Congressman Boyd votes against Healthcare Reform

On Saturday, Nov 7, the U.S. House of Representatives made history by becoming the first house of Congress to pass comprehensive healthcare reform in the history of America.

Hotly debated over the course of several months, the “Affordable Health Care for America Act” narrowly passed the House by a vote of 220 to 215, the intent of which is to provide overdue relief to Americans struggling to buy or hold on to health insurance.

A 193-page report published by the Institute of Medicine in May 2002, eight years before Obama’s election as President, demonstrated the need for healthcare reform. The report titled “Care without Coverage: Too Little, Too Late” revealed that an estimated 18,000 adults in the USA die each year because they are uninsured and cannot get proper healthcare.

The House passed the measure, and they should have if for no other reason but to save lives, however U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd (D) representing Florida’s Second District in the House voted against the reform.

“My vote is not a vote against responsible reform. Rather, it is a signal that our work in Congress is not yet complete. Reducing the cost of healthcare services must be the focus of any reform package, and I will continue working, as I’ve always done, to fix what’s wrong with our healthcare system, to continue what’s right, and to ensure Americans have access to affordable, quality coverage they need.” Boyd said.

The House Bill will in fact protect and strengthen Medicare; stop insurance companies from denying affordable coverage because of age; prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions or dropping coverage; limit how much insurance companies can make you pay out-of-pocket; and provide affordable health insurance options for those who don’t have insurance.

The debate over the need for national health insurance first surfaced in 1912, when then former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt included the issue as part of his platform while running for a third term as a Progressive Party candidate, and in 1992, President Bill Clinton (D) pushed for healthcare reform but well-organized opposition from the health insurance industry and others doomed the initiative.

As part of his 2008 campaign for the Presidency, Obama promised to do something about the like of affordable healthcare, and in March of this year while hosting a healthcare conference at the White House, the President told those gathered.

“The problems we face today are a direct consequence of actions that we failed to take yesterday”. “We have tried and fallen short, we've stalled for time, and again we have failed to act because of Washington politics or industry lobbying.” Obama said.

Leading up to the historic House vote, some of the major organizations to throw their support behind the measure were the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), and the American Association of Retired People (AARP).

Apalach Signs Police/Fire Station Grant

A press release distributed by U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd’s office announced earlier that the City of Apalachicola was the recipient of economic stimulus funding to fund the city’s new police/fire station through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

As a result, city officials called a special meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2009, to review and sign obligatory documents for the funds through the USDA Rural Development’s Community Facility Program.

The economic stimulus package enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009, was worth $787 billion and intended to provide a stimulus to the U.S. economy in the wake of the economic downturn.

However, after giving the city an overview of its obligations, Mary Miles, area specialist for rural development told commissioners that the stimulus funding was in the form of a $506,500, 30-year low interest loan, and a $150,000 grant. Combined with $250,000 already received from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) the estimated total project cost is $906,500.

In addition, as part of its obligation, the city has to pledge through the passage of a resolution all future revenues from its Alcoholic Beverage Licenses Tax, Fine and Forfeitures and the Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) Tax over the next 30-years toward the loans repayment.

What's more, the city is required to “Buy American” to ensure that only iron, steel, and manufactured goods produced in the United States are used during construction, and to adhere to the wage rate requirements outlined in the Recovery Act.

City officials felt that its obligations under the Act were minor when compared to ensuring continued and adequate police and fire protection for the citizens of Apalachicola.

Boyd voted no for Stimulus

U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd (D) voted against the economic stimulus package also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Although Boyd voted nay, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the $819 billion measure January 28 during the first session of the 111th Congress by a vote of 244-188. The bill is now under consideration in the U.S Senate.

The purpose of the Act in part is to preserve and create jobs, promote economic recovery and stabilize state and local government budgets in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and increases in state and local taxes.

According to a press release on Boyd’s official website, he questioned whether the package would create jobs or strengthen the economy in the short or long term. Boyd also questioned the actual price tag of the stimulus, citing that to fund the plan the government would have to borrow the money, which would add an estimated $347 billion in interest payments to service the debt, which could end up costing taxpayers $1.2 trillion.

In President Barack Obama weekly address, the President urged prompt passage of the stimulus package, citing recent statistics showing continuing deterioration in the national economy. He stated that the economy has shrunk by nearly 4 percent from October through December, the largest decline in over a quarter century, which has brought on a loss of tens of thousands of jobs in the month of January alone.

The President further stated that the measure the House passed will save or create more than 3 million jobs, put a tax cut into the pockets of working families, and place a down payment on America's future by investing in energy independence, education, affordable health care, and infrastructure.

Boyd to Host ACF River Forum

Congressman Allen Boyd has scheduled a Congressional Forum in Chattahoochee on July 21, to discuss the impact the southeastern drought and low freshwater flows are having on the ACF River System.

Invited to participate in the forum are representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida’s stakeholders, local business owners, local oystermen, and experts on the ACF River System.

Maybe during this forum the Florida stakeholders will seize the opportunity to urge Congressman Boyd to use his influences to insist upon the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers compliance with the U.S. District Court of Appeals February 5, 2008, ruling.

Afterward, should the ACOE continue to disregard the Courts ruling then the stakeholders should join to create an ACF River System Legal Defense Fund to fight for the preservation of our Apalachicola Bay and River System.

If we are not willing to stand and fight to protect our own way-of-life, then how can we honestly expect someone else to do so?

Click HERE to review the U.S. District Court of Appeals Ruling.

ACF River System Needs Freshwater

As I applaud Senator Bill Nelson and Congressman Allen Boyd for their introduction of legislation, calling for a comprehensive study of the water management needs along the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River System, at the same time, I welcome both men to the front line of the water war.

For almost a year now, as we witnessed further reductions in water flow, it appeared as if the small community of Apalachicola stood alone in the struggle to impede the Army Corp of Engineers from causing irreparable harm to the Apalachicola Bay and River System.

The justification for such a comprehensive study as announced in Senator Nelson and Congressman Boyd June 18, press release, suggests that the earlier Corps decision to reduce freshwater flow was made without the benefit of scientific data or a formula as to the amount of freshwater Apalachicola Bay needs to remain a healthy, productive Bay.

Before the Army Corps of Engineers allowed a reduction in water flow, they should have already had the data necessary to foresee the damage it could cause. This precipitous action has already caused significant damage to the reproductive strength of the bay.

Creation and funding of a study at this time is very notable. There is far too little science available to justify any action by the Corp of Engineers. However, it is quite possible that the Bay cannot survive the two years it will take to complete the scientific research. We need action now to prevent further deterioration of the essential natural resource that is made up of the Apalachicola river system and bay. I call on both Senator Nelson and Congressman Boyd, without hesitation, to follow their creation of a study with the introduction of emergency legislation that guarantees the return of historic water levels in the river system and prevent any further decisions that will reduce flow by the Corp of Engineers while the study is being completed.

The noticeable harm that continued reduction of freshwater flow is having on my community should be paramount to both congressional representatives and to every stakeholder along the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin. A comprehensive study is good, but we need freshwater and we need it now.