New faces on P&Z -- they got a taste of the Unpleasant last night

Comment Up

The first item that appeared before this new P&Z Board (Paxman and Spinelli were absent) was Project No. 09-01400001, a two part request for a special land use to allow a private school that is going to have 60 students maximum located at 230 S. Dixie Highway. This is a school whose tuition will be paid by the parents of the children who attend as well as State of Florida vouchers.

The owner and his two sons already appeared before the CRA last week and the CRA had concerns of using that location. Little did anyone know then that the Cornerstone Church of God and Christian Academy, that just signed a ten year lease, have several civil actions pending:

1. Used the First Baptist Church's name and credit in Lantana where it was renting several rooms, to purchase a Xerox copier. Left owing $8,000 in rent plus utilities. Charged with fraud and embezzlement.

2. A case involving Emily Allen who was a victim of the Cornerstone Church and is owed $20,000 in unpaid rent.

3. The Cornerstone Church left owing A.G. Holley and the Department of Health $25,000 in rent and unpaid legal fees.

When talking to the owner of the property, reportedly from Miami, I asked them if they had any concerns about the tenants paying the rent. They said "Yes we know the background here and if they stop, we will call the Sheriff and get them evicted." One owner also said, "Well, you know, it has the word 'God' in it," and she threw up her hands to the heavens, insinuating that if it had to do with God then it couldn't be all that bad.

My problem with it is the character of those running this "school," not a fine example for children and not the type of characters we want to attract to our city.

The P&Z was told by its attorney last night that it could not make a judgment based on pending legal cases involving criminal activity of the tenants, only on the land use. This will now come before the City Commission for final approval. The Licensing Board needs to do a thorough criminal and credit check on these people and protect Lake Worth residents from anyone opening businesses who have had shady dealings.

Lake Worth - the Dumping Ground for Mistakes

It was All in the Family.

The City of Lake Worth ALWAYS gets negative publicity even when we don't deserve it. What are we now?--the dumping ground for every news agency that doesn't know where someone REALLY lives? Oh, let's just use Lake Worth, what the heck.

A prime example is WPBF's news article on low life scam artists, that included two adult daughters, who opened checking accounts in their daughters names even using names of their 6 and 12 year old daughters. The TV station has them being from LAKE WORTH. They are actually from Royal Palm Beach. John Black worked for Lake Worth Public Works for 20 years. Are we paying this guy a pension?

Name: BLACK, TONYA Race: Black DOB: 11/01/1966
Address:
325 MULBERRY GROVE RD
ROYAL PALM BEACH, FL 33411 Facility: SURETY BOND Booking Number: 2009041127 OBTS Number: 5003269499 Booking Date: 08/05/2009 Time: 15:11 Arresting Agency: 01 - PBSO Officer: MITCHELL Release Date: 08/05/09 Time: 22:06 Holds For Other Agencies:No Warrant Number: 430500TA6 Jacket Number: 0160909

Name: BLACK, JOHN JR Race: Black DOB: 08/01/1965
Address:
325 MULBERRY GROVE
ROYAL PALM BCH, FL 33411 Facility: SURETY BOND Booking Number: 2009041109 OBTS Number: 5003269494 Booking Date: 08/05/2009 Time: 14:55 Arresting Agency: 01 - PBSO Officer: MITCHELL Release Date: 08/05/09 Time: 22:15 Holds For Other Agencies:No Warrant Number: 53574FA2 Jacket Number: 0104022

Sunset – The Myths (Lies) and the Truth

Comment Up

One truck parked adjacent to street
A truck that has wheels and power--can be moved!

1. GRASPING AT STRAWS--Save Our Neighborhood used ACORN.

Four years ago, SON hired some people who brought in a few signatures for us. This was for our petition drive for which we had 30 days to gather signatures on 3 petitions that were approved by Larry Karns, City Attorney at the time. ACORN was not indicted or in the news for any nefarious activities. Their activities did not come to light until the Obama campaign last year. John Lang mentioned this last night to throw some sort of doubt on SON's credibility but four years ago has nothing whatsoever to do with the Ordinances issue now or with the problems that are now known regarding ACORN. This was trying to hit below the belt and fell flat.

