The governor's rationale was that this was all right, since President Obama's Affordable Care Act means people can no longer be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition.

But what if Mitt Romney wins and national health insurance is repealed? Frank Kelley paid special attention to consumer protection during the 37 years he was Michigan's attorney general.

He calmed my fears somewhat. "Don't worry," he said. "Romney isn't going to win, and in any event this deal won't happen if it looks like Obamacare would be repealed. But it won't be."

He does share my suspicion that this will lead to the Blues converting themselves into a for-profit insurer, and thereby making a few top executives very rich. But he doesn't think people will be hurt. 

But I wonder.

More news of the dying Free Press: If you ever were silly enough to wonder whether the Gannett newspaper chain cares about journalism more than chasing down every last nickel, you got your answer this week. This week, it was learned that Gannett is completing the cheapening and trivializing of the paper by getting rid of a huge number of its remaining experienced staffers.

Among those going over the side: Ron Dzwonkowski, the former editorial page editor; Pulitzer Prize-winner David Ashenfelter; longtime Lansing correspondent Dawson Bell; and the familiar bylines Cecil Angel, Joe Swickard, Eric Sharp, medical writer Pat Anstett, photo director Craig Porter, veteran photographers Pat Beck and Susan Tusa, and a bunch more. 

They committed the crime, in corporate eyes, of making decent salaries. The newspaper will probably hire a few much cheaper, small-market reporters in return. All this raises the question of whether there will be anything worthwhile reading in the Free Press.

The answer is yes, sort of. On the days Brian Dickerson or Stephen Henderson's columns appear, anyway. And then there's the Gannett weather map. You can also read Mitch Albom plugging his latest smarmy book or attempt to make money out of Ernie Harwell's corpse. Beyond that, there's the brilliant comic strip, Pearls Before Swine. And say ... did I mention the weather map?

Jack Lessenberry opines weekly for Metro Times. Write to letters@metrotimes.com.

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