7/18/03
E
Messenger
The
Electronic Newsletter of the
Florida
AFL-CIO
New
Members according to the AFL-CIO Work in Progress
This
week's WIP: 1,018
Year
to date: 88,749
WE
NEED YOUR LABOR DAY NEWS
Labor Day is OUR
holiday! The
Florida
AFL-CIO is compiling a press packet
to send out to state-wide media to help promote your Labor Day events.
This is the best time of year to discuss the working families
agenda and the press is already calling us looking for information about
labor day events across the state. As
you plan your events please let us know and we will include it in our
press packet. Also, we will
advertise your events on our website so that others can find out about
them and help you celebrate. Resources
and flyer toolkits are available at www.aflcio.org
and as always the state fed will be happy to help you plan for the media
at your event. Send your
information or requests for assistance to rtemplin@flaflcio.org.
Thanks!
The
latest on Med Mal
Bush
s civil war
(
07/18/2003
© St.
Petersburg Times)
Upon
what meat doth this our Caesar feed, That he is grown so great? -
Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act I The medical
malpractice issue is no longer simply an uncommonly bitter political
controversy. Gov. Jeb Bush is making it into a constitutional crisis by
waging civil war against senators of hi...
Bush
shows many faces in ongoing malpractice tiff
(
07/18/2003
© St.
Petersburg Times)
TALLAHASSEE
- Gov. Jeb Bush doesn't
like to lose. Especially when he's convinced he's right. To control
doctors' insurance rates and ensure public access to health care, Bush
insists caps on damage awards for pain and suffering
are necessary. But the intensity of his
advocacy and his criticism of...
Will
We See Mythology Trump Fact?
(
07/18/2003
© Tampa
Tribune)
Over your corn
flakes with diced Georgia peaches splashed by 1 percent milk, a side of
sliced Ruskin tomato and fresh-squeezed orange juice - total fat, 2 grams
(get used to it) - this breakfast additive: Eating while keenly mindful of
your health is just one of the ramifications of the Legislatur...
California
dreamin Proponents of malpractice caps ignore
another state s experience
(
07/18/2003
© Sarasota
Herald-Tribune)
It is a matter of
faith among some that capping damages in medical malpractice lawsuits will
eventually reduce insurance premiums for doctors. Among the faithful is
Gov. Jeb Bush, who has insisted that the Legislature approve a $250,000
cap on non-economic damages in medical-malpractice suits.
Bush,
House leery of Senate caps plan
(07/18/2003 © Palm
Beach Post)
TALLAHASSEE -- A
Senate compromise proposal to limit pain and suffering damages for injured
patients apparently hasn't gone far enough to end a deadlock that has all
but shut down the second special session of the year to deal with medical
malpractice insurance reforms. Gov. Jeb Bush and hi...
Follow
Senate approach on medical malpractice
(
07/18/2003
© Palm Beach
Post)
The Legislature
should pass the Senate's medical malpractice bill Monday. It might be more
fun to keep taking sworn testimony and watch Republicans attempt to shock
and awe each other, but doctors need a break. Still, it's tempting to let
the testimony continue. Gov. Bush said often that th...
Elusive
victory
(07/18/2003 © Daytona
Beach News-Journal)
Let's assume, for
argument's sake, that the state House and Senate are close to a deal on
medical malpractice legislation. That might be a long shot, given that
House Speaker Johnnie Byrd is already criticizing the latest Senate
proposal -- a deal he admits he hasn't really studied. But many are
...
More on the med mal “crisis” (which we now know is no crisis at
all but just a Bush fundraiser)
Now
the facts about malpractice are coming out
(
07/17/2003
© Ft.
Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel)
I don't know what's more remarkable. The fact that state legislators
demanded that witnesses appearing before them actually tell
the truth? Or that the witnesses actually told it? Either way, Floridians
were treated to a novel spectacle this week. After months of malarkey,
major players i...
Troxler/St.
