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We should be getting regular reports from our legislator's actions in Tallahassee soon since the session began the first week of March.
Our president notified you in the last Voter of the opportunity to be involved in judging the Senior Projects at Braden River High School in April. I feel there are many of you who would be an asset to that project. In trying to talk with the coordinator I find there has been a change in personnel. At this writing the person to contact is "Donna" at 751-8230, Ext.2209. Once I know more I will send an email to those of you I can reach. Or call me if you are interested. The National LWV sent an Action Alert pertaining to the House members and asked you to reach them to urge not taking up the "fear" proposal that would allow telecommunications company "off the hook" for sending our messages to the government. You got the message from me in a backward way with the request for our Action before you knew what the Action regarded. Sorry - I'll try not to do that again. But I WILL continue to ask you to ACT. "Democracy is NOT a spectator sport," as you have frequently read from me.
Nanette Eklund, Chair, 723-6278, nanettejek@cs.com
CAP--Conversations About Prejudice will meet on Monday, March 24 from 6-8pm, NOTE LOCATION
Community Redevelopment Bldg.
302 Manatee Ave. East Room 308
Southeast corner of Manatee Ave (one way going West) and 3rd St East three story red brick bldg--North Entrance elevator to third floor Part 3 of the series on Racism. You do not have to have seen the first 2 to thoroughly understand and be thrilled with this documentary. Bring a friend. Pizza and beverages will be provided foe $3. Call or e-mail me if you are coming. From March 30 through May 4, try to view the outdoor exhibit "Embracing our Differences" on Island Park, Sarasota's downtown bay front. April 14 is family day. Let us have a large showing from Manatee County. There will be 39 billboard-sized posters by children from Manatee and Sarasota counties. This is an annual event with powerful images, not to mention, a delightful place to take a stroll. To quote Thomas Tryon of the Herald Tribune, "When you visit this exhibit, consider these words: celebrate and eradicate differences, but cultivate virtue, search for shared values and create common bonds." We are one human family. The League promotes, in all aspects of its activities, a philosophy of inclusion that reflects the diverse composition and issues of the community. It is the League's position to secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all, to promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all.
Nancy Horne, Chair, 727-0850, nbhorne2003@yahoo.com
We are seeking a member who would be interested in monitoring education issues for the coming year. Please contact President Valerie Fisher to sign up for this vital job.
Valerie Fisher, 744-9692, VAFcounseling@aol.com
Drug prices for brand-name medications most commonly prescribed to the elderly increased by an average of 7.4% in 2007 -- about two-and-a-half times the rate of inflation, according to an AARP study released in February. For the study, AARP tracked wholesale drug prices of 220 brand-name medications. According to the study, prices increased for all but four drugs in 2007, with most exceeding the rate of general inflation. The Bush administration is planning to propose legislation that would address excess spending in Medicare and go beyond the "trigger" provision in the 2003 Medicare law to health care in general, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 2/13).
Leavitt suggested that the proposal would be in line with the administration's beliefs that health care should be a "private market where consumers choose, where insurance plans compete and where innovation drives the quality of health care up and may drive the cost down." He added that the competing vision of health care is a "Washington-run, government-owned plan, where government makes the choices, sets the prices and [then] taxes people to pay the bill." According to CQ HealthBeat, "Democrats at the hearing angrily rejected [Leavitt's] vision and accused the administration of trying to kill off the Medicare program." Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Pete Stark (D-Calif.) at the hearing said, "You suggest we rely on the private sector but conveniently fail to point out that system costs taxpayers far more than traditional Medicare" (CQ HealthBeat, 2/13). This information provided from Kaiser daily health care report. More is available from Kaisernetwork.org. Ilse Moon, ilse1@comcast.net,
Calling all members--our dues will be up on March 31st. We will be collecting the new dues ($50.00 or $75.00 for family) at the Annual Meeting and luncheon April 19th. Better yet mail your dues now using the form on the back page of this VOTER. We currently have 72 members, 57 local and 15 national members.
Marcia Roger, Chair, marciaroger@verizon.net
Last month we reported on Manatee County's need for effective rules for the application of fertilizers, a known source of water pollution. Many counties and cities throughout the region and state have adopted, or are currently adopting, fertilizer rules to meet their own ecological needs. We have written a letter to the Manatee County Commission, encouraging them to do likewise. Adding some urgency to our request is that bills are currently moving forward in the Florida legislature that would prevent local governments from having more stringent rules than the state, unless they meet certain narrow criteria. The bills, SB 2352 and HB1267, will mandate that counties adopt, by October 1, 2008, rules developed by a state task force on fertilizer use. However, those rules will serve only as baseline protection, and will not address the specific needs of every county, especially counties with important estuarine resources or drinking water supplies. If Manatee County adopts its own ordinance by July 1, it will not be subject to the bill's limitations on local rules. Sarasota County was the regional leader in this issue, and its rules would merit consideration. Lynn Dallesandro for the Natural Resources Committee
The Committee met on February 19. Present were Michele Smolder, Zada Riorden, and Jean Van Delft. Michele is investigating setting up a web site in order to reach teen parents. We are also contacting different social service organizations to keep the community aware of the need or this service. The Bradenton Herald has shown interest in our project. As we have photos of the November 29th supper, Jean Van Delft is contacting the news about a release on the subject. We need a 501c(4) to help with provisions for our next supper. The next meeting will be on March 18 at 9:30 a.m. at Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. 322 15th St. E., Bradenton. Call J. Van Delft at 746-6574 for information.
Jean Van Delft, Chair, 746-6574, jeanvd@verizon.net.
A point was made that even if someone fails to provide proper ID, they can vote on a provisional ballot. This way, such votes would be counted because their signatures matched the signatures on file at the supervisor of elections offices.
Contact Pat Arends, 383-6235 (jparends@aol.com) to join this committee's work.
Pat Arends, Chair, jparends@aol.com
League of Women Voters of Manatee County
P. O. Box 1511 · Bradenton, FL · 34206
E-MAIL: VAFcounseling@aol.com
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