While the Georgia Legislature is on vacation, children are now officially locked out of PeachCare. Here are the details:
* Any new applications received or postmarked after March 11, 2007 will not be processed for PeachCare eligibility.
* Members whose participation in the program is suspended for failure to timely pay premiums or for failure to provide required income verification will also be affected by this change and will be precluded from re-enrollment. These members will receive additional notice by direct mail as required by governing regulations.
* Members enrolled and/or determined eligible prior to March 11, 2007 will not be impacted by this particular proposed change.
Mark Trail, Director of Medical Assistance Plans, Department of Community Health, reported there were 278,000 members enrolled as of yesterday.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
They've Locked Out Our Children
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Hart to Resign Bibb Commission Seat
The Macon Telegraph is now reporting a rumor I heard yesterday. Commissioner Sam Hart will resign his Bibb Commission seat because he has purchased a home out of the district. I applaud Hart for this choice-he could argue to remain in the seat because of his existing homestead exemption in the district. This is the right thing to do, especially if he wants to run for chair.
The rumors about who will run for the seat have already started and include Terry Tripp, Rick Hutto and Herbert Dennard.
Sphere: Related ContentDemocrats Work in Georgia
Thanks to Thomas Bates with Democrats Work for this:
There is another opportunity this Saturday, March 10th to participate in a Democrats Work event. Volunteers will be involved in trail clean up at the Sweetwater Creek State Park near Lithia Springs. This is a great opportunity to get outside in what is likely to be beautiful weather and join with fellow dems to make the community a better place to live. And that's what it's all about, isn't it? Well, if not that, then it is about the tee shirts. The park will provide free tee shirts for volunteers PLUS the first ten to RSVP will receive a FREE Democrats Work tee shirt- soon to be the fashion statement of the political season! You will find the details here.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Just a Rumor
Put this tidbit in the rumor category. I heard that Mayor Ellis has purchased a home in DeKalb County, and after his term ends, intends to move to there and run for the 4th Congressional District seat now held by Hank Johnson. And you thought that Cynthia McKinney was a controversial member of congress. All I can say is that this is not the strangest rumor I have ever heard about the Mayor. Somebody go search property records in DeKalb.
Sphere: Related ContentMonday, March 05, 2007
Coulter Did NOT Make a Mistake
Say whatever you like about the inappropriateness of Ann Coulter's comments about John Edwards on Friday, but don't be naive. Ann Coulter is a seasoned political operative, and, on Friday, she did NOT make a mistake. She said exactly what she was supposed to say-exactly what she had planned to say. Not only were her remarks precise, but I wager that she and other Republican operatives weighed the impact and the likely fallout. They decided that having the idea that John Edwards is a (word I won't use here) floating in the news cycle and on the blogs was worth it. Her role is to say what the GOP wants in the media- they rely on her and others like her to say what the candidates can't. Being a tasteless bigot is part of her act. It's expected, and when it happens, the Mitts and Rudys can stand back and act appalled, while the rest of us beat on Ann- which is exactly what she wants. She is well-paid for her work.
Sphere: Related ContentThe Candidates Are Coming. The Candidates Are Coming!
OBAMA is on his way to Georgia!
Thanks to Jenna for the following:
Here's the information for the Obama event:
You are cordially invited to an
ATLANTA AREA KICK-OFF
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Monday, March 26, 2007 Location TBD
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VIP Reception: $2,300 per ticket
Kick-Off Reception: $500 per ticket
For more information please contact
Obama for America does not accept contributions from currently registered federal lobbyists, registered foreign agents, political action committees, or minors under the age of 16.Contributions or gifts to Obama for America are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes.Federal law prohibits the acceptance of corporate contributions.
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The Rat is Out of the Hat
My son's roommate was hit by a car a couple of weeks ago. He is, thankfully and remarkably, alive but suffered extensive injuries that will require ongoing surgeries and therapy costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Together, the coverage available on his insurance and that of the driver won't touch that cost, yet, to recover what benefits are available, he will probably need an attorney. Sen. Mitch Seabaugh thinks that if he has to hire an attorney, he also needs to pay the State of Georgia 6.5% of whatever the attorney charges him, whether or not this fee is an hourly rate or portion of the settlement. Does that make sense to you? No? Then you may have a question or two for Sen. Seabaugh.
As the Rome News-Tribune accurately reports, when it comes to tax 'reform,' Georgia Republicans have finally let the rat out of the hat. With Sen. Seabaugh leading the charge, they want to shift Georgia's tax system to "Georgia One Tax," a move that would tax what is spent, not what is earned. This would mean 6.5% tax on goods and services. In addition to the fundamental problem of shifting a greater proportion of the tax burden to poor and middle class Georgians while providing a tax haven for high income earners, who already pay a lower portion of their income in taxes than other earners in Georgia, the concept of taxing services opens a Pandora's Box of problems. Consider these questions:
1) If a doctor charges $100.00 for an appointment, but the negotiated rate with the insurance company is $60.00, and the patient has a $15.00 co-pay, what would be taxed? The full amount? The co-pay? The negotiated rate? And, when would the sales tax be paid? At the time of the appointment or at the time of payment? It should come as a surprise to no one that people do not always enter a doctor's office prepared to pay their bill. If they are not able to pay the sales tax at the time of the appointment, what is the doctor supposed to do? Refuse care? That would be unethical.
