Florida Lawmakers Opposed To Health Care Reform Bill; AG To Sue
March 23, 2010
A panel of Florida lawmakers approved a proposed resolution to block the requirement that people buy health insurance beginning in 2014, and Florida’s attorney general has joined 11 state attorney generals with plans to file legal challenges.
Florida Attorney General and likely Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill McCollum said he would push forward with a promised attempt to get the mandate thrown out in court before it can ever take hold.
McCollum said Monday that he would join counterparts in nine states – South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota and Alabama – in suing the federal government over the insurance requirement as soon as President Barack Obama signs the measure into law, expected to occur as early as Tuesday morning.
“What this amounts to is a tax on living,” McCollum said on a conference call with reporters. “It is therefore unconstitutional.”
McCollum said the mandate would cost the state more than $1.6 billion in higher Medicaid costs.
“There is no way we can provide what is in this bill and still pay for education and other programs,” McCollum said.
After lengthy debate Monday that could have fit in with the hours of rancor in Congress as the health care measure neared approval, the House Health Care Regulation Committee voted 10-3 to approve the resolution (HJR 37), sponsored by Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood.
As their counterparts in Washington did, Republicans on the panel painted the forthcoming expansion of health care as an affront to basic American freedoms. Democrats countered by echoing the arguments made in Congress for passing the bill, comparing the requirement that insurance be purchased to requirements for drivers’ insurance.
They added that even if the resolution was approved by the Legislature and voters, it would be trumped by the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says that federal law trumps state law.
However, Plakon said that was a risk worth taking because “medical freedom” should be on the level of other freedoms ensconced in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights.
“We believe that an individual mandate that forces Floridians to buy insurance, whether on a federal basis like the one Washington passed last night or a state basis like the failed Massachusetts experiment is wrong for Floridians,” he told the panel as he implored them to support the resolution. “They are anti-freedom, anti-liberty and very likely unconstitutional. This will be the first time in American history that Americans will be forced to buy a product from a privately-held company for profit.”
Citing the U.S. Constitution’s Tenth Amendment, which leaves matters not dealt with by Congress to states, Plakon argued that the federal health care bill was a violation of states’ rights.
But Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, countered that health care was a “federal issue” and was long overdue.
“Every society has realized – it seems but ours – that health of our fellow citizens is extremely important,” she said “The fifty states have tried for the decades we have been in a health care crisis and they have not done that. We get deeper and deeper and deeper into the hole.”
The Democratically-aligned AFL-CIO labor union agreed with Vasilinda, praising the Congressional health care bill and accusing the Republican-dominated panel of playing politics by pushing the resolution against it.
“The half million workers, retirees and families we represent woke up this morning ecstatic that something was finally done to reform our health care system,” Florida AFL-CIO lobbyist Rich Templin told the panel “What happened last night was finally, people in this state will know in just a few days that they can’t lose their coverage because they get sick.”
But Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, responded by asking Templin “is Washington or is the AFL-CIO going to help us pay” for extending health care coverage in the state.
Spring Break 4-H Fishing Clinic Open To Area Youth
March 23, 2010
Area youth will have the opportunity to learn about fishing during spring break.
Youth ages 8 to 13 are invited to a half-day fishing clinic at the Langley Bell 4-H Center. Participants will learn about fish and their aquatic habitats as well as basic fishing techniques. All materials will be provided and youth will fish in the pond on site.
The program will be held March 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $5 for snacks and bait.
Participation is limited to the first 20 youth who pre-register by contacting the Escambia County UF Extension Office.
To register or for more information contact Andrew Diller at Escambia County UF-IFAS Extension, phone (850) 475-5230 or email apdiller@ufl.edu.
Century Sawmill Pageant Is Saturday; Students Win Poster Contest
March 23, 2010
The Century Sawmill Pageant is coming up at 10 a.m. this Saturday at the old Carver/Century K-8 School.
To promote the pageant the Century Lions Club recently held a poster contest in schools throughout the area.
Century Sawmill Pageant poster winners from the Escambia County (Ala.) Enrichment Program were first place Ronna Tullis, 5th grade at Flomaton Elementary; second place Kela Brazile, 6th grade at WS Neal Middle; third place Nakia Washington, 6th grade WS Neal Middle; and honorable mention Justin Pearson 5th grade at Huxford Elementary.
