Buz Livingston, a financial planner, writes about the need to regulate his profession. Click to read this unusual stance and his letter to Congress.
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Palm Beach Post Editorial
"Resignation or Expulsion. . ."
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Set aside for now the issue of whether former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom is guilty of any crimes. He's been indicted, and if his case goes to trial he will face a jury of his peers. But there's another jury that fits better than usual the definition of "peers" - the Florida House, which could be called on to decide whether to expel Rep. Sansom.
The combination of a House investigator's report, the indictments of Rep. Sansom and others, newspaper investigations and newly uncovered e-mails lead to the conclusion that Rep. Sansom should resign. But if he does not quit, House members should demonstrate, however belatedly, that they take what Rep. Sansom did seriously, and they should expel him. Read the remainder of the editorial►
Chairman Kaine's video on health care reform
DNC Chairman Tim Kaine recently recorded a special video update on the ongoing campaign to pass real health care reform. In his message, he recounts a few of the many stories that illustrate just how urgent the need for reform is.
From MoveOn.org
"President Obama's public health insurance option—the key to lowering costs and helping cover everyone—is in danger. The threat? The so-called co-op plan.
"If you have no idea what that means, don't worry. This stuff is confusing and changing quickly. So here are three great articles laying out the case FOR the public health insurance option, and AGAINST the co-op plan.
"After you read one or all of them, can you call Sens. Nelson ( 202-224-5274) and Martinez (202-224-3041)? Tell them that anything other than a strong public health insurance option is unacceptable—including the weak co-op proposal.
Closing the "doughnut hole"
No, it's not the restaurant on Hwy 98, but a flaw in Medicare Part D in which beneficiaries who have paid $2,700 in prescription expenses receive not further benefit until they have racked up a total of $4,350 in out-of-pocket expenses, despite the fact that they never stop paying premiums.
Senator Nelson has introduced S.266, the Medicare Prescription Drug Gap Reduction Act, to address the issue. SUPPORT HIM!! Go to http://billnelson.senate.gov for more information.
Editors’ Panel: Lively, timely, and important
Three community leaders who make important decisions about what is printed in several northwest Florida newspapers answered questions and shared their papers’ (and their own) views about the role of print media at a June 15 special DEC meeting.
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| Ron Kelley, Jeremy Solomon, Pat Rice, and Rick Thomason |
Ron Kelley, Editor of the Defuniak Herald/Beach Breeze, along with Walton SUN/Destin LOG Publisher Rick Thomason, and Pat Rice, who is Director of Content for the Freedom Newspaper Corporation, had a great deal to say about the roles they play. Here is a sampling:
“ . . .the more you consolidate (news corporations) and create monopolies, the more you pasteurize and homogenize the news. . . .when an organization supplies content for more than 100 or so newspapers. . .the same viewpoint is espoused over and over. . .” -- Ron Kelley
“. . .the editorial slant of the Freedom Newspaper Corporation is ‘libertarian slant. . . .’not the Libertarian Party but the philosophy. . .individual rights, personal responsibility, community stewardship, and life-long learning.” -- Pat Rice
Read more about this event► See more photos from the Editors' Panel►
Watchdog group eyes Walton BCC benefits
In January 2007 - without any public vote or discussion - Walton County's top officials and county commissioners received a perk most people only dream of: free health care for their families.
Actually, it's not free. The county's taxpayers have paid thousands of dollars to support the benefit.
Gary Mattison, the county's human resources director, acted in October 2006, apparently with no prodding or consultation, to authorize complete family insurance coverage for three high-ranking county officials and the five part-time county commissioners. Read the entire story from the Northwest Florida Daily News►
Stand With Sen. Nelson In The Fight Against "Big Oil"
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee caved to Big Oil, voting to allow oil drilling off Florida's coast. Sen. Nelson has vowed to fight the committee's decision, and we need to stand with him.
It's up to Floridians to fight back and stand against the tide of Big Oil's sticky, greasy campaign dollars flooding Congress in an effort to drill off Florida's coast.
