In Case You Missed It…
It was a holiday week and most of the posts were health care related given the end of the Congressional recess and upcoming big Presidential health care speech. Still, the light shined on Monroe County and there was another ROBUTRAD deal and more Navitech nonsense.
Here is the week that was on RochesterTurning.
Health Care
Well, let’s start with this. I asked if Metro Justice knew what real health care reform was since they had just sent out a letter blasting Eric Massa for his health care stance. A heated private email exchange was settled when a link showing where Massa signed the progressive caucus letter (voting no unless a robust public option included in the bill) was sent to Metro Justice and I got the acknowledgment that my points were valid. Small victories.
The D&C came out with an editorial saying among other things that a Medicare for all system should be looked at. I could only say, wow! Robert Reich talks about the public option. Alfred village passes a Health Care resolution,
The Wednesday speech comes and …
Here is my take - There were good things - calling out the party of no progress and no ideas - otherwise known as the GOP. Hanging the deficits and financial mess on his predecessors and President Obama made the case for a Public Option. All good things. Then he proceeded to back away from the public option, equated a good Single Payer system (the “left”) with the bad status quo (the “right”) in order to marginalize both.
You might want to put the words of Obama’s speech in the context by reading these posts about holding insurance companies accountable and actions speak louder than words. This is followed by Speaker Pelosi backing away from the Public Option a few days later.
Local Politics
Mayor Duffy suggests that the Auditorium Theater be renovated instead of relocating the Rochester Broadway theater league. The RBTL is having none of it - forgetting that they have a funding problem NOT a location problem.
Scandal Central updates
- Navitech - County Exec Maggie Brooks tries to bulldoze her way though the system as the $224 dollar Navitech vote is delayed in the County Legislature. This was followed up with, yet, another article where pieces of the puzzle started coming to light. Navitech simply represents partisanship at the oldest level. The Democrats in the County Legislature can’t stop the awarding of the contract, but they can ensure there is oversight and transparency by continually and publicly questioning this contract.
- Greece - Merritt Rahn has a Public hearing date.
- ROBUTRAD - another plea deal.
Quick Clicks
The Bigger Better Bottle bill moves closer to implementation.
Ever wonder about the origins of Labor Day? Here you go.
President Obama spoke, as have previous presidents, to the nation’s kids. We had to endure a firestorm of accusations that he was trying to corrupt the nation’s youth. Ridiculous, to the point where this parody could have been true.
Ah, Red Pop - a simpler time away from the baggers and birthers.
Congressman Eric Massa give a lengthy and comprehensive interview with City News. Hope they can follow-up with lengthy and comprehensive interviews with our other Reps. Anyone taking bets on that happening?
That’s it - see you next week…
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