Lancaster City Council is backing a 'public option' plan Options

[Lancaster Online]

[Lisa Armellino]

Read the bill being proposed here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/...660&pn=2440

[Livin-in-Lancast...]

You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation.

[avgwhiteguy]

Unmentioned in this article is Mayor Gray's rather timely prediction of "grave budgetary decisions" (read: personnel cuts) in the city's emergency services bureaus, presented last night at council.

I say timely because when asked about the budgetary needs of the emergency services BEFORE the election, Mayor Gray confidently stated that he didn't intend on laying off any emergency workers.

Funny how 7 short days can change the tenor of a conversation, isn't it?

I look forward to the preliminary budget conversations this year. I wonder how many hundreds of thousands of dollars the city will funnel out of taxpayer's pockets and into the hands of (sometimes) councilman Joe Morales' full-time employer Lancaster Community Safety Coalition?

Council must hold the line on personnel reductions in our emergency services bureaus. We absolutely need our police and fire fighters in the numbers we currently employ. Any reductions in either service will place both the responders and citizens at risk, and the city will suffer the consequences of slow responses, increased medical costs and legal liability.

[littledutchboy]

Didn’t they also vote YES to make the City a “sanctuary” for illegal, or some such nonsense? (IMG:http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[g.park]

You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity..

The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation.

3%? Is that what it would take to "legislate [you] out of prosperity?" Seriously? I don't know about you, but 3% of my paycheck is SIGNIFICANTLY less than what I pay for a private insurance premium.

"...the end of any nation."
Here's a list of nations who were "ended" by socialized healthcare:

• Canada
• The UK
• Australia
• Finland
• Sweden

[crazydemgirl]

It's a good idea but I don't think the 10% tax should extent to self employed people making under 40k a year. They're already taxed very heavily and people in tht income bracket shouldn't be, weather they are self employed or not.

[legaleagle]

I say timely because when asked about the budgetary needs of the emergency services BEFORE the election, Mayor Gray confidently stated that he didn't intend on laying off any emergency workers.

Funny how 7 short days can change the tenor of a conversation, isn't it?

You don't say ? You think now maybe he lied about some other stuff too ?

And what is the Council doing weighing in on this stuff ? This is silly. What's next a resolution on stem cells ? Keep your focus on fixing our problems here in the city already.

[Lisa Armellino]

And what is the Council doing weighing in on this stuff ? This is silly. What's next a resolution on stem cells ? Keep your focus on fixing our problems here in the city already.

They buy votes.

[Artie See]

And what is the Council doing weighing in on this stuff ? This is silly. What's next a resolution on stem cells ? Keep your focus on fixing our problems here in the city already.

This is a tough call. At the City Council committee meeting where this was discussed, a group of people spoke at length to convince City Council to support this resolution - the same one that has already been passed in other cities.

At the committee meeting, Kendra Saunders specifically questioned the value of this resolution. She made it clear that it is nothing more than a symbolic gesture, and wondered aloud if it will make a difference. The people promoting this resolution were very clear that the symbolism is needed to influence change.

Dr. Kendra Saunders is clearly the most intelligent and cognizant individual currently on City Council. It's a shame she chose to not run for re-election; she will be missed.

They buy votes.

Maybe. On the other hand, this resolution MIGHT have some impact on our State legislators.

I agree with the statement you made last night, that these specific laws are flawed, and that the numbers being quoted are probably overly optimistic. On the other hand, SOMETHING needs to be done about health care costs; more and more of our tax dollars are being spent simply to maintain current levels of staffing in public and emergency services.

If I were on City Council, I would have moved to amend this resolution to eliminate the references to those two specific bills, and the specific dollar amounts.

[avgwhiteguy]

Didn’t they also vote YES to make the City a “sanctuary” for illegal, or some such nonsense? (IMG:http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:http://talkback.lancasteronline.com/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Um, what?

This is a tough call. At the City Council committee meeting where this was discussed, a group of people spoke at length to convince City Council to support this resolution - the same one that has already been passed in other cities.

At the committee meeