This Tuesday the PWC BOCS plans to vote on a much watered down ‘Resolution’ (See 10H on the Agenda)

Mr. George Harris gets it. We hope the rest of the BOCS gets it.

 

George S. Harris’s open letter to the BOCS in News & Messenger May 1 says it all.

LETTER: To the Prince William Board of County Supervisors
Your View
Published: May 1, 2010

I am writing to you to ask you to help this unlearned citizen understand why a resolution is needed by the Chairman Corey Stewart to determine the number of people affected by the expansion of the Medicaid criteria under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I simply wrote to the Prince William County Department of Social Services and within a few days received a reply from Mr. Dennis E. McFeeley, Divi-sion Chief of Benefits, Employment and Child Care Programs. His telephone number and email address are: Phone: (703) 792-4315 Email: [email protected].

By the way, the estimated number is 15,200 of the poorest of the poor.

It would seem to me that Mr. Stewart could simply pick up the telephone and call Mr. McFeeley or Mr. Ric Perez, the acting director of the Department of Social Services, and pose the question he has included in his draft resolution. While I don’t have Mr. Perez’s direct telephone number, the main number is 703-792-7500. I suspect whoever answers the telephone would be more than glad to connect Mr. Stewart with Mr. Perez.

Yes, I agree it would prudent to determine how much the Medicaid expansion will cost Prince William County, but considering that it will be some 14 years before the county must begin cost sharing, any estimation would at best be an onageristic estimate. Again, a telephone call might work.

On the other hand, if Mr. Stewart is using a resolution to stick the board’s collective finger in the federal government’s eye, I strongly recommend against this. We’ve already been made to look the fool too many times.

Therefore, I am left to draw the conclusion that this tempest in a teapot is nothing more than political posturing on Mr. Stewart’s behalf to satisfy his political base and the members of the Tea Party whose meetings he frequents as a speaker. If my conclusion is wrong, would someone be so kind as to let me know?

GEORGE S. HARRIS

Manassas

One has to ask why a resolution is needed when picking up the telephone and asking a few questions solves the same purpose? Could it be that Mr. Stewart is once again grand-standing? Is this his way of attempting to save face after standing on the steps down in Stafford like George Wallace demanding civil disobedience from county employees? (Click to see background material)

Hopefully all the supervisors will see the absurdity of this ‘Resolution’ and will vote NO. Why help Corey Stewart make a fool of himself?

17 Thoughts to “Regarding the Proposed Resolution of May 4”

  1. Stewart, supposedly the champion of saving us money, wastes more of our money. Fiscal conservative indeed.

    Stewart doesn’t give a damn about the poor in this county. We see it time and time again, from his lack of support for affordable housing to his grandstanding to the wealthy white population. He’s nothing but a spoiled rich boy looking for attention.

  2. Starryflights

    Stewart is making a big to-do about nothing. He is a disgrace to our county. He should resign for the good of our county.

  3. Perhaps if Stewart had worked a little harder luring Northrup Grumman instead of posturing about health care and doing a cheap George Wallace imitation, they might be coming to Prince William instead of Fairfax County or Arlington.

  4. kelly3406

    If the purpose of this resolution is to “stick the board’s collective finger in the federal government’s eye,” then I am all for it. The federal government is out of control and it is up to local and state governments to push back.

    The real disgrace is the behavior of the federal government. Peggy Noonan describes it very well in her recent column:
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704302304575214613784530750.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_BelowLEFTSecond

  5. Censored bybvbl

    Kelly, are you a PWC resident? Is it your tax dollar that Corey is squandering? Is it your county’s reputation he’s wrecking?

    How much longer will the BOCS put up with his grandstanding before growing spines? There are reasonable Republicans and Democrats on the BOCS. When is enough enough? We, as taxpayers, don’t owe it to Corey Stewart to finance his further political ambitions at our county’s expense and reputation. I’m sure there are other Board members or citizens who would make a better Chairman. Let’s find them.

  6. Elena

    Hmm, where was this “eye sticking” when we invaded Iraq? Where was this eye sticking when the republican congress voted for 1.3 trillion dollar medicare prescription drug act? The list goes on and on……………………..

  7. I guess its ok to spend money on wars that really accomplish nothing in our national interests.

  8. kelly3406

    @Censored bybvbl

    I am a PWC resident. It is hard to tell for sure right now, but the Hylton Performing Arts Center may be a much bigger cost than a simple opt-out resolution. With all the other art venues in northern Virginia, I am not sure that this boondoggle is required.

  9. kelly3406

    Elena :
    Hmm, where was this “eye sticking” when we invaded Iraq? Where was this eye sticking when the republican congress voted for 1.3 trillion dollar medicare prescription drug act? The list goes on and on……………………..

    You are a broken record, Elena. Let me refresh your memory: the invasion of Iraq was supported by a majority of Americans, as was the prescription drug act. None other than VP Joe Biden thinks that Iraq is now a success (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/02/joe-biden-obama-great-achievements-robert-gibbs.html ).

    But there can be no doubt that Bush laid the seeds for some of the current unrest:
    1) The federal government failed to close the border;
    2) McCain-Feingold limited free speech;
    3) Government interference and high costs associated with the prescription drug bill and No Child Left Behind.

    With people already fed up, Obama then proceeded to force a costly and exceedingly unpopular healthcare bill down our throats. This healthcare reform included an unconstitutional mandate to purchase healthcare insurance. He has refused to close the border and begun to discuss “comprehensive immigration reform” which is code for amnesty. And he has taken over large sectors of the U.S. economy and he has started talking about a VAT.

