by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Like all members of Congress, U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw is spending time in his home district during the annual summer recess. He addressed the Rotary Club of Jacksonville Monday and shared some good news and some news that he said isn’t so good. Crenshaw said the proposal to modify America’s health care program is “on the front burner” and added that the discussion on the issue has caused a major change all over the country.
“I’ve never seen a time when the political climate was filled with such raw emotion and outrage,” he said.
While the original schedule put forth by President Barack Obama called for a vote on the health care proposal before Congress recessed last month, Crenshaw said he thinks it worked out for the best that the vote didn’t happen.
“People are concerned about what’s going on in their country,” said Crenshaw. “Less than eight months ago a new president took over and look at the spending and borrowing that has happened since. I can understand why people are concerned. When the Democrats went home last month they heard how unhappy their constituents are.”
He pointed out it’s no secret that health care in America has some problems, but any proposal for reform has to address the three main issues: quality, cost and access.
“Americans probably have the best health care in the world but it’s expensive and it’s not accessible to everyone,” said Crenshaw. “The amount of money spent on health care in America is equal to the economy of Great Britain.”
Crenshaw also said he and his fellow Republicans in Congress have had little if any input into the drafting of proposed health care reform legislation. They are also concerned about the bureaucracy that would be created. He said according to a chart prepared by the Democrats – but never released to the public – 53 new government agencies and bureaus would be created to administer health care under the Obama Plan.
“People see so much government that lacks any kind of accountability and that’s a problem,” commented Crenshaw.
Crenshaw predicted the Obama Plan would not pass in the Senate and that could lead to more Republican influence.
“We support ways for small businesses to band together to reduce health insurance costs,” he said. Another item on the Republican health care reform agenda is to reduce what Crenshaw called “defensive medicine.” That’s when a doctor orders tests and procedures in case they are one day sued over a patient’s care.
He also said the Obama Plan could cost as much as $1.6 trillion and “the numbers don’t add up. I think that’s what has brought the plan down and it’s why people find it intolerable.”
On the “good news” side, Crenshaw said he believes Mayport Naval Station will become the new home of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. That despite the Obama administration converting a decision made by the Secretary of the Navy into a “recommendation.” Crenshaw, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said he expects an affirmative announcement concerning Mayport’s nuclear future later this year.
He added, “We already have $46 million in the budget to dredge the carrier basin to make it deep enough for a nuclear carrier and there’s another $29 million in the budget to upgrade the wharves.”
The Club welcomed two inbound Rotary International Exchange Students to its meeting. Damla Turham is from Turkey and is attending Episcopal High School. Doroty Feliberto is from Brazil and is attending West Nassau High School. Both students’ fathers are Rotarians and Feliberto is president of the Interact Club at her high school in Brazil. Both will be living with host families during the school year and Feliberto is part of a true “exchange” program. She’s being hosted by Ashley and Missy Coxwell whose daughter, Mariah, is a Rotary International Exchange Student about to leave for a year in Spain.
“These young women are the future of Rotary,” commented Bill Learn, vice chair of the Rotary Dist. 6970 Inbound Exchange Students Committee.
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