Tullis received $25 for her winning poster.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office Investigating Murder And Inmate Death
March 22, 2010
In two unrelated cases, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a murder and an inmate death.
Augusta Avenue ShootingEscambia County deputies responded to an armed disturbance at about 8:30 Sunday night on Augusta Avenue, just off Gulf Beach Highway.
Donald Turner, 24, was pronounced dead after being found shot inside a residence, according to Sgt. Ted Roy, ECSO spokesperson.
“Investigators are following up on several leads. No one has been arrested at this time,” Roy said.
Inmate Death
Inmate James T. Stallworth, 48, of Pensacola was pronounced dead at about 1:40 Monday morning.
Stallworth was brought to the jail on March 17 by a bondsman on a failure to appear warrant, Roy said. Stallworth was housed at the Central Booking and Detention facility.
“Stallworth suffered from prior medical problems. The medical examiners office now has the case to determine a cause of death,” Roy said. “Foul play is not suspected.”
Nollon Wilson
March 22, 2010
Mr. Nollon Wilson, 61, passed away on Friday, March 19, 2010 in Atlanta, GA.
Mr. Wilson was a native of Canoe, AL, a resident of Century, FL, for most of his life, a retired U.S. Army Veteran from the Vietnam Era and attended the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church. Preceded in death by his Wife, Maria Meena Wilson, a Brother, Alton Wilson, Jr. and a Sister, Juanita Driskell.
Survivors include: three Brothers, Comer Wilson, Charles Wilson, and Willie Wilson, all of Century, FL; and seven Sisters, Faye McGill of Cantonment, FL, Sylvia Godwin of Century, FL, Shirley White of Century, FL, Lois Aboud of Plano, TX, Willene Bryan, Nadine McCaw, and JoAnn Driskell, all of Century, FL.
Funeral services will he held Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Ronald Broadhead and the Rev. David Boyd officiating.
Burial will follow at Beulah Chapel Cemetery with full military honors.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 23, 2010 between 6:00 and 9:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be military honor guard.
Exclusive: Ride Along As Deputies Search For Escambia’s Most Wanted
March 22, 2010
A Century man named as one of Escambia County’s most wanted remains free. Friday night, NorthEscambia.com hit the streets with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for routine patrol as the search continued for Shawn Demarcus Simmons, 30, of Ivey Street, Century.
Updated: Simmons was captured after this story was originally published. Click here for that story.
During our five hour ride along with Deputy Tod Day, Simmons was target number one. As we drove the streets of Century, Day pointed out the places that Simmons was known to frequent in Century. (Pictured: Deputy Tod Day radios an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher.)
“He’s been known to hang out over there,” Day said as we drove through Simmons’ Ivey Street neighborhood. Simmons is wanted for aggravated battery, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and robbery with a firearm in connection with the February 25 robbery of another Century man. He is also the prime “person of interest” in the March 4 armed robbery of Moyes State Line Food Mart.
We drove past the home of one of his relatives on Backwoods Road multiple times during the night and checked at another Century home that he is known to frequent.
“We are going to clear this house,” Day said as we stopped in front of a run-down house. Day and Sgt. Mike Workman were going to check the abandoned house where tipsters said Simmons would sleep some nights. “If you see him run out, yell at us,” Day said as he trained the spotlight from his vehicle on the house.
Weapons drawn and using just flashlights to see, Day and Workman carefully and methodically checked each room of the house for Simmons. They found lots of birds that flew out of the open doors of the old house, but no Simmons. (Pictured: Sgt. Mike Workman returns his weapon to his holster after clearing an abandoned house in the search for a suspect.)
Since NorthEscambia.com ran a story on March 10 that Simmons had been named one of Escambia County’s most wanted by the Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers program, dozens of tips have come in. Deputies in Century frequently check out those tips, and tips led to a manhunt for Simmons recently in Brewton, another town he is known to frequent.
In the deputy workroom at the Century precinct of the Sheriff’s Office, there is one wanted poster hanging alone — Shawn Demarcus Simmons.
“He’s the one we really want right now,” Workman said. “We are going to get him; his time will run out.”
A Quiet Friday Night
Last Friday night was a rarity of sorts for the deputies of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Century Precinct. During the average Friday night, deputies answer multiple calls, often faced with traversing 25 to 30 or more miles between simultaneous calls for help. But last Friday night, the total number of calls between 6 and 11 p.m. was zero.