2. TWISTED--Sunset Holdings’ attorney, Larry Smith, said that SON already lost in the Appellate Court, why set yourself up for another loss in the Circuit Court?

Save Our Neighborhood, Inc. lost in the Appellate Court on the right to petition 5 acres or less under Florida Statues. We won twice in the Circuit Court. The City, joined by the League of Cities lawyers and the City of Boca Raton, joined in the law suit against SON and our win was overthrown in the Appellate Court. This has nothing to do with rescinding the original Ordinances on the property. Mr. Smith is very good at trying to confuse the issue.

3. LIE--John Lang said on the public record that they were willing to negotiate and that we would not.

His attorney, Larry Smith, said on numerous occasions that they would not settle for less than MF-20 and that they would sue. He has threatened suit at least a dozen times. They came to the table to negotiate, or so they said, and then refused. "We won't settle for anything less than MF-20."

4. LIE--Attorney Smith said that our Comp Plan was adopted in 2006 after Ordinance 2006-04 and that changed our Comp Plan.

No it wasn’t. It never was adopted. It was never in affect.

5. LIE—Lang says that the properties located on both sides of the entry to the Sunset parcel are loaded with garbage, boats and trash.

Totally a fabrication.

6. LIE--Attorney Larry Smith said that Sunset Holdings and the city of Lake Worth are on the same side.
   Where did he ever get that idea? Grasping at straws again.

7. TRUTH—Attorney Smith alluded to the fact that there was not a Bert J. Harris undertaking on this property—no law suit there. Mayor Clemens was confused, wanted more information from this attorney and invited him back up to the dais. Smith, who has threatened to sue the City on a dozen occasions, spoke for 5 minutes and got all his points ON THE RECORD. Why would the head elected official, our Mayor, allow that attorney more time than required by policy who has threatened to sue the City, speak further on the record? Anyone can threaten a law suit. He was there with court reporter in hand, other lawyers, to intimidate anyone they could.
8. TRUTH-- John Lang suggests that the City buy the property and then tells Cara to call him. If he is serious, why doesn't he call Commissioner Jennings and set up a meeting? Right now the City holds the cards.

One thing I want to mention is the Post article today. This is about MF-20 zoning which would allow 20 units to an acre or 80 units on that property, not the 40 as written in today's news article. The 40 units agreed to years ago when former Commissioner Nadine Burns brought it up as a compromise, is worthless.

Attorney Larry Smith plans on finishing the Administrative Hearing scheduled in September. There may be no one there to hear him but his own voice echoing back. .."sue, sue, we will sue."

Groupies and Candidates

Comment Up
PB Post

Only one candidate for the November elections has officially registered; Laurence McNamara. Usually you see prospective candidates hanging around City Commission meetings all of a sudden when they have aspirations to run. Last night only brought forth McNamara, Wes Blackman and rumored to be candidate for Mayor, Greg Rice. When you don't see them all of a sudden, it means they have dropped out, are no longer considering running.

Greg, during public speaking, called all of us who attend meetings, "Groupies." That word started back when I was a kid and referred to women who followed "rockers" and their bands from city to city for, well, you know for what. It now has a more generic meaning. What Greg really meant to say is, those of us who go to city commission meetings as well as Board meetings, are passionate about our city and care enough to make the effort to find out first-hand as to what is going on. Is that what you meant, Greg?

Now I ask you, would you rather see a candidate who is interested in city business and makes the effort to attend meetings or one who never shows up or only shows up when he is thinking about running for office?

Bill Clinton negotiates release of journalists in North Korea

Read what the
New York Times has to say.

Vote YES for Sonia!

Contact your Senators and ask them to
Vote YES

Please call Sen. Bill Nelson (202) 224-5274 and Sen. Mel Martinez (202) 224-3041 today.

Urge Them to Confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor!

Summer Fun Event 8-15-09

Comment up
NEIGHBORHOOD "SUMMER FUN!" Notice from the city--

ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE:
with the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office in Lake Worth Additional Support provided by:

The Palm Beach County's Sheriff's Office along with the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency and the City of Lake Worth, will be hosting a day of "Summer Fun" with the community. This fun filled day for the citizens of Lake Worth will allow residents to meet and interact with their local law enforcement representatives along with their neighbors.