Pete Times: Senator, if you'd kindly let me avoid that point
If
the testimony had English subtitles:
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/07/16/Columns/Senator__if_you_d_kin.shtml
Melone/St.
Pete Times: Caps battle puts crisis of the rich above all
©
St. Petersburg Times
published
July 15, 2003
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/07/15/Columns/Caps_battle_puts_cris.shtml
Put
cap on malpractice propaganda
(
07/16/2003
© Palm Beach
Post)
All it took was
truth serum to dispel the myths about
Florida
's medical malpractice
'crisis.' Myth: Physicians are leaving the state in such numbers that it
threatens the quality of health care. Truth: There are more licensed
doctors in
Florida
than there were in 1998,
and the number of ap...
Senator:
Cap on suits won t help docs
(07/16/2003 © North
Port Sun Herald)
Rep. Paul: 'Bad
faith' law is the key State Sen. Dave Aronberg,
vice chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, walked out at the
conclusion of a two-day Senate committee meeting Tuesday convinced of two
things. One: Doctors are indeed being hit with exorbitant increases and
something needs...
Senate
hearing clarifies malpractice facts
(
07/16/2003
© Florida
Today)
TALLAHASSEE
,
Fla.
- There are more doctors
coming to
Florida
than leaving the state.
There is no avalanche of frivolous lawsuits against doctors. And there has
been no sharp rise in medical malpractice settlements made by insurance
companies. Senators used Monday's hearing on the state's
med...
No
deals reached in session
(07/16/2003 © Gainesville
Sun)
ALLAHASSEE -
Despite hints of secret deals, it appeared Tuesday that state lawmakers
may today close down their fourth session of 2003 without passing
legislation that could help lower insurance rates for Florida doctors. In
what would be the most significant legislative defeat for Gov. Jeb Bush
...
Caps
are no cure Limiting damages won t resolve malpractice crisis
(07/16/2003 © Sarasota
Herald-Tribune)
Proponents of
placing caps on non- economic damages in medical malpractice cases had yet
another opportunity to prove their contention that the caps will lead to
lower malpractice premiums for doctors. But at a Florida Senate hearing
Monday afternoon, little hard evidence to support that assertio...
More
session news
No
deal: Bush extends session
(07/17/2003 © Daytona
Beach News-Journal)
TALLAHASSEE --
Gov. Jeb Bush extended a special legislative session Wednesday to try to
pass a medical-malpractice insurance bill, despite an escalating political
feud with Senate Republican leaders. The weeklong session was scheduled to
end Wednesday night, but Bush decided to continue it throug...
Session
Extended Over GOP Deadlock
(07/17/2003 © Lakeland
Ledger)
TALLAHASSEE --
Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday gave state legislators five more days to reach
an agreement on how to lower malpractice insurance premiums for Florida's
doctors. But Bush extended this latest special session even though House
and Senate leaders had not yet agreed on a final legislative
...
The
Press Buys the Bush BS on workers’ comp…
Bush
signs workers comp measure
(07/16/2003 © Bradenton
Herald)
ST. CLOUD - James
Brown had his left arm in a sling, 11 surgical staples still imbedded into
skin on his shoulder, when he approached Jeb Bush just after the governor
signed a workers compensation bill into law. Brown's employer, Frame Work
Framing Inc., had dropped his workers compensation insur...
Governor
puts his pen to workers comp bill
(07/16/2003 © Orlando
Sentinel)
ST. CLOUD -- Gov.
Jeb Bush made up Tuesday for canceling a March 20 trip to the Friendly
Soldier City because the war in Iraq started the night before, using the
occasion to sign legislation aimed at limiting the rising cost of insuring
workers against injuries. The measure will increase benefits...
Gov.
Bush signs workers comp reform bill
(07/16/2003 © Pensacola
News Journal)
Gov. Jeb Bush
signed a much- anticipated workers' compensation reform bill into law
Tuesday, giving Pensacola Bay Area business owners hope that they'll see
an end to crippling insurance premiums. Local workers' compensation
attorneys said the new regulations will only reduce protection for injur...