“It was really quiet; it’s not always like that,” Day said as he took a late-night dinner break at Whataburger. The eight-year deputy has been in Century for about a year; he knows that nights with no calls don’t happen often in North Escambia.
Our ride along started on the streets of Century. We were greeted and waved at by many outdoors enjoying the warm early evening. Day was in one of the department’s new Chevrolet Tahoes — a big step up from the older Crown Vics. One of our first stops was a ballpark off Jefferson Avenue and Front Streets where Day said drugs are sometimes a problem. We found a gentleman on a bicycle. (Pictured: Deputy Tod Day is seen on the video monitor in his new Chevrolet Tahoe as he shakes hands with a Century man near the town’s sewage treatment plant.)
“Good evening sir, how are you doing?” Day said before asking him for his identification. Alone on a bicycle and headed toward Century’s sewage treatment plant, he was a “suspicious person”. Finding nothing unusual about the gentleman and no problems with his ID, Day wished him a good evening as we continued our patrol.
At the Cottage Street railroad crossing, the crossing arms were stuck in a down position. We stopped, got the identification number off the railroad’s signal control box and radioed dispatch. An ordinary occurrence with the crossing arms — the dispatcher was already familiar with the box number as he called CSX to report the problem. (Pictured: Deputy Tod Day returns to his patrol vehicle after checking stuck crossing arms on Cottage Street in Century.)
Our patrol continued to Fischer’s Landing, but the flooded river blocked access. Returning along Highway 4, Day came within a short distance of putting a scratch or two on the brand new Tahoe as a trashcan blew off a passing trailer. Blue lights on, Day slowed traffic he removed the can from the roadway.
The next hour was quiet as we patrolled Century, across Highway 168 to Bratt and then to Walnut Hill. As we traveled south along Pine Forest Road, we began the search for the source of a large amount of smoke seen to the south. Our ordinary evening continued as we located an ordinary trash fire on Doran Road. Darkness began to fall as we headed back to Highway 97 and to Molino.
On the way back to Century from Molino, we checked several side roads toward the Escambia River. Most were flooded. Along Dawson Road in Bluff Springs, Day pointed out a location where a few drug users had been busted in the past. Nothing unusual on this Friday night.
Another Century unit went out on a traffic stop — four miles away. We headed that way for backup. Everything was fine with the other unit, as we turned around on Highway 29 to do a traffic stop of our own near Glover Road about 8 p.m. due to a vehicle with improper lights. The driver only received a warning.
Headed back into Century, Day spotted a vehicle with no tag. Blue lights were on, and the vehicle stopped in the parking lot of the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. The driver’s excuse for no tag turned out to be valid — he had just purchased the vehicle earlier in the day and had not had the opportunity to purchase his tag. The driver was prepared with his insurance information and bill of sale. (Pictured: A traffic stop in Century.)
Things did not turn out as well for the driver on our next traffic stop — he was off to jail. We found him on Freedom Road near Camellia Gardens Apartments. He had just a paper dealer tag on his new used car. Day followed him into the parking lot of the apartment complex before turning on the blue lights.
A records check determined our driver was driving with a suspended license, and he had a trespass warning that forbid him from being on the apartment complex property. The suspect had his son in the backseat of his car. Sgt. Workman joined Day as they waited for a relative to arrive to take the child as dad was arrested. (Pictured: A man accused of driving with a suspended license and trespassing is taken into custody by Sgt. Mike Workman, left, and Deputy Tod Day at Camellia Gardens Apartments in Century.)
The suspect, charged with driving with a suspended license and trespassing, had the unique honor of being the first prisoner placed in handcuffs in the back of the new Tahoe. He was transported back to the Century Precinct for paperwork and fingerprints before his ride to jail.
Then it was back to the streets to look for Simmons.
“We are going to get him,” Workman repeated.
Updated: Simmons was captured after this story was originally published. Click here for that story.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Democrats Applaud Passage Of Health Care Reform Bill; Republicans Fire Back; What Do You Think?
March 22, 2010
Sunday night, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved a health care reform bill that will overhaul the American medical system. Shortly after the bill passed, both Congressmen that represent the North Escambia area spoke out in strong opposition to the plan.