A Visit from the PBSO K-9 Unit, The PBSO S.W.A.T. Truck (the Hulk), LW Fire Rescue, and PBSO Marine Unit. Bounce House and many of their Guests.

AUGUST 15TH 10am to 2pm 200 Block of North "B" Street, Lake Worth FREE Hot Dogs & Sodas (NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED) will be served and a free raffle will be held for attendees.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is Committed to our Youth!

Green got in the way

Comment Up

PB Parks & Recreation Director was quoted as saying that the County’s “primary justification for providing money to the City of Lake Worth for the beach improvements is to enhance beach access for County residents.”

Now I ask, how will we be doing that? We plan on taking away 164 parking spaces on the upper level and refiguring the lower level to accommodate for this. The County requires that all 628 spaces be for everyone—no special parking for Lake Worth residents who actually maintain this beach and have been doing so from the day we became officially a city nearly 100 years ago. Do you think it is those outside of our City who are paying for our beach by their one buck an hour? It is OUR taxes that pay for OUR beach. Out of the 628 spaces (around 22 spaces) have been for employees. These people will no longer be guaranteed parking either. They will be paying just like everyone else.

Greater Bay wanted to eliminate all but 59 upper level parking spaces. The Singer Plan reduces all but 84. We didn’t like it when it was Greater Bay and we don’t like it now that it is Singer. Same story, same bull. City Manager Stanton will be recommending that the County money be used for the upper level area at our beach rather than the lower level parking area and an additional lot be built at the lower level for the parking that we are eliminating at the top for grass and sea oats. This is estimated to cost 1/2 a million dollars.

So, we remove 164 spaces and then we spend $500,000 to put them back in somewhere else? So what--it's someone's else's money, right?

The City Mgr has recommended that we simply re-stripe the lower level and accommodate for the required number of parking. Re-striping is not expensive. DO NOT USE COUNTY MONEY FOR THIS. We have the money in our Beach Fund and in this way we will be able to have our decal parking.

This County money will not provide for enhanced beach access with the design we have. In fact, it does just the opposite. You don’t go around eliminating convenient parking and then pretend this is enhanced beach access. Who in the heck are you kidding here? Little green people?

With the Plan as is, approved by a Commission that is supposedly for the rights of the people--the "people's commission," a Plan that city residents did not get to vote for in an election, decal parking will be totally eliminated. I think it was Walter Baker who said on his blog a few years ago that Commissions vote their own Agenda first. It stayed in my mind because there is validity to that statement.

So, we didn't get a vote and now decal parking is in jeopardy. Tell the County it is our beach and our residents who buy a decal permit can park anywhere. If that doesn't fly, then we do not put the County money towards the lower parking level. We simply re-stripe the lower parking level as suggested by Susan Stanton and residents could at least park there.

The only stupid thing about it is why be relegated to park down at the lower level while many upper level spaces could be available. People want to park at the upper level if given a choice, unless you are Tom, Wes, Rene and Greg. The residents are not being given a choice and this horrible no bid Plan voted on by this Commission. Sure the County says one thing. Why can’t we say the other?

The most outrageous suggestion that was voted upon by the Commission was to eliminate 164 spaces of parking across from Benny's. Green got in the way of common sense. That entire upper level parking lot could have had trees going down the entire middle with enough "green" to make everyone happy. Any planner could have come in and come up with something beautiful without taking out parking. You did not give it a try. Instead we get a Jungle Jim. Go to Disney World if you want that.

Do you really think that if we insisted on our people being able to park anywhere with their decal parking permits that the County would tell us to forget about the $5 mil. We have been paying on this Bond all along. It would be extremely BAD press for Palm Beach County once again. They won’t do. What could perk up their ears would be to understand that this plan does NOT ENHANCE beach access by LESS convenient parking to the beach.

It is the Art of the Deal. If you can't figure it out, call Lois. I would bet that she would have gotten Stimulus money and told the County to shove it.

P.S. Broaden the wordage on 2009-18. This needs to include any business that is ancillary to the beach, i.e., kayak, diving equipment, boutique, etc.

