Florida Lawmakers Opposed To Health Care Reform Bill; AG To Sue
March 23, 2010
A panel of Florida lawmakers approved a proposed resolution to block the requirement that people buy health insurance beginning in 2014, and Florida’s attorney general has joined 11 state attorney generals with plans to file legal challenges.
Florida Attorney General and likely Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill McCollum said he would push forward with a promised attempt to get the mandate thrown out in court before it can ever take hold.
McCollum said Monday that he would join counterparts in nine states – South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota and Alabama – in suing the federal government over the insurance requirement as soon as President Barack Obama signs the measure into law, expected to occur as early as Tuesday morning.
“What this amounts to is a tax on living,” McCollum said on a conference call with reporters. “It is therefore unconstitutional.”
McCollum said the mandate would cost the state more than $1.6 billion in higher Medicaid costs.
“There is no way we can provide what is in this bill and still pay for education and other programs,” McCollum said.
After lengthy debate Monday that could have fit in with the hours of rancor in Congress as the health care measure neared approval, the House Health Care Regulation Committee voted 10-3 to approve the resolution (HJR 37), sponsored by Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood.
As their counterparts in Washington did, Republicans on the panel painted the forthcoming expansion of health care as an affront to basic American freedoms. Democrats countered by echoing the arguments made in Congress for passing the bill, comparing the requirement that insurance be purchased to requirements for drivers’ insurance.
They added that even if the resolution was approved by the Legislature and voters, it would be trumped by the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says that federal law trumps state law.
However, Plakon said that was a risk worth taking because “medical freedom” should be on the level of other freedoms ensconced in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights.
“We believe that an individual mandate that forces Floridians to buy insurance, whether on a federal basis like the one Washington passed last night or a state basis like the failed Massachusetts experiment is wrong for Floridians,” he told the panel as he implored them to support the resolution. “They are anti-freedom, anti-liberty and very likely unconstitutional. This will be the first time in American history that Americans will be forced to buy a product from a privately-held company for profit.”
Citing the U.S. Constitution’s Tenth Amendment, which leaves matters not dealt with by Congress to states, Plakon argued that the federal health care bill was a violation of states’ rights.
But Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, countered that health care was a “federal issue” and was long overdue.
“Every society has realized – it seems but ours – that health of our fellow citizens is extremely important,” she said “The fifty states have tried for the decades we have been in a health care crisis and they have not done that. We get deeper and deeper and deeper into the hole.”
The Democratically-aligned AFL-CIO labor union agreed with Vasilinda, praising the Congressional health care bill and accusing the Republican-dominated panel of playing politics by pushing the resolution against it.
“The half million workers, retirees and families we represent woke up this morning ecstatic that something was finally done to reform our health care system,” Florida AFL-CIO lobbyist Rich Templin told the panel “What happened last night was finally, people in this state will know in just a few days that they can’t lose their coverage because they get sick.”
But Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, responded by asking Templin “is Washington or is the AFL-CIO going to help us pay” for extending health care coverage in the state.
You Are Invited: NHS Band Spring Concert Tonight
March 22, 2010
Blood Drive Today In Walnut Hill
March 22, 2010
Northwest Florida Blood Services will host a blood drive today in Walnut Hill.
The Bloodmobile will be the Walnut Hill Farm Supply from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The store is located at the corner of Highway 97 and South Highway 99.
When you donate to Northwest Florida Blood Services, you can save the life of a hospital patient in northwest Florida. Northwest Florida Blood Services is the exclusive provider of blood products to more than 24 area hospitals who need 175 blood donations a day. Each donation can save up to three lives.
Requirements for giving blood are below.
- Donors must be in generally good health
- At least 17 years of age, without permission. 16-year olds are now allowed to donate with permission granted by parents or legal guardians.
- Must bring picture ID
- Weigh at least 110 lbs
- Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
- No cancer within the last 5 years
- No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
- No tattoos within the past 12 months
- No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
- No history of viral hepatitis
- Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
- Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
- Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
- Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
- All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of one year after the last date on location in that country.
Cold Tonight
March 21, 2010
We are in for a cool night in North Escambia.
Your official NorthEscambia.com forecast is below.
Pictured above: An eagle spent most of Saturday in and around a dead tree along Highway 97 south of Tungoil Road. Submitted photos by Tracy Smith for NorthEscambia.com.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday: Partly sunny, high near 57. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. West wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 69. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Calm wind.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph becoming south.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
- Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Former Century Resident, Current ESPN Analyst Buck Showalter To Speak
March 21, 2010
Former Century resident and current ESPN analyst Buck Showalter will speak at an upcoming Pensacola Pelicans banquet.
The Pensacola Pelicans will host their Second Ever Hot Stove Banquet on Monday, March 22 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Sanders Beach Community Center. Former MLB manager and current ESPN Baseball Tonight analyst Buck Showalter will be the featured speaker. Showalter was born in DeFuniak Springs, FL and grew up in Century, just north of Pensacola.