But
a union brother calls them on it…
July 16, 2003
Mr. Manning Pynn
Public Editor
Orlando Sentinel
Dear Mr. Pynn:
As a former reporter (and son, grandson and brother of journalists), it is
rare that I complain about the vagaries of the daily craft, but today an
article in your paper utterly offended me. (By way of disclosure, my union
was not involved in the workers' comp debate because we represent public
employees, but it is an issue that I know intimately.) The offending
article ("Governor puts his pen to workers' comp bill, Wednesday,
July 16, 2003) was inaccurate, misleading and served the governor's
political propaganda purposes, but what wounded my sense of journalism
ethics was that the article appeared to have made no attempt to verify the
veracity of statements made by a public official.
In that article, Mark Pino wrote:
The measure will increase benefits to injured workers, reduce fraud and
increase access to quality health care for those who are hurt, according
to Bush, who put his pen to the bill in sweltering weather at the Sawgrass
development off
Canoe Creek Road
.
For your comparison, I provide below the first paragraph of the governor's
press release:
ST. CLOUD --Governor Jeb Bush today signed legislation that will
strengthen the plagued workers' compensation market while visiting an
Americas Homes construction company work site. The measure, which was
passed by the Florida House and Senate in late May, will increase benefits
to the injured worker, reduce fraud in the system and increase access to
quality health care for injured workers.
In truth, the bill (SB50A) does the opposite as Mr. Pino
could have determined with a phone call or a glance in the morgue at the
Sentinel's excellent capitol coverage. Let me quote the Senate Banking and
Insurance Committee's final staff analysis (please note that the increases
are for dead workers and their survivors):
The bill increases death benefits for funeral expenses and compensation to
dependents.
For other injuries, depending on the type of injury and benefit sought,
worker may not be
compensated or would be provided less compensation for various injuries
due to higher burdens of proof or more restrictive compensability
standards.
The Associated Press in its coverage listed several major benefit
decreases and eliminations:
• Halts payments for permanent total
disability at age 75 for those eligible for Social Security benefits
except for those injured after age 70, who will be entitled to benefits
for five years.
• Eliminates automatic qualification for
permanent total disability benefits for those who qualify for Social
Security disability benefits.
• Cuts off at age 62 the supplemental
wage-loss benefits for those who can still work but cannot earn their
previous salaries, unless they are ineligible for Social Security.
Too often, the media cover public policy as if it were all politics and
that all facts merely a matter of subjective opinion, but an insurance
bill is not a matter of opinion: It can be read, and objective analyses
are readily available.
Is there any explanation other than passivity and laziness for
transcribing a gubernatorial press release as fact? The article did have
the hedge "according to Bush," but only the most careful of
readers would recognize that attribution as a red flag warning of bias (in
this case untruth) in the underlying facts.
The Sentinel's readers would have been better served if the newspaper just
ran the press release and clearly labeled it as such. Instead, most
readers were left thinking that the governor and Legislature had done
something beneficial for injured workers when the reality is that they
have done the opposite-as was admitted by the bill's sponsors during floor
debate. (Please see: "Worker's comp 'fixes' intact after
debate,"
5/22/2003
, Orlando Sentinel).
This bill was a bill that benefited insurance companies and employers (who
do pay exorbitant rates). Workers are covered regardless, but now have
less to show for it. Unfortunately, the governor disingenuously (with an
assist from your credulous reporter) trumpeted this as something that will
benefit the average worker.
Please do your readers a favor and set the record straight by running a
correction admitting that the article relied solely on Governor Bush (for
the assertions as to the qualities of the bill) and that the bill -
according to legislative analysts and its sponsors - decreases (or
eliminates) benefits and reduces access to health care for the vast
majority of injured workers.