Commission Meeting on Thurs morning

Comment Up
Special City Commission Meeting Thursday, August 6 at 10:30

To be discussed are two Workforce Housing projects:

1. The Pugh property
2. NW corner of Boutwell Road and Lake Worth Road

Miami Herald writer likes Florida Hometown Democracy

Comment Up
"The point is that we have plenty of room to grow without having to modify the comprehensive plan. For that reason, it is irrational to believe that this amendment would lead to unemployment. Rather, it would prevent elected officials from being influenced by private interests because if developers need to convince someone, that someone would be the public."

Read the whole article by DANIEL SHOER ROTH--
MIAMI HERALD

Caught with their Pants Down

You've heard the old expression "don't get your panties in a wad" (to get all upset over something trivial). Well the City of Lake Worth has been "caught with their pants down" (caught in something embarrassing). According to Lake Worth Media, it is even more serious.

Visit the web site and view the latest video on the Utility Cover-Up.

Code Enforcement - Hands are tied

Comment Up

Our Code Enforcement Department, consisting of 8 inspectors and 1 fire inspector, has dedicated and hard working employees who are very professional at what they do. In the City of Lake Worth, it is a challenge every day, not only because of all the blighted and neglected properties but by the process in general. And then when they get through all the investigative work and everything it involves to finally present the case to the magistrate who listens to the evidence and makes a decision and imposes the ultimate fine, the amount often times is reduced to peanuts. It is no wonder why people continue to get away with murder here and our City looks like it does. And don't kid yourself. One of the biggest offenders is the City itself with some of the property it owns.

CLICK HERE for a Typical Complaint Process.

Sec. 2-87. Civil penalties.
(a) The maximum civil penalty for a civil infraction cited under this article shall be five hundred dollars ($500.00).
b) If the person who has committed a civil infraction does not contest the citation, the civil penalty shall be as follows:
(1) For a Class I infraction, fifty dollars ($50.00) plus court costs.
(2) For a Class II infraction, seventy-five dollars ($75.00) plus court costs.
(3) For a Class III infraction, one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) plus court costs.
(4) For a Class IV infraction, two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) plus court costs.
(Ord. No. 92-25, § 1, 11-18-92)

Take the Gulfstream Hotel as a prime example. Back in April, the owner, Schlesinger, moved 9 storage containers onto his property which is a vacant lot ADJACENT to the hotel. He was using this as a staging area for a project he was building in another town. On July 31^st, there was finally a fine imposed--$250.00 a day per container IF the containers were not moved by the end of day on August 8. That is over 4 months of putting up with an owner who fully understood that our process was flawed to his favor and he could take his jolly time. He knew that the process was cumbersome and it was a Code process tied up with bureaucracy. After all, his lawyer was the former P&Z Chair for the City of Lake Worth and also a former member of our CRA. He also knew that magistrates were lenient with code offenders. It was cost effective for him to continue the violation. He gets off with an administrative fine of $75.75 for each of the five containers left plus a re-inspection fee for each container of $30.

126 N F Street is a special case. This property is owned by Michael and Mary Lynn Maloney who live in Boca. They bought the property in April 2004 for $135,000 which is 1200 sq. ft consisting of 3 rental units in Tropical Ridge where you can find the majority of violations. They managed to rake up $124,500 in code violations, something that you can't do overnight! They brought their attorney to the hearing who cried that these poor people only make less than $58,000 dollars in adjusted income from an interior design business…they bought this property as an investment for their children’s college education and did not want to pay ANYTHING towards this fine. (Just mention the word "children" and you get them every time) No proof of income was presented although I don’t think that should have anything to do with what they owe the City of Lake Worth for being slum landlords. Yeah, boo, hoo, hoo. Drive up from Boca and correct the problems. Go to Home Depot. Repair the fence. Cut the grass—whatever. These people live in Boca Raton and find no problem with trashing our City. Let's check and see if they have a rental license.

Obviously the Magistrate, Glen Torcivia, who seems to bend over backwards for these offenders, disagreed with me as he wanted to reduce their fine by 95%. And to make matters worse, they incurred a brand new violation on the property the day before the hearing. That's really sticking it our face. I am not sure what the final fine was but it was a lot less than 95%.

I have observed both magistrates now and one seems to have sympathy with the City and the other with the violator. This might be an unfair assessment based on just a few hearings that I have attended and I will give the benefit of the doubt.

