My wife is six months pregnant with our first child. Since month two, she has suffered from acute nausea. Her doctor prescribed an anti-nausea drug that helps relieve the symptoms. However, Lovelace Health Plan has balked at covering the prescription since day one. For apparently no reason, the prescription is denied every time she renews it, sometimes several times on the same renewal. After five months, she and her doctor's staff have wasted untold hours on the phone with Lovelace employees.

What gives an insurance company the right to override health care decisions made in a patient's best interest by her doctor? It may be true that Americans have the best health care in the world. However, an insurance system that puts insurers' interests ahead of patients' needs prevents us from experiencing that benefit and really threatens our quality of life.

Self-serve party

In the Nov. 20 article, "Congressional anger on economy targets Obama," Republican Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas tells Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, "For the sake of our jobs, will you step down from your post?"

Well, now we know Brady's priority — keeping his own job, not doing what's best for the country, not creating jobs for those who really need them. It seems that far too many Republicans have that attitude these days. Just like they don't want government health insurance to be available for the public, they are happy to have if for themselves and their families. What hypocrisy!

Slow down swap

Regarding "Richardson decries White Peak land swap": Thank you to The Santa Fe New Mexican for beginning to shed light on the land trade deal Public Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons apparently intended to finalize without public knowledge. The trade could still be finalized this week, and we would lose almost 4,000 acres of some amazingly beautiful land in New Mexico.

Thousands of people use the White Peak area each year. The New Mexican reports that 20 citations were given out in a year in the area — but Commissioner Lyons seems to be using a few bad apples as a reason to shut the entire public out of having a voice in the future of White Peak. He fails to mention that hunters pay for virtually all the law enforcement in the area. Commissioner Lyons should stop this from going through so quickly and let the public have a voice in the future of White Peak.
Help horse shelter

It was very disheartening to read that the executive director of the Horse Shelter, Georgia Smith, was let go by the board, along with cutting the group's funding. Sounds like another bad decision that will affect the horses. Please join me in helping out this incredible organization by donating to the Horse Shelter.

Respect responders

As I was stopped around 11 a.m. last Tuesday for a light on Cerrillos Road, a state police officer approached in the opposite direction with lights flashing. As he got nearer the intersection, he put on his siren. Everyone stayed stopped except for the first car in the left turning lane, which had an arrow to turn onto Cerrillos. The driver pulled out, and instead of stopping, sped up, narrowly missing the police car, which had slowed for the intersection and expertly avoided any collision by going into another lane.

The outcome could have been very different, however, and someone could have been killed. Please stay out of the way whenever a siren or flashing lights signal an emergency, at least until it's possible to determine the direction the vehicle is traveling. Police, firefighters and ambulance drivers risk their lives to respond to emergency calls. Do not get in their way. It could be our families they are going to help.

Take art to public

The art show, "Vision Shift — Art in the age of Climate Change," came down last week. It had been shown in several public venues in Santa Fe, including at a local mall near the food court, where it had been on display since Oct. 5. Thousands of people must have passed by this art show, and hundreds must have seriously looked at the paintings.

All were available for purchase at very affordable prices. People who would never set a foot in an art gallery were able to see some good, juried art and also understand the message. Shows like this should become a tradition in Santa Fe! Who knows, some people may even get inspired to visit real galleries. Congratulations to the organizers of this show, particularly Mariel Nanasi!