While the recent unleashing of three million gallons of toxic wastewater from the Gold King Mine into the Animas River in Colorado by contractors for the Environmental Protection Agency has been called "outrageous" in a Miami Herald editorial ("Accident Aside, EPA Still Needed"), the "horrific accident helps drive home the point that the agency is needed more than ever."
The editorial states that the EPA "must keep their promises to effectively undo the damage done by the spill," as well as compensate landowners affected by it.
While thousands of Superfund sites - "hazardous-wast dumping grounds often created by irresponsible private companies" - about across the U.S., several states are fighting the EPA, including Florida. Florida is one of 17 states involved in a legal action against the EPA, "accusing it of illegally invalidating the individual air-quality protection plans in those states. The reason: In June, the EPA issued a final rule requiring 35 states, including Florida, to revise their individual State Implementation Plans governing carbon emissions during a power plant’s start-up, shutdown or malfunction."
The Miami Herald's editorial goes on to briefly outline the fight, as well as reiterating the fact that "the EPA must be allowed to carry out its extremely important role" of protecting the nation's environment.
To read the editorial in its entirety, go to http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article31135991.html#storylink=cpy.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Rick Scott - Worst Governer?
Is Rick Scott Florida's worst governor? That is the question Carl Hiaasen asks in his Miami Herald column ("Carl Hiaasen: Gov. Scott picks the public's pockets).
While Florida has had many governors since 1845, some good, some great, and some flat-out lousy, Hiaasen writes that, "Scott is certainly a prime contender for worst ever, and each new screwing of Floridians pushes him closer to the title."
"During the last few months, taxpayers have been soaked for more than $1 million to settle lawsuits in which Scott and his dim-bulb Cabinet flagrantly violated Florida’s open-records and open-meetings laws," Hiaasen continues. "No other sitting governor has used tax money to end public-records cases that were caused by his own secretive misbehavior. Scott couldn’t care less."
Hiaasen contines his case for Scott as "worst Florida governor ever." To read his column in its entirety, go to http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/carl-hiaasen/article31132001.html#storylink=cpy.
While Florida has had many governors since 1845, some good, some great, and some flat-out lousy, Hiaasen writes that, "Scott is certainly a prime contender for worst ever, and each new screwing of Floridians pushes him closer to the title."
"During the last few months, taxpayers have been soaked for more than $1 million to settle lawsuits in which Scott and his dim-bulb Cabinet flagrantly violated Florida’s open-records and open-meetings laws," Hiaasen continues. "No other sitting governor has used tax money to end public-records cases that were caused by his own secretive misbehavior. Scott couldn’t care less."
Hiaasen contines his case for Scott as "worst Florida governor ever." To read his column in its entirety, go to http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/carl-hiaasen/article31132001.html#storylink=cpy.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Are Florida's Seniors For Sale?
Are Florida's seniors for sale? That is the question Kelly Wilson tries to answer in her communtary in today's Palm Beach (Fla) Post.
In her commentary, Wilson writes that July 1 marked "the third anniversary of legal patient brokering in Florida."
"Since July 1, 2012, a number of senior referral providers who act as brokers making transactions involving older adults with the sole intent of receiving payment have reeled in big profits. These brokers advertise a free service to consumers and are generously rewarded for a move into a community within their fee-for-referral network," Wilson writes. Prior to this time, this referral practice was prohibited, in an effort "to protect Florida consumers."
Wilson goes on to discuss how the senior housing market, both state-wide and nationally, and why she feels protections, which have been eliminated, should be in place. To read her commentary, go to http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/opinion/commentary-are-floridas-seniors-for-sale/nm7yn/.
In her commentary, Wilson writes that July 1 marked "the third anniversary of legal patient brokering in Florida."
"Since July 1, 2012, a number of senior referral providers who act as brokers making transactions involving older adults with the sole intent of receiving payment have reeled in big profits. These brokers advertise a free service to consumers and are generously rewarded for a move into a community within their fee-for-referral network," Wilson writes. Prior to this time, this referral practice was prohibited, in an effort "to protect Florida consumers."
Wilson goes on to discuss how the senior housing market, both state-wide and nationally, and why she feels protections, which have been eliminated, should be in place. To read her commentary, go to http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/opinion/commentary-are-floridas-seniors-for-sale/nm7yn/.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Gov. Scott's Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding
Should Floridians be concerned over Gov. Rick Scott's Commission on Healthcare and Florida Funding? According to an editorial in the Ocala StarBanner, ("Editorial: Critical Condition"), there are plenty of reasons for Floridians to be concerned.