  10. Censored bybvbl

    Kelly3406, but the Hylton Performing Arts Center actually brings a benefit to the county for its tax dollar rather than trying to deny the poorer residents a service that our representatives at the federal level have voted to approve . It’s a joint effort by the county, the city, the state, George Mason, and private donors. The link below lists the sponsors for its grand opening.

    http://www.communityperformingartscenter.com/calendar/

    I know the arts have long been targets for conservatives because they can be edgy, non-traditional, politically-tinged, confrontational, etc. Some people are more comfortable with popular crafts – whether geese with bonnets or cutesy florals. C’est la vie! Something for everyone. Just don’t demand that others dumb down their experience with the arts if you prefer something less confrontational. I’ll bet that the performances and exhibits at the Arts Center will really be quite tame. Most work in the DC area is quite tame…although there are still statues in Richmond our esteemed AG could attack.

  11. kelly3406

    I understand what you are saying, Censored. Some people will like this new arts center, but I view healthcare reform as an abridgment of freedom. I value the county’s effort to defend the Constitution (i.e. prevent the Feds from usurping more authority) much more than I do yet another performing arts center (every county does not necessarily need a performing arts center).

  12. On the one hand, kelly3406 is probably like many of us–covered by employer provided healthcare or some federal program–Medicare, Tricare, CHAMPVA or it is possible that he/she is wealthy enough to purchase health care coverage on his/her own. On the other hand, kelly3406 is prepared to deny health care to the poorest of the poor. Why is that? Why is that it is OK to have Medicare, Tricare, CHAMPVA but it is not OK to have an expanded Medicaid program for those who cannot afford healthcare coverage? Why is that kelly3406?

  13. kelly3406

    First of all, I have had to purchase health care coverage on my own during several periods.

    I oppose expanding Medicaid coverage for several reasons:

    1) The poorest of the poor are already covered by Medicaid and free emergency room care. Anyone can walk into an emergency room and be guaranteed to receive treatment. By definition, expanded Medicaid coverage would be for people who are not as poor as those already covered, so it is NOT for the poorest of the poor.

    2) There is no statute of limitations on the length of time that an individual/family can receive Medicaid coverage. Recipients should be granted coverage for only 18 to 24 months at which time they would be expected to find a job/complete education/professional job training in order to generate sufficient income for their own coverage. I recognize that there would have to be exceptions to this, such as in the case of mental and physical disabilities.

    3) Coverage should be limited to only the most dire of circumstances. Some families could increase household income by having additional members work (whether full time or part time) or the primary breadwinner could take on a second job. Some individuals would rather receive public assistance than take on certain low-end jobs — I would need proof that they had applied for such jobs before expanding Medicaid to cover them. I have two jobs right now: one full time and one nearly full time. I expect Medicaid recipients to sacrifice just as much as I do before I cough up more hard-earned dollars for their medical care.

  14. Argh! In the first place, I doubt there are real statistics on the number of people who approved of the Iraq war. I certainly think many more people supported it when they believed that the Iraqis had weapons of mass destruction and were planning on detonating the entire middle east than after they found out that that intel might not have been so spot on.

    Secondly, you will find very few supporters of NCLB on this blog.

    ‘Poorest of the poor’ offends me. So only the poorest of the poor are entitled to medical coverage? What are they supposed to do? A person making 16k doesn’t qualify for medicaid do they?

    You know, I am all for people having work ethic. But some people don’t and they end up getting medical help and then walking on it. Guess who pays? You and I do, Kelly. I pay out of pocket myself. I would rather pay a little into a pool than a lot for those walking on their bills.

    It isn’t that I approve. Its that old reality check. Pay me now or pay me later…..

  15. kelly3406

    Moon-howler :
    Argh! In the first place, I doubt there are real statistics on the number of people who approved of the Iraq war. I certainly think many more people supported it when they believed that the Iraqis had weapons of mass destruction and were planning on detonating the entire middle east than after they found out that that intel might not have been so spot on.

    There ARE real statistics available. All the old polls from Rasmussen, Gallup, Opinion Research, etc. can be obtained. It is certainly true that the intelligence on WMD did not pan out, but decisions have to be made on the basis of the best available information. As we discovered in Afghanistan, it certainly would not be smart to abandon Iraq to the radical Islamists after WMD stockpiles were not found.

    I have seen reports about other missing defense articles as well. They were supposedly buried in the desert during the buildup to the war, but were nowhere to be found after the war.

  16. kelly3406

    Moon-howler :
    ‘Poorest of the poor’ offends me. So only the poorest of the poor are entitled to medical coverage? What are they supposed to do? A person making 16k doesn’t qualify for medicaid do they?
    You know, I am all for people having work ethic. But some people don’t and they end up getting medical help and then walking on it. Guess who pays? You and I do, Kelly. I pay out of pocket myself. I would rather pay a little into a pool than a lot for those walking on their bills.
    It isn’t that I approve. Its that old reality check. Pay me now or pay me later…..

    “Poorest of the poor” is not my term. I was responding to a question in #12 above.

    When did government involvement in any social program result in lower costs? Costs will continue to rise and will lead to an increase in taxes and perhaps to the value-added tax (VAT) so prevalent in Europe. The reality check is that we will pay now AND we will pay more later …

  17. Not everything can and should be measured in dollars and cents. How about bringing in rural electricity? How do you put a price tag on that?

    Military? Should groups of citizens raise their own army? I know the military can be wasteful but I get we get it a whole lot cheaper as a package deal.

    Sometime there isn’t a clear line of distinction between social and non-social.

    So who pays for those not poor enough for medicaid and too poor to pay for their own? Last I looked, it was us. We pay in taxes, we pay for write offs, we pay for increased costs that end up raising our premiums.

    It doesn’t just go away because we don’t approve.

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