In a nutshell, these men and women of our Code Enforcement Department work hard to improve our city. They are beating their heads against the wall due to the system. Now I learn that this department may be reduced by our city manager to two code enforcement officers or eliminated. Could this even be possible? We need 100 officers on our streets, not two. Let us all tell our city government. And we do NOT want any more outsourcing.

Post Stimulus Tracker

Comment Up
Stimulus Tracker

With $786.9 million, where is Lake Worth in all of this? Don't we need to re-do our roads. Did we forget about our water supply? What about our beach? We could have told the County to stick it. PB County got $1.5 million for trolleys. Don't we need public transportation for our seniors and disabled and poor? Who was looking out for us?

The Sun is Rising on Sunset

Comment Up
Well, Wes did a blog against Sunset, his usual spiel. There are a few who through undying loyalty agree with him against the Sunset neighborhood. One of them calling those of us trying to preserve the single family residential neighborhood "whackos." Wes is inferring that we were drinking the Kool-Aid. He is showing that 36 units would be allowed there per the County. We say, let Sunset Holdings go back to the County then. This is only 4 units short of what they agreed to with Commissioner Burns' assemblage.

What our Ordinances say--

ARTICLE III. SF-7 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
7 du/net acre

23.03.01.00. Intent.

The "single-family residential district, 7 du/net acre" is intended primarily to permit development of one (1) single-family structure per lot. Single-family structures are designed for occupancy by one (1) family or household. Single-family structures do not include accessory apartments or other facilities which permit occupancy by more than one (1) family or household. Provision is made for a limited number of nonresidential uses for the convenience of residents. These nonresidential uses are compatible by reason of their nature and limited frequency of occurrence with an overall single-family residential character. The "single-family residential district" implements the "single-family residential" land use category of the Lake Worth Comprehensive Plan.

23.03.02.00. Use restrictions in single-family residential district, 7 du/net acre.

23.03.02.01.Principal uses permitted by right in SF-7 district.

A. One (1) single-family structure on any platted lot of record.

B. Essential services.

C. Group homes, Type I, subject to regulations as set forth in section 23.19.10.00.

23.03.02.02.Principal use permitted as special land uses in SF-7 district.

A. Cemeteries, public and private.

B. Churches, synagogues and other houses of worship.

C. Light utility facilities, including the following:

Electrical substations

Gas regulator stations

Major transmission lines

Telephone exchange and transmission equipment buildings

Railroad rights-of-way

Water pumping stations

D. Public indoor neighborhood recreation and service facilities such as neighborhood centers, gymnasiums, indoor swimming pools and indoor tennis courts.

E. Public outdoor neighborhood recreation facilities such as golf courses, parks, outdoor swimming pools and outdoor tennis courts.

F. Schools, elementary.

G. Schools, intermediate and secondary offering courses in general and vocational education but not offering courses which involve the regular use of heavy equipment out of doors.

23.03.02.03.Accessory uses permitted by right in the SF-7 district.

A. Garages.

B. Boat docks and boat lifts.

C. Home occupations.

D. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment essential or customarily incidental to the daily operations within a primary residential structure shall be allowed in the rear setback and/or between the main structure and a public street provided that it meets the landscape code requiring that the equipment must be screened from view of the right-of-way. In addition, mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment can be located in the side setback provided that a product information or engineering report is supplied indicating that the equipment does not generate more than seventy-six (76) decibels measured at the property line. This provision can be used by property owners of existing structures only.

E. Permanent standby generators (generators) may be used only during periods of electrical power outages in the utility system. Only one (1) generator shall be allowed per residential unit. Property owners of existing structures will be allowed to have generators as an accessory use subject to the following requirements:

1. Located in the rear setback if the property is not located on an alley;

2. Located in side setback with a maximum height of thirty (30) inches including the concrete pad;

3. Operated for exercising purposes once per week Monday thru Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for a period not to exceed ten (10) minutes.

4. Submitted with a product information or engineering report indicating the noise level shall not encroach any neighboring residential property in excess of one hundred (100) decibels measured from the property line.

5. Sized to power the essential electric circuits.

6. Submitted with a site plan indicating the location and distance of the adjacent residences from the generator.

7. If the generator is located in the side yard, a landscape plan must be submitted indicating the landscape or screening used to prevent visibility from the right-of-way.