2) What about attorneys who represent those who are trying to negotiate the maze of getting their Social Security Disability claims approved? In these cases, the fee is set by federal law to one fourth of back benefits or $5300.00, whichever is less. Bear in mind that to get back benefits, a judge or a court must have found that the Social Security Administration was wrong to turn down the application in the first place. Bear in mind that some individuals have been waiting not months, but years for a hearing. (The Atlanta Office of Hearings and Appeals, where the average person must wait over 800 days from the time of the request for the hearing, has the worst track record in the nation.) So, should this person, who has been unable to work and wrongly denied benefits, pay the State of Georgia 6.5% of the fee his attorney has earned? And, just how should the lawyer collect that fee? Attorney fees in these cases are paid directly to the lawyer by the Social Security Administration. Does he bill the claimant for the sales tax? What if they don't pay it? Would the federal government even allow the lawyer to collect the tax over and above the fee they have already limited?
3) Just the above two examples show that this proposal would create an undue burden for small businesses, especially professional practices. It is conceivable that a small business would have to hire an additional employee just to deal with this sales tax issue. Who do you think will end up covering that cost?
What Sen. Seabaugh and the Georgia GOP really want is for small business and entrepreneurs to become the tax collectors for the State of Georgia. What he really wants is to protect the wealthy by passing a greater share of the tax burden to the middle class. Sen. Seabaugh may be fine with that, but are you?
Sunday, March 04, 2007
A Fly in the Ointment?
Last week, I posted about the forward thinking effort of the DPG to identify one (1) candidate for the 10th Congressional District. The day of the Big Meeting has come and gone, and there has been no announcement regarding who was anointed. Perhaps the process is ongoing, and we will hear something soon. I hope so. Lots of us would like to support that candidate.
What I fear is that one or more candidates have allowed an ego much greater than their chances in this race to spoil this attempt at Democratic Sanity. Participation in this exercise would've had to be more or less voluntary. Folks had to willingly come to meet with the group and willingly agree to support the candidate deemed to have the best shot in the race. Could it be that one or more candidates decided not to play ball?
If that's what happened, lots of us would like to know whose gigantic ego spoiled this rather brilliant plan.
Let's hope that I'm just being impatient.
Some Things are More Important Than Politics
GO HEELS!
Update: And go they did, the final is UNC- 86 and Duke - 72
But, it is unfortunate that the game ended as it did, with the flagrant foul against Tyler Hansbrough. Sphere: Related Content
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Hate Sells
Ann Coulter is a purveyor of hate. She uses hate-speech to call attention to herself and make money. On Friday, she pointed her guns at John Edwards. So far, so good. I'm for free speech and all that, but when the major candidates for the Republican nomination are in the audience along with the Vice President, then those who would be leaders have a responsibility to stand up and say that she was wrong. They have a responsibility to ban her appearance at future fundraisers. I hope that America is paying attention. These men who would be President have chosen her for their spokesperson. This is the callous hatred that is part and parcel of the extreme right wing. See the clip and learn what you can do here.
Sphere: Related ContentRichardson Relishes "Opportunity" to Cut Kids' Benefits
Georgia Republicans have decided that they prefer a vacation to staying on task and finding a solution for PeachCare that does not involve cutting children from the rolls. While the legislature is on this two week break, the date, March 11th, past which no more children will be enrolled will come and go. What a lame, cowardly attempt to avoid accountability for getting what you really want: reduced services for the neediest Georgians so that the Governor can keep his promise to cut the taxes of a strong voting block: wealthier seniors. The truth is, Georgia Republicans are vacationing because they relish the opportunity to cut access to PeachCare.
If Republicans are crying about PeachCare, those are crocodile tears. Democrats gave Georgia children PeachCare, and ever since Republicans have been trying to find a way to curtail the program. They won't tell you that, at least, not usually, but today, Speaker Richardson let his slip show with this remark, as reported by AP reporter Shannon McCaffrey in the Telegraph:
House Speaker Glenn Richardson said the funding fight "has given us a good clean opportunity to give the program a fresh look."
At least the Speaker is owning up to the real agenda here.
The bottom line is that limiting the access of children to PeachCare is bad fiscal and public policy. Those children who do not get adequate early medical care have higher health costs in the long run, and most often those costs are picked up by the taxpayer. Children who do not get good basic healthcare are less likely to come to school "ready to learn."
Given the consequences, it is outrageous to support programs like "Go Fish" and tax cuts for higher income seniors while our children's access to healthcare is in jeopardy. It would be one thing to discuss cuts if austerity was the rule of the day in other areas of the budget, but that is not the case. This is a debate about priorities. As Rep. Randall has said, these are our children. We have the money to fill the gap, and we should do just that. And, as Randall suggested once from the well, Richardson and those of his ilk should fall on their knees and repent.
