Friday, November 6, 2009
Uncategorized A reader asks, What exactly is in the House health care reform bill?
Posted by Bob Geary on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Perhaps that reader was you? In any event, the complete text of the bill, H.R. 3962 is available for your perusal on Congressman David Price's website (h/t Lenice Williams), should you care to attempt it. Also, links to an overview of the bill, section-by-section summaries, and a helpful piece of propaganda from the House Ways and Means Committee, "Top 14 Provisions that Take Effect Immediately."
I've been following this thing pretty closely, and I didn't know six of them.
Did you know, for example, that the bill creates a long-term care program, financed by voluntary payroll deductions, for adults who become functionally disabled? I didn't.
The House vote on H.R. 3962 could come as early as Saturday evening, or may be delayed until Tuesday depending on how much flack the Republicans throw at it. (There's not a single GOP vote for it, apparently.) Democratic leaders say they're closing in on the 218 votes needed for passage, according to Talking Points Memo.
Fingers crossed. For Larry Kissell fans, do not look at what BlueNC's James Protzman has to say about Kissell's announced position in opposition to the bill. I'm betting he comes around in the end.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Around Raleigh Cast a vote for Doc Hendley: A "candidate" everyone can love
Posted by Bob Geary on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Take a minute to check out this website -- Doc Hendley, NCSU Class of '04, is the founder/leader of an organization, Wine to Water, that's doing great work in the Third World using money raised courtesy of good old American drinking.
Doc's one of 10 finalists in CNN's national "Hero of 2009 balloting" -- the website explains how to vote for him. It's a no-brainer for members of the Wolfpack Nation as well as right-thinking backers of all other North Carolina institutions.
There was a Brickyard ceremony today at State to rally support for the Hendley campaign and Hendley's group, which is based in Boone. H/t to Raleigh Councilor Thomas Crowder, who represented the city and called to say what an impressive, and humble, person Hendley turned out to be.
The case for Hendley is outlined in this press release from the university, which is copied below the fold. But again, go the Wine to Water website for inspiration and your link to the CNN balloting.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Wake County Tedesco wins, conservative majority now in control of Wake schools
Posted by Bob Geary on Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 9:42 PM
No surprise in the District 2 school board runoff: John Tedesco, who finished first with almost 50 percent of the vote in the five-way race on October 6, defeated Cathy Truitt by a 3-to-1 margin tonight. Election results are here. Truitt called for the runoff, then tried to rescind her call while endorsing Tedesco, then said she'd serve if elected when the State Board of Elections ruled that the runoff must go on. Not surprisingly, Tedesco's side turned out in force to make sure she didn't get the chance.
We reported on Tedesco a couple of weeks ago. Nothing's changed from his standpoint -- that we know of.
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