According to the editorial, Gov. Scott proposed the commission after "the Florida House of Representatives abruptly and unconstitutionally adjourned the 2015 legislative session." This adjournment came after representatives and state senators refused to resolve disputes over health care - especially Medicaid expansion.
Remember the idea of Medicaid expansion, part of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act? This expansion would have given health insurance to approximately 800,000 Floridians.
To read the editorial in its entirety, go to http://www.ocala.com/article/20150521/OPINION01/150529964.
According to the editorial, Gov. Scott proposed the commission after "the Florida House of Representatives abruptly and unconstitutionally adjourned the 2015 legislative session." This adjournment came after representatives and state senators refused to resolve disputes over health care - especially Medicaid expansion.
Remember the idea of Medicaid expansion, part of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act? This expansion would have given health insurance to approximately 800,000 Floridians.
To read the editorial in its entirety, go to http://www.ocala.com/article/20150521/OPINION01/150529964.
Expanding Dental Care
Is it possible for low-income Floridians to obtain low-cost dental services? According to an editorial in Jacksonville, Florida's The Florida Times-Union ("A Promising Opportunity To Expand Dental Care"), a much-anticipated clinic is opening in Jacksonville.
The clinic is slated to have six rooms for medical patients and six for dental patients, and is expected to "expand low-income adults' access to dental care."
To read the editorial in its entirety, go to http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2015-05-20/story/promising-opportunity-expand-dental-care.
The clinic is slated to have six rooms for medical patients and six for dental patients, and is expected to "expand low-income adults' access to dental care."
To read the editorial in its entirety, go to http://jacksonville.com/opinion/editorials/2015-05-20/story/promising-opportunity-expand-dental-care.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Editorial: FL Legislature Morally, Fiscally Indefensible
The Florida Legislature is behaving "morally and fiscally indefensible" as it threatens Floridians' well-being, according to an editorial in The Gainesville Sun ("Editorial: Simply Indefensible").
More than 800,000 Floridians are uninsured because they can't afford insurance, while not qualifying for Medicaid. Florida and the federal government have a contract known as the Low Income Pool (LIP), as do other states. The LIP money helps "pay for hospital charity care when the poor go to an emergency room," the editorial states.
As part of the Affordable Care Act, LIP funds would disappear, to be replaced by Medicaid expansion money. The idea of behind this would allow the poor access to health care besides in an emergency room.
However, the Florida Legislature has consistently turned down federal Medicaid expansion money. (Florida Gov. Rick Scott has flip-flopped on the idea of Medicaid expansion; click here to read Huffington Post's view on this issue.)
To read The Gainesville Sun's editorial in its entirety, go to http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150428/OPINION01/150429712?tc=ar.
More than 800,000 Floridians are uninsured because they can't afford insurance, while not qualifying for Medicaid. Florida and the federal government have a contract known as the Low Income Pool (LIP), as do other states. The LIP money helps "pay for hospital charity care when the poor go to an emergency room," the editorial states.
As part of the Affordable Care Act, LIP funds would disappear, to be replaced by Medicaid expansion money. The idea of behind this would allow the poor access to health care besides in an emergency room.
However, the Florida Legislature has consistently turned down federal Medicaid expansion money. (Florida Gov. Rick Scott has flip-flopped on the idea of Medicaid expansion; click here to read Huffington Post's view on this issue.)
To read The Gainesville Sun's editorial in its entirety, go to http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150428/OPINION01/150429712?tc=ar.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Hufflington Post: Rick Scott, Tally Republicans Throwing Tantrum
A political fight over health care has been unfolding in Florida, unusual in that it pits Republican Governor Rick Scott against some members of his own party, according to The Huffington Post ("Rick Scott Snd Florida Republicans Are Throwing An Anti-Obamacare Tantrum"). It is also revealing, as it "lays bare the motives of the Affordable Care Act's most determined detractors," the article states.
While more than half of the states have expanded Medicaid, Florida has been one of the holdouts. Gov. Scott has changed position on the expansion, depending on the political climate of the moment, the Huffington article states.
To read the article in full, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/21/rick-scott-obamacare-lawsuit_n_7111218.html.
While more than half of the states have expanded Medicaid, Florida has been one of the holdouts. Gov. Scott has changed position on the expansion, depending on the political climate of the moment, the Huffington article states.
To read the article in full, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/21/rick-scott-obamacare-lawsuit_n_7111218.html.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)