Just what does he not get about "as you do to the least of these, you do unto me?"
Friday, March 02, 2007
Councilwomen Mullis in Burn Center
WMAZ is reporting that Macon City Councilwomen, Filomena Mullis is in fair condition at the Augusta Burn Center following a Thursday night accident. They had no details on the accident. We all wish her well and speed in healing.
Sphere: Related ContentGeorgia GOP: Big Oil Trumps Your Property Rights
Denmark Groover would not be happy. In 1995, he fought for, and passed, legislation to protect property owners from oil companies who might want to take their land. Now, thanks to another Middle Georgia legislator, Rep. Ross Tolleson (R), that legislation may be rolled back, giving oil companies greater ability to condemn (your) land for pipeline. Between this bill and Staton's bill to allow utility companies the right to directly contribute to political campaigns, it's easy to see whose side these guys are on. It ain't ours.
Sphere: Related ContentThursday, March 01, 2007
I Wish I Could Make This Sexy
The tax code. Just the mention of it makes me want to fall asleep, and that's just exactly what Georgia Republicans hope those of us in the Middle Class will do as they devise ways to shift more of the tax burden to us. It's not sexy. It does not evoke the same emotion as ultrasound bills or pleas to let us buy alcohol on Sunday, but trust me, unless you are among the richest 1% in this state, you better wake up and pay attention. This is not going to happen this year, instead they are planning to save the fun for an election year when they coffers will be filled to over-flowing with contributions from the wealthy they seek to protect.
Consider these little known facts, courtesy of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute:
- Georgia's tax code was developed between 1937 and 1951 and has rarely been updated.
- Although Georgia's per capita income is 34th in the nation, Georgia ranks 43rd in state taxes as a percentage of personal income.
- Georgia's corporate tax collection declined 62% between 1989 and 2003, based on % of GSP, due to loopholes that place a greater tax burden on small business and individuals.
- Georgia's per capita health spending is 50th in the nation
- Georgia's current tax system takes more from those who have the least. It is a regressive system.
- When revenue from sales, property and income tax are combined, the lowest 20% of income earners in Georgia, pay a higher share of family income in taxes than any other group. Those who are in the top 1% of earners pay the lowest share of income in taxes than any other group.
Nobody's Left Out in the Cold
God forbid that the DPG would do something logical and strategic like trying to unite party leadership behind one candidate in the 10th congressional district. We wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, now would we? It's about time that the DPG became much more deliberate and "less nice" about winning elections.
To this point, I have avoided much commentary on the meeting held yesterday with party leaders, electeds and those Democrats interested in running for the 10th Congressional district. It seemed to me that this was a strategic move and not something I wanted to advertise on this blog. But, now that this has been reported in the mainstream media, and now that Republicans are discussing our strategy on their blogs, it seems time for comment. (I know, Erick, Peach Pundit is bipartisan, just like Politics and Lunch.)
According to a post on Peach Pundit, Terry Holley was "left out in the cold" by the process and has been "running since November 8th." I can find no where in any news account where Holley has used the phrase, "left out in the cold." He did say that he has been running since Nov. 8th. Perhaps this is a case of a Republican trying to start a fight among Democrats. Of course, that would never happen. Personally, I think that Republicans are just jealous, and perhaps a little bit worried. Democrats are acting different-like winners. I bet they'd rather have one strong Republican candidate than a field of, what is it now, nine?
My understanding is that participating in this meeting at the Party was voluntary, but that those who came agreed that they would support the eventual recommendation of the group. I don't know whether or not Holley participated, but I do know this: as the minority party in this state, we must find a way to avoid nasty, expensive primaries, and this seems to be as good a method as any. If we want to win, we have to be willing to make tough, strategic decisions and worry less about whose feelings we hurt. Not that long ago, it would've been Republicans engaging in a much-less-transparent process, weeding out their field to ensure that the resources they had would be directed to the candidate who had the best chance of winning. This is part of the reason they are in power in Georgia now. Now, the shoe is one the other foot.
I see this as a test run for Democrats in Georgia- a way of checking out a new approach to candidate selection. In the past, the party has remained officially 'neutral' in primaries. (Frankly, if you believe that, then I have some swampland in Florida I'd like to discuss with you.) The difference is that this was an open, transparent and deliberate process. The appropriate role of the Party in primaries is something that should be a matter of lively debate. No doubt there will be divergent opinions. But, as far as I am concerned, if you want to run for Congress and you can't convince the officers of the DPG, representatives of the district and elected officials that you're the "guy" or "gal", you are probably also going to have a tough time convincing the voters.
By the way, I have nothing personal against Holley and respect most anyone willing to offer themselves for service, BUT, he lost badly to Norwood and there is no evidence that he can raise the cash to run a credible race. (His 12/31 disclosure showed that he had total receipts of $28, 453 against disbursements of $31,821 and debt of $10,000. That's not the picture of fiscal health I'm looking for in a candidate.)
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