8. A site plan indicating the location and distance to property lines and openings (doors, windows, vents, etc.) in the habitable structures as required by all applicable development codes.

9. Natural gas is the only allowable fuel, except for those areas not served by natural gas.

10. For areas not served by natural gas, the property owner must identify the type of fuel used.

As an Intervenor, I have no problem with the City of Lake Worth uses however I must say that use consistency is the key.

When the Sunset investors go back to the County, they will have to pay around $400,000 in development rights to build their 36 units in an MF-5 County zoning. They will have to put in all the infrastructure at their cost. Three stories will not be allowed.

Florida Bear and Ms. Deer for 4

ACORN - The Fraud

From time to time you all have read about ACORN and all its criminal activity. It all came to the forefront during the Obama campaign and his subsequent election as the leader of the free world. No one knew that “free” meant embezzlement, voter fraud, mortgage scams, obstruction of justice, honest services fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States government.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and his Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has just released a Report that presents the evidence of all the charges above.

Now comes the census and ACORN has been engaged by our present government. The Census Bureau has recruited groups such as the NAACP. There are conservative groups that want to eliminate ACORN from the census taking altogether as well as elected officials such as Rep Jason Chaffetz R-Utah) who wants to require mail carriers to count the population. As the amount of mail is dwindling because more and more people are paying on-line, this seems like a great idea.

One thing for sure, we need accurate figures and politics and fraud must be kept out of the census assignment. ACORN, through every fault of its own, has a big trust issue with the American people.

Florida Hometown Democracy

Does this woman have any idea how utterly STUPID this letter to the editor is in today’s Post? Was she on mushrooms or something?

Be careful, or we'll be governed like California

Advocates of the Florida Hometown Democracy amendment initiative claim that they have the solution to stopping irresponsible growth: Simply give citizens, not elected officials, the power to revise highly complicated long-term growth plans.

I hope this group will pause and realize the irony: If successful, the amendment will give considerable power to the very same voters who elected the public officials that advocates of Hometown Democracy blame for all that's wrong with Florida. Let's be careful what we ask for, or we'll quickly become another California, where governing via initiative and referendum, while well-intentioned, has proven to be a colossal failure.
JOANNE RAPTIS
Tequesta

First of all, Joanne, Florida Hometown Democracy has nothing to do with giving citizens the power to change long-term growth plans. This is what Florida Hometown Democracy wants to PREVENT!!

By allowing citizens in their own community to actually have a voice in any change that an elected official wants to make to our Comprehensive Plan, it will prevent everything that has been WRONG with Florida and all the changes they make for developers. It will take corruption totally out of the process.

How can anyone get so confused? Do you think she's been hanging out with Ryan too long or is this a member of the Chamber itself?

Who will it Be?

This morning a group of us got together to discuss local politics—who was running and who we wanted to support. We also discussed the reasons for our choices. Unfortunately there was a mix-up on the meeting destination as two restaurants were previously discussed. Lo and behold, we had to leave TooJays and re-locate.

It was an interesting guessing game discussion. In 2½ weeks we will know who is running.

The only people we know with 100% certainty are:

Laurence McNamara for Mayor

Jo-Ann Golden for District 3

The people we feel will be running and the percentage possibility:

Javier DelSol for Mayor (15%) Has opened a bank account

Rene Varela for Mayor (75%) Has opened a bank account

Loretta Sharpe for Mayor (25%)

James McCauley for Mayor (25%)

Wes Blackman for Mayor or District 3 (99.9%) Wes told us this morning he is not sure! Now politicians always tell the truth, don't they?

Mary Lindsey for District 3 (33.5%)

Elizabeth Arevalo for District 3 (75%)

Retha Lowe for District 1 (50%-100%) We are never sure about Retha

Unknown Annabeth Karson candidate for District 1 (70%)

Unknown Paver candidate for District 1 (100%) Could even be Retha

Barbara Aubel for Mayor (1%)

John Jordan for Mayor (0%)

Tom Ramiccio for Mayor (50%)

Jeff Clemens for Mayor (10%) and Ron Exline thinks it is more of a 45% chance...no way! Jeff says "no way."

Others are in the wings, ready to announce, at the most strategic time. The entire discussion was animated and fun but a total waste of time other than the great food and camaraderie.