Showalter, who now lives in Dallas, had three different managerial stints in the majors with the New York Yankees, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Texas Rangers. Showalter first managed the Yankees from 1992-1995 for 581 games posting a 313-268 record finishing 45 games over .500 with a .539 win/loss percentage. He was voted 1994 AL Manager of the Year after the Yankees finished first in the AL East going 70-43. Unfortunately, there would be no post-season in 1994 due to the strike. He made it to his first post-season appearance in 1995, losing the divisional series 3-2 to the Seattle Mariners.
Showalter moved on to the Arizona Diamondbacks where he managed 486 games from 1998-2000 with a 250-236 record. His best season with the Diamondbacks came in 1999 when they finished first in the NL West going 100-62 and eventually losing in the divisional series 3-1 to the NY Mets. Showalter took over as Texas Rangers skipper in 2003-2006 posting a 319-329 record in 648 games. He was selected 2004 AL Manager of the Year with the Texas Rangers going 89-73 with a .549 win/loss percentage.
The banquet is free to Pelicans season ticket holders and certain level sponsors. The public can attend for $30, which also gets them two tickets to the 2010 home opener, by reserving their spot at Jason@pensacolapelicans.com or by calling 850-934-8444.
“The great relationships created amongst the fans are far reaching beyond Pelican Park. Our Hot Stove banquets provide opportunities for our fans to catch up, hear an inspiring message, and see what’s in store with the team for 2010,” commented Pelicans General Manager Talmadge Nunnari. “Having someone like Buck, who’s lived in our community for so many years and his achievements in MLB, to return to Pensacola and share those experiences with us is a privilege.”
The term “Hot Stove” is a long-time baseball term that refers to the time between the end of one season and the beginning of spring training. The period is when die hard passionate fans would gather around a hot stove during the winter months and discuss their favorite teams, players, games, etc. This is also the time when a multitude of player transactions occur, called the “Hot Stove League.”
It’s not too late to get invited to this and other VIP Pelicans events. 2010 season ticket packages area now available starting at only $160. Other gift packages begin at $54. Fans can call the Pelicans office at 850-934-8444 for more information or to reserve their seats.
Beulahfest Continues Today
March 21, 2010
It’s the last day of big weekend at the Escambia County Equestrian Center with the annual Beulahfest — formerly known as the Beulah Sausage Festival.
This year’s entertainment includes headliner Trent Tomlinson taking the stage this afternoon. There will also be live music from regional acts, carnival rides, arts and crafts, and lots of Thompson sausage. The event will go on rain or shine.
No coolers or pets will be allowed, and RV camping will not be available. Parking is free.Admission at the gate is $10; and free for ages 8 and younger.
The event takes place at the Escambia County Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway. For more info: 944-3167, or visit www.beulahfest.com.
Schedule of Events:
SUNDAY
- 1 p.m.: Cheyenne.
- 3 p.m.: Trent Tomlinson.
Pianist To Perform Tonight In Atmore
March 21, 2010
Pianist Adam King will be in concert at Brooks Memorial Baptist Church in Atmore on Sunday night at 6:00.
There is no cost for admission; a love offering will be taken.
For more information, visit www.adamkingmusic.com. Brooks Memorial Baptist Church is located at 904 McRae Street in Atmore.
First Day Of Spring (With A Weather Duck Photo!)
March 20, 2010
We are in for a some spring showers for Saturday night and Sunday.
And if you are wondering about the picture — those are the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks. Back on Groundhog Day, we ran a photo of the Weather Ducks [click here] where they saw their shadows and predicted six more weeks of winter. Ten days later, we had snow in North Escambia and up to five or six inches of snow just to our north.
The NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks are seen posing with their snowman in Atmore. They’ve been in hiding ever since, ashamed of their wintry prediction. Believe it or not, we’ve actually had dozens and dozens of emails asking about the Weather Ducks since Groundhog Day, so for the first day of spring, we thought we would share the photo.
Here is your official NorthEscambia.com Weather Duck forecast for the first day of spring:
- Tonight: Periods of showers, mainly after 1am. Low around 54. Southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy, with a east wind 10 to 20 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. West wind around 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Calm wind.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Saturday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 76.
Saturday Is Opening Day For Northwest Escambia Little League
March 19, 2010
Saturday is the first day of spring and time to play ball in Walnut Hill.
Northwest Escambia Little League will kick off their season with Opening Ceremonies at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Games will follow all day, including the start of the second season for Wee Ball on Drew’s Field.
Each team will also have booths set up with activities for children and lots of food.
Admission is free.
Pictured above: Scenes from the first NWE Wee Ball practice game of the year between Drew’s Dream Team and the Corn Huskers. Submitted photos by Blair Scott for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Crop Production Meeting Monday In Jay
March 19, 2010
A Crop Production Meeting sponsored by the University of Florida IFAS Extension will be held Monday at the Jay Community Center.
The day-long event will include NRCS updates; and economic outlook from Auburn Economist Steve Brown; weed management options, peanut variety and cotton variety updates, alternative crop production, pesticide practices and disease control from leading researchers from the University of Georgia, University of Florida and more.
To register, call the Santa Rosa County Extension Office at (850) 675-6654. CEU’s will be available.
For a complete schedule of events, click here (pdf).