In a letter published Oct. 22, Helen Souther charged me with not supporting affordable health insurance for middle- and low-income families. That is incorrect.

I voted for LD 1047, a comprehensive reform bill that would have cut premiums in half for non-group insurance, guaranteed access to chronic-care patients and provided chronic care pools currently being successfully used in 34 other states.

All of those other states provide insurance at less cost than available in Maine, which faces the second highest premiums in the U.S.

High co-pays and high deductibles need to be addressed, which LD 1047 does. The measure would help all Mainers, not just the 13,000-plus using the expensive and failing DirigoHealth.

Mainers are tired and frustrated with the high cost of insurance. The 124th Legislature needs to pass LD 1047 and not allow it to be shunted aside, as occurred with the 123rd.

Rep. Gary Knight, Livermore