House says Restrict Bonuses

Everytime I am 100% sure that the Democrats are leading us down the garden path, they turn around and really do something right! It's a mixed bag for me but yesterday the Democrats just did what any reasonable person would expect our elected representatives to do.

The House voted 237 – 185 to stop bonus packages to those who take inappropriate risks in the finance industry that could jeopardize our economy. They said “no” to government bailed-out banks to giving out big bonuses.

Every U.S.financial institution with $1 billion of assets or more would be subject to this. Also, it will probably cover credit unions, other financial institutions as well as hedge funds.

Those who voted smart in our area were Hastings, Wexler and Klein. Rooney, the Republican, voted the other way. Is he out of his mind?

Verification is the only way - Illegals and Healthcare

"There are 11 million-plus (no one knows how many; it could be double that or more) illegal aliens in the nation," Rep. Nathan Deal (Ga) said during his introduction of the amendment. "We want to make sure that this bill does not extend benefits to those not in the country illegally."

So what happened? A healthcare plan that is estimated to cost the taxpayers $1.6 trillion dollars over the next decade has been hijacked. It was defeated by one vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Essentially the Bill excludes illegal aliens from coverage but there are no provisions within the bill requiring beneficiaries to show their citizenship status and
that is the problem.

A person making over $280,000 a year or a couple making over $350,000 a year will be taxed to death to pay for this. This is taxing the rich to give to the poor. In this case it is taxing those who have worked hard to be where they are in order to give to someone who is a criminal. This goes beyond Socialism to just plain stupid and our government will be rewarding the criminal at the expense of the legal citizen here if this Bill passes in its present form.

In this Bill, States would automatically be required to enroll non-traditional Medicaid individuals to the Plan but it does not require the states to verify citizenship!

Nice pic; bad vote!

The only Congressman from Florida was Kathy Castor from the Tampa area and she voted to allow illegals to have healthcare. People in Tampa--remember this!

This will be coming up again after the August recess for a full debate

Call or e-mail Robert Wexler and tell him to pay attention to what's going on in Florida even if he does NOT live here--

202-225-3001
202-225-5974
561-988-6302
http://www.wexler.house.gov/email.shtml

Call or e-mail Ron Klein and let him know that he is not doing the right thing with your tax dollars if he does not ensure that States verify whether someone is a U.S. citizen before they get healthcare--

202-225-3026
202-225-8398
http://klein.house.gov/?sectionid=4&sectiontree=4

If there is no verification of ones' legal status in this country regarding healthcare benefits, we will be invaded by the hundreds of thousands. No wall will keep them from coming here. You won't be hearing anyone saying "Tear down that wall." They will be saying make a law that makes sense. You think we have problems now. Just wait.

FloridaGov. Charlie Crist (R) 850-488-4441
State Legislature Links
Sen. Mel Martinez (R) Fax: 202-224-2237
Sen. Bill Nelson (D) Fax: 202-228-2183
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-1) Fax: 202-225-3414
Rep. F. Allen Boyd (D-2) Fax: 202-225-5615
Rep. Corrine Brown (D-3) Fax: 202-225-2256
Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-4) Fax: 202-225-2504
Rep. Virginia Brown-Waite (R-5) Fax: 202-226-6559
Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-6) Fax: 202-225-3973
Rep. John Mica (R-7) Fax: 202-226-0821
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-8) Fax: 202-225-0999
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-9) Fax: 202-225-4085
Rep. Bill Young (R-10) Fax: 202-225-9764
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-11) Fax: 202-225-5652
Rep. Adam Putnam (R-12) Fax: 202-225-0585
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-13) Fax: 202-226-0828
Rep. Connie Mack (R-14) Fax: 202-225-6820
Rep. Bill Posey (R-15) Fax: 202-225-3516
Rep. Tom Rooney (D-16) Fax: 202-225-3132
Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-17) Fax: 202-226-0777
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-18) Fax: 202-225-5620
Rep. Robert Wexler (D-19) Fax: 202-225-5974
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-20) Fax: 202-225-8456
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-21) Fax: 202-225-8576
Rep. Ron Klein (D-22) Fax: 202-225-8398
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-23) Fax: 202-225-1171
Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-24) Fax: 202-226-6299
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-25) Fax: 202-226-0346