The Orlando Sentinel is a superb newspaper that I read daily, but it must
be ever vigilant of blindly accepting the self-serving assertions of
public officials. An enterprising newspaper might even take a deeper look
at the insurance industry, which seems to have inordinately dictated state
policy this year. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Doug Martin
Communications Director
AFSCME Florida Council 79
111 N. Gadsden St., Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 222-0842
afscmefl@aol.com
Education
Senators
push tax break probe over terror tie
(07/18/2003 © Palm
Beach Post)
Top Senate
Democrats called for an independent investigation Thursday of a
voucher-supported school with alleged terrorist ties and renewed their cry
for more accountability in the state program that paid for 101 students to
attend the school. Leading Republicans in the House and Senate agree...
Cramer/
Palm
Beach
Post: Schools get an A, and still lose
Friday, July 18, 2003
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/opinion_f37135ad85f4e194001c.html
Tampa
Tribune:
State
Money
Benefits
School
Tied To Al-Arian
By
MARILYN BROWN mbrown@tampatrib.com
Published:
Jul
18, 2003
http://www.tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGA2804O9ID.html
Students
fail FCAT, but state fails them
(
07/16/2003
© St.
Petersburg Times)
Florida
lawmakers congratulated
themselves after they passed a bill last month that loosened graduation
requirements for students whose first language isn't English. The students
would be offered English immersion classes over the summer, then another
chance to pass the FCAT, required for a high
Incredible
shrinking school system
(07/18/2003 © Bradenton
Herald)
Floridians are
getting a close-up view of Gov. Jeb Bush's education reform efforts as
their local school officials try to shoehorn their districts into the new
state budget. In
Manatee
County
, the district staff is
trying to find $8.3 million worth of cuts to balance its 2003-04 fiscal
year budget, ...
Regardless
of politics…you gotta love
Nancy
!
House
leader denounces senator s remarks
(07/16/2003 © St.
Petersburg Times)
TALLAHASSEE -
State Sen. Nancy Argenziano's outspoken
criticism of House Speaker Johnnie Byrd and Rep. Charlie Dean,
R-Inverness, brought equally harsh denunciations Tuesday from the House
majority leader. Rep. Marco Rubio, R-Coral Gables, called Argenziano's
published remarks 'distasteful,' 'abh...
The
special session money grab
(
07/18/2003
© Ocala
Star Banner)
For
Florida House Republicans, this year's legislative special sessions
haven't been a problem, they've been an opportunity. Now in the midst of
the third special session of 2003 - the second aimed at crafting medical
malpractice reform - House Republicans are turning what most voters would hope
...
Legislative
freebies
(07/17/2003 © Gainesville Sun)
In 1990, Gov. Bob Martinez proposed and help
pass legislation prohibiting lawmakers from taking free trips offered by
businesses or wealthy individuals. Ah, but where there is a will, there's
a way. And when there is a willing
Florida
legislator,
there is a way around. Paige St. John,
Tallahassee
...
Tallahassee
Democrat: Money buys access
A
TALLAHASSEE
DEMOCRAT EDITORIAL
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/opinion/6310371.htm
Election
2004
Friday, July 18, 2003
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/news_f371a63285f48015006d.html
Boyd
announces Senate campaign team
(07/18/2003 © Daytona
Beach News-Journal)
TALLAHASSEE --
U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd of Monticello became the fifth Democrat on Thursday
to say he's readied a campaign team to pursue his party's U.S. Senate
nomination should incumbent Bob Graham not seek re-election. Former state
Education Commissioner Betty Castor of
Tampa
,
Miami-Dade
County
M
...
Kilmer
raising funds, hopes
(
07/18/2003
© Northwest
Florida
Daily News)
GOP rallies behind
District 2 candidate as she quickly starts building coffers. INSIDE
* U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd moving forward with campaign plans/ B1. By
TOM McLAUGHLIN Daily News Staff Writer For
political junkies, it will be a shame if U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd decides to
jump into
Weldon
encouraged by financial support
(07/16/2003 © Bradenton
Herald)
MELBOURNE -
Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon said Tuesday he collected $338,000 in the
second-quarter fund-raising period, bolstering his prospective campaign
for Bob Graham's U.S. Senate seat. Weldon, a five-term congressman from
Palm Bay
, said his fund-raising
totals through June 30 reflected l...
