Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Watch out for those dangerious helium-filled foil balloons
Last week, California state Senate passed Bill 1499 which would ban helium-filled foil balloons and make it a crime to sell them. [The bill now goes to the state Assembly] For a state that is facing a $15-billion deficit, overcrowded and under performing school systems and a crumbling transportation system, this seems like a excellent use of the states resources. For a Massachusetts native, I'm glad to see other state's doing some, um, interesting legislating.
So for now, California's get your balloons now before they float away into the abyss of your state government.
Labels: Government
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
We have insurance but are we healthier?
On April 12, 2006, then Governor Mitt Romney signed a law that mandates all citizens have health insurance by July of 2007, for those who secured a waiver proving they couldn't afford insurance. As we approach the deadline, current Governor Deval Patrick said the fact that 95 percent of filers were insured shows the 2006 law is making progress, based on the first major survey of the health care law. Some of the highlights of the report include:
- Nearly 350,000 residents have gained insurance
- Cost savings of:
- Adults reporting out-of-pocket expenses of more than $500 dropped by 4 percent
- Low-income adults reporting out-of-pocket expenses of more than $3,000 fell 8 percent
- 71 percent of working-age adults expressed support for the law
Now the downside:
- In 2006, $725 million in the fiscal year starting in July
- Patrick set aside $869 million [and it may cost even more]
- 97,000 were forced to forfeit their personal exemption — worth $219 — after it was determined they could have afforded health care
- Monthly penalties for those who can afford health care but refuse will jump and could total as much as $912 for individuals by December
- A total of $9.7 million in fines was deposited into a trust fund to help cover the cost of the law
While the law may seem good in theory, I'm not sure fining people who may not want or can not afford insurance is the answer. Although, adding a new dollar-per-pack cigarette tax might be a interesting solution. Also we will see if smokers will pay over $6 for a pack or not. I think they will.
It should be noted that the report was paid for by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. So much for unbiased reporting.
Labels: Government
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Patrick gives back
According to the Boston Globe, Governor Deval Patrick spent more than $10,000 on damask drapes for his State House office as part of a $27,387 makeover that also included a new desk, settee, and other furnishings and selected the lease of the $46,000 Cadillac DTS because it was one of two cars the State Police said he could have. After a few days of public outcry and much of the wrong kind of publicity, Deval today announced he would pay for his own office remodeling and kick in $543 a month for his leased car. Since he is asking agency leaders to bridge a deficit of at least $1 billion, Deval stated he "cannot in good conscience ask the agencies to make those choices without being willing to make them myself". What happened to the grassroots movement and the promise of a new way of doing things on Beacon Hill?
His next PR nightmare in the making is his hiring of a $72,000 aide assigned to handle scheduling and interview requests for Patrick's wife, Diane, a lawyer at Ropes & Gray. Does the Governor's wife really need a state appointed aide to help with scheduling? No one is busier [work, school and socially] then my wife and if anyone needs help it's us. [Just kidding Honey] No governor's spouse has had a staff member assigned as an assistant since Michael S. Dukakis hired an aide for his wife, Kitty.
Deval has been in office for less than 2 months and has made several missteps already. I hope he has learned just how observant the citizens of the commonwealth are and he returns to his platform for change and a new way of running our state government. If not, he might just be looking for a new job [and a new lease] when election time rolls around again.
Labels: Government