The bill passed 219-212 after a year of bitter debate, with all 178 Republicans in the House and 34 Democrats opposed. The bill now goes to President Barack Obama’s desk for a signature.
The $940 billion legislation will extend health insurance coverage to about 32 million additional Americans. Most Americans will be required to have health insurance or pay a fine, and large employers will be fined if they don’t offer coverage to their employees. The bill also caps expenses for those with insurance, and it will bar insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
After the bill passed, Congressman Jeff Miller (R-Fla) said, “After over a year of trying to ram through a trillion dollar government takeover of our health care system, Nancy Pelosi and the majority party waited until the middle of the night to take one of the most important votes in history. This bill was written behind closed doors using backroom deals to buy enough votes to pass, and puts the future of our great country at great risk. It does nothing to protect the sanctity of human life, will not lower health care costs for the American family, cuts Medicare by $500 billion, and raises taxes on middle-class Americans. I strongly denounce the passage of this bill and will work for its swift repeal.”
In Alabama, the entire House delegation — five Republicans and two Democrats — voted unanimously against the health care legislation approved late Sunday. In Florida, the vote was split along party lines.
Congressman Jo Bonner (R-Ala) said, “Tonight, a stake was put through the heart of both freedom and liberty. Under the Democrat’s rule, personal responsibility no longer appears to be an American virtue. And the federal government, with 16,000 new IRS agents, will be watching our every move. With a national debt over $12 trillion, and growing every minute, this is not a day for celebration; it is a moment we will all one day come to regret.”
Your thoughts on this story are welcome in the comments section below.
President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and senior staff, react in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, as the House passes the health care reform bill Sunday night. Courtesy Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Track Results
March 22, 2010
The Northview High School track team recently participated in the Crusader Classic at Catholic High School in Pensacola.
Northview competed against West Florida Tech, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola, Marianna and Catholic high schools.
The following Northview students placed during the competition:
Girls High Jump
5th Gomez, L Northview HS 4-02.00
6th Floyd, T Northview HS 4-02.00
Boys High Jump
4th Gibson, J Northview HS 5-06.00
Boys Triple Jump
5th Gibson, J Northview HS 36-08.50
Girls 4×800 Meter Relay
5th Northview HS 12:49.00
Boys 4×800 Meter Relay
6th Northview HS 10:57.00
Girls 100 Meter Hurdles
2nd Floyd, T Northview HS 18.78
5th Fiellin, H Northview HS 21.96
Girls 4×100 Meter Relay
6th Northview HS 56.49
Girls 300 Meter Hurdles
5th Holland, A Northview HS 58.74
Girls 4×400 Meter Relay
6th Northview HS 5:44.66
Boys 4×400 Meter Relay
6th Northview HS 4:31.39
Pictured top: Laneicia Gomez in the high jump for Northview. Pictured inset: Lauren McCall for the Chiefs. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Bright Futures Scholarships Could Be Harder To Get
March 22, 2010
Florida’s popular Bright Futures scholarship program would prove tougher to get under plans approved Friday by Senate panels trying to close a budget gap of as much as $3.2 billion.
The Senate plan boosts funding for the state’s Bright Futures’ scholarship program by $31.4 million over the current year’s $418.9 million level. But the Senate is on track to phase-in a system where the popular scholarships that provide either 75 percent or 100 percent of base tuition become tougher to get.Almost 180,000 Florida students are expected to be eligible for the scholarships next year, according to legislative analysts, bringing the program’s price to $450 million, compared with $75 million when the scholarships were launched in 1997.
Legislators began reining-in the costs last year with program changes that look certain to continue in 2010-11. The Senate Higher Education budget committee Friday approved legislation (CS/SB 1344) that phases-in stricter qualifying standards, making students graduating in 2013 attain a 1280 SAT score for a full scholarship – compared to 1270 currently – and 1290, for students the next year.
Those getting 75 percent of their base tuition covered would face new standards a year earlier – needing to score 980 on the SAT in 2012, compared to 970 currently. That level would rise to a 1050 SAT by 2014.
“We don’t know if the House will go along with us,” said Higher Education budget chair Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach. “But we still have to get a better handle on Bright Futures.”
You Are Invited: NHS Band Spring Concert Tonight
March 22, 2010