Bush
campaign gets big boost from volunteer fund-raisers
(07/16/2003 © Florida
Times-Union)
WASHINGTON -
President Bush's re-election effort is benefiting from a posse of
'rangers' and 'pioneers,' dozens of fund-raising volunteers ranging from
Merrill Lynch's CEO to lobbyists and political
appointees who helped collect $34.4 million since mid-May. Rangers - a new
Bush fund-raising group...
In
money race, Graham in back of pack
(
07/16/2003
© St.
Petersburg Times)
Two months after
he entered the race for president, Sen. Bob Graham is lagging far behind
the other candidates. Graham's campaign said Tuesday he raised about
$2-million in the second quarter, for a total of $3.1-million this year.
He ranks sixth in the nine-candidate field and is down with the '...
Wake-up
call': Gephardt fundraising comes in light
USA
Today
7/16/03
Vote-By-Mail
Worth A Try
(
07/16/2003
© Ft.
Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel)
Some
lawmakers are breathing new life into a good old idea: Voting by mail
instead of in person. The Joint Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental
Relations, meeting near
Miami
on Friday, discussed
changing state law to allow more voting by mail. The chairman, state Rep.
David Rivera, R...
What
do you call one party rule? Fascism.
Tom
DeLay's Down-Home Muscle
Texas
Representative Tom DeLay has a hunger for
power and
will
go to great lengths to get it. For his efforts to gain power, he should
channel his energy elsewhere.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/17/opinion/17THU3.html?th
DeLay
denies misuse of federal agencies
(07/16/2003 © Northwest
Florida Daily News)
WASHINGTON (AP) -
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on Tuesday
defended his office's inquiry through the Federal Aviation Administration
into the whereabouts of a Texas legislator's plane, saying the agency used
the Internet to answer his questions. But investigators said some of the infor...
House
plays musical politicians
Special
election set for seat of Rep. Carassas, who
resigned
(07/18/2003 © Naples
Daily News)
TALLAHASSEE - A
special election was called by Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday to fill the
House seat left vacant when John Carassas, R-Belleair,
resigned to head Attorney General Charlie Crist's
Tampa office. Carassas resigned in late June.
Bush said the special primary election for House
Bush
orders special election
(07/18/2003 © St.
Petersburg Times)
TALLAHASSEE - A
special election was called by Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday to fill the
House seat left vacant when John Carassas, R-Belleair,
resigned to head Attorney General Charlie Crist's
Tampa office. Carassas resigned in late June.
Bush said the special primary election for House Distric...
SEC
prepares for major rule changes
SEC
report: Raise stockholder power Proposal may lead to rule changes
USA
Today
7/16/03
S.E.C.
to Ease Voting for Outside Directors
The
New York
Times
7/16/03
A
Small Move to Shareholder Democracy
The
New York
Times
7/16/03
FCC
media monopoly rules running into trouble
Public
outcry stalls FCC cave-in
(07/18/2003 © Sarasota
Herald-Tribune)
General managers
of 75 stations owned and operated by the Big Four television networks
swept into a meeting of the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.
Big Media's lobbying purpose was to squelch the bipartisan movement in
Congress to nullify the Federal Communications Commission's cave-in
Would
trust Dubya with your pension?
Workers
deserve to know when pensions are at risk
USA
Today
7/16/03
Bush
Pension Proposals Get a Cold Reception From
Congress
The
New York
Times
7/16/03
Wal
Mart check
Union
work key to Wal-Mart vote
Chicago
Tribune
7/16/03
Some
Everglades
action in
Washington
Measure
would give Congress control of money for Everglades project
(07/18/2003 © Naples
Daily News)
WASHINGTON -
Southwest Florida's two congressmen have struck a deal with House
appropriators that would place the onus on Congress, not four federal
agencies, to decide whether to continue sending money to Florida for
Everglades restoration. The measure, which was included in a spending bill
If you have
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Rich Templin
Communications Director
Florida
AFL-CIO
