Paraphrase of a famous quote:
First they came for the illegal immigrants, and I did not speak out—because I was not an illegal immigrant. Then they came for the legal immigrants, and I did not speak out—because I was not a legal immigrant. Then they came for the liberals, and I did not speak out—because I was not a liberal. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
The following changes can reduce costs while increasing government services:
Remove the cap on earnings for social security FICA which is currently 12.4% half from individual paychecks and half from the employer. This would increase Social Security revenue by over 1 Trillion dollars. This amount would not be needed so the FICA should be reduced putting more take home pay in workers paychecks and revenue in the employers’ business. The increased earnings would be subject to federal taxing adding revenue to the general fund but there is still a net gain for the employee and business.
Eliminate Medicare advantage plans. Medicare advantage plans are for profit insurance companies that cost Medicare more than traditional Medicare while lowering the quality of care.
Move Medicaid eligible people into Medicare and close that program. This will reduce both a State and Federal government expense. Medicaid is paid for 50% by the Federal government and 50% by the State.
Make all Medicare recipients eligible for the federal government's 340-B pharmacy program. This would dramatically reduce the cost of medications for Medicare recipients. This would eliminate for profit part d Medicare plans.
Move part B Medicare into part A, have one plan. This eliminates the cost of for profit part B supplemental plans.
Allow individuals and businesses to purchase Medicare plans directly from the government. The plans would be purchased with a 3% margin that would be used to offset FICA rates.
Make every bill passed by congress stand alone, eliminating the practice of tacking on irrelevant bills that would not pass on their own. Good bills should not be held hostage by bad bills.
Our sheriff is supposed to be securing our right to free speech and to assemble. He is more like a henchman for the radical anti constitution blokes we have now in the State of Florida and the national government!
Year after year after year, the Sheriff asks for and receives, no questions asked, double digit budget increases. This year a whopping 16.8%. The sheriff department could successfully invade a small country. They have military equipment, a fleet of helicopters, multiple mobile command centers, a fleet of SUVs. Hundreds of new deputies are added each and every year. They are a small army that no commissioner ever questions. Every year, another increase of 12,14, 16%. How much is enough?
Let the Parks fall apart. That way developers can take them over and they will be gone. I wonder is there anything in this state that's not controlled by developers that have bought the whole Republican Party?
“……we will kill you.” This a comment from a county sheriff? Where do people like this emerge from more so how do they become a sheriff? James F Tierney Bradenton
He's using the same BS marketing tactics as he did in the first term with Portland Oregon. A friend in downtown Portland shared that on four separate occasions he saw the news and Trump saying a riot was happening, but he heard nothing from his house. He went driving around looking for it and found nothing even resembling violence. Downtown Portland is not big enough to miss a riot if it's happening.....
Trump is a con artist.
What's most frustrating to me is the espousing of dedication to the Constitution while undermining it for ideological, personal or professional gain at the same time.
Even just the clearing of the preserve was against the donors intent, and the agreement that granted that land to New College. That land was supposed to stay natural, as was agreed upon. That agreement was the only reason the got it. It would not surprise me if the grand plan was to cause NC to fail so that real estate comes up for the developers to pillage....
The indoctrination of New College was a major violation to the local community.
I thank every Commissioner to FINALLY doing the right thing and voting to having these impact fees now set at 100%, to go in effect in 90 days. This has been delayed far to long. Ruth Lawler
This paragraph is from Rick Scott’s most recent newsletter. These pieces of legislation seem to be for “helping” citizens pay for their own disasters? Keep an eye on these for the upshot.
“And while you make sure your family is prepared, I'm working as Florida's United States Senator to ensure our federal partners are prepared to show up and support Florida families. It's why, just this week, I introduced the Residential Emergency Asset Accumulation Deferred Taxation Yield (READY) Account Act to help Americans better prepare for natural disasters by allowing taxpayers to establish a tax-free savings account specifically for home mitigation and disaster recovery expenses that would function much like a Health Savings Account. I also introduced the Homeowners Premium Tax Reduction Act to provide American homeowners an above-the-line deduction of up to $10,000 for premiums paid for homeowners' insurance annually on their primary residence. This is just the start of several pieces of legislation I will be rolling out this month to help families this hurricane season, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and House to get them passed and on the President's desk for a signature.”
I am against last minute agenda items. Maybe the roundabout is not wanted but to put on the agenda at 5:45 the night before the meeting is so wrong. McCann claimed he sent it to agenda on Thursday. I can tell you the manager of the agenda would have posted it as soon as received. McCann claims transparency but he doesn't practice it. Then he claims as a lawyer he's right. He is not letting everyone know his crazy proposals, not just the citizens but the developers that have a valid contract with the county. Personally I don't like roundabouts (City of Bradenton put one on 51st St W in front of GT Bray which I think is totally ridiculous and a waste of money). McCann needs to become more transparent like he promised when he ran for commissioner instead of waiting to put things on the agenda at the last minute. Also if he received 180 emails on this item why were they not added to the website? He loves waving paper and pounding it on dais. How does the citizens really know what that is.
This is awesome! I look forward to getting my sign and displaying it proudly in my front yard! What could be more important than Upholding our Constitution and the Rule of Law? Ruth Lawler
This will come at cost to the taxpayers when a civil suit will be filed. They have a successful business model that employee local residents.
What's next banning of jack shacks and strip clubs.....oh wait they have skin in the game...
I googled the question asking what stake the Federal government has in this lawsuit. Below is the answer.
"Yes, the federal government was potentially involved in the Florida Medicaid lawsuit against Centene. Specifically, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is entitled to a share of any settlement proceeds. While Florida settled with Centene for $67 million, only $57 million was considered "potential Medicaid-related damages to the State," and the federal government is owed its share of that portion under federal rules.
Additionally, there were concerns raised by some about potential unlawful diversion of Medicaid funds, including a $10 million payment to the Hope Florida Foundation, which could lead to federal recoupment of those funds.
Therefore, while the state of Florida initiated and settled the lawsuit with Centene, the federal government has a vested interest in the settlement due to its funding of Medicaid and potential recoupment of improperly used funds."
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