2012, as Executive Director Wennberg said.

I would hope Executive Director Wennberg would better use his substantial resources to propose specific ideas to improve health costs and quality for all Vermonters. His 501(c)4 organization could be of real value if it contributed solutions, not just hot air.

Bob Zeliff

Bridport