Send a letter to Sen. Nelson and urge him to fight the US Senate's recent effort to try and open our coasts to drilling. Together, we can back up Sen. Nelson and show the Congress that Floridians like you don't want drilling and are willing to speak out against "Big Oil." Click to send your email► To write or telephone him, click here►
The oil industry responds
The oil industry is disputing claims against offshore drilling made by US Senator Bill Nelson.
Nelson is touring the Florida coastline speaking out against a congressional measure to drill for oil 10 miles from Florida’s Gulf Coast. Nelson says drilling that close to shore would jeopardize national security by shutting down military bases near the coast. Nelson also says drilling wouldn’t lower gas prices. David Mica with the Florida Petroleum Council said the state would see a huge economic impact from offshore oil drilling.
“We disagree strongly with the regards to the economic impact that our activities have across the board to the consumers. We are talking about jobs, we’re talking about paying additional taxes, we are talking about American energy that is good in its own right,” said Mica. Senator Nelson says if the drilling bill makes it to the Senate floor he will filibuster to postpone a vote. (Capitol News Service)
Attend the National Demo Conference
This year’s conference will take place October 9-11 at the Disney Yacht Club & Resort in Lake Buena Vista. The Walton County Demos have several delegate slots and encourage you to represent our county at the conference. To do so, complete the qualification form and loyalty oath available on line and return both forms to Nancy Cottle along with a $35.00 non-refundable fee (payable to the Walton County Democratic Party) by July 1. Nancy can be reached at WaltonCountyDem@aol.com “Hotel reservation information and food plans for the weekend will be out soon. The estimated cost for the conference hotel is $199 per night,” said Nancy Cottle, Vice-Chair Walton Demos. “This year’s conference should be a very informative and worthwhile experience.”
New Charter presented at Small County Coalition Conference
The Walton County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Jeremy Solomon was presented with its new charter by David Dew, Chair of the Small County Coalition, and Alison Morano, Democratic County Chairs Association, at this week end's Small County Coalition Conference in Port St. Joe. Ten members of the Walton County DEC were present.
It was the most organized conference I've been to," said Hugh Marse, former Walton County State Committeeman. "Zebe Schmidt, the Gulf County DEC Chair, did a fantastic job," agreed Grace Marse, former DEC Committeewoman. Read more►
The address, telephone number or email of any of your elected officials can be found on this website or on the Supervisor of Elections website. Click to access "Elected Officials" or click to access SOE "Officials and Districts."
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A charter is nothing without being for something
I'm glad that we seem to be more interested now in county government. For too long our party set back, and just voted. We never represented anything of substance and have allowed things to become out of whack, and one sided for years; but the old timers were not like the current governing batch. A few individuals have in my opinion exploited the power of government for their friends and well funded associates. Profiting from no opposition from within the two parties. There are similar corruption across the county line that needs to be contested in the public arena. We need a strike force to highlight the issue and question the motives of county officials when we suspect them of doing wrong. It may take the effort using The Daily News (Okaloosa) to get the message published but surely there are those in the know that could help and expose the truth when necessary.
If there is really an interest in doing what is right, legal, and really is in the public interest we must communicate our concerns rather than sit back and socialize at tea party events. Lets have a call to action and get going in pointing out our concerns for making Walton Co. a thriving concern with full employment for our citizens it will not ever be forth coming from the current Planning Dept. more concerned for "what it is that we can't do" to "what we can do with our personal property. "Resolutions" and "Ordinances" abound mostly to keep up the Status Quot! Things, which remain the same is neither progress, nor good for the economy. Limiting opportunity for only the connected will keep things as they are, and progress at a standstill. The height limitation will preserve and keep the Choctawhatchee Bay off limits but will also reduce our water/water view property values.
Remarkably, things will suddenly change on that when the people of power take charge of or acquire these same properties in the future. See how fast it will be. If high rises are the devils making then most of the civilized world is headed to hell. If we joined the rest of the developed world throughout the century we can employ our citizens' and peoples jobs will make a model area we can all be proud of. This is just all an opinion of course, is subject to debate so lets' get to it. Time is wasting lets' get on with it and stop just posing for pictures. There is some current needs to vent-- time is wasting. Honest government is doing honor to those who fought and died for it. Lets' not let them down. Vote for the right reasons next time around. God bless our America!