With the passage of the legislation allowing the federal government to take control of the medical care system of the United States, a major turning point has been reached in the dismantling of the values and institutions of America.
An "outside the box" plan to reorganize the Florida Department of Health sailed through the House Health Care Regulation Policy Committee on Monday.
Sponsored by Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, the legislation reduces the Department of Healths mission from 13 to seven responsibilities and would require DOH to propose a new organizational structure, including reduction of divisions and bureaus, to the Legislature by November 2010.
As this is written, the lobbying of House Democrats on the health care bill is going on apace, and every hour brings news of another no vote converted to yes, or a yes vote switching to no.
The U.S. House siphoned the so-called "Gator Aid" provision out of one health-care bill, but that wasn't nearly enough for Florida business organizations. They remain adamantly opposed to anything that smacks of Obamacare.
The erstwhile proposal by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., would allow senior citizens on Medicare Advantage to stay in the program.
Prior to Sunday's House vote, Nelson spokesman Dan McLaughlin said, "Of the one million or so Floridians participating in Medicare Advantage, about 800,000 are expected to be protected from possible cuts."
"And everybody praised the Duke,
Who this great fight did win."
"But what good came of it at last?"
Quoth little Peterkin.
"Why that I cannot tell," said he,
"But 'twas a famous victory."
House Democrats are urging Florida not to "secede" from federal health care reform. An e-mail from Mark Hollis, spokesman for the House Minority Office reads:
"In an outrageous display of partisanship and insensitivity to the needs of working families, Florida House Republicans will showcase today their latest frivolous attempt to block federal efforts to provide medical coverage to tens of millions of uninsured working families and senior citizens."
The e-mail states the Democrats' opposition HJR 327
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Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, brought a bill to the House Health & Family Services Policy Council supporting Attorney General Bill McCollums proposed litigation against the federal government for forcing individuals to puchase health care. The measure reported favorably through the committee, passing on a 7 to 5 party line vote.
Eisnaugle said, Bill McCollum has recognized the right of all Floridians to make their own health care decisions.
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Bright Futures scholarships may be as sacrosanct in Tallahassee as Social Security is on Captiol Hill, but state lawmakers are taking on the college fund anyway.
Senate Bill 1344 would tighten requirements and cap each grant at four years. Currently, a student who loses a Bright Futures scholarship because of low grades can reapply when grades improve, and qualified students are receiving virtually free tuition for up to seven years
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Surviving sexual abuse is a difficult and painful process, but so is a 500-mile walk from Aventura to Tallahassee.
Health care continues to dominate most of the conversation on Capitol Hill this week following the U.S. House passage of the Senate Health Care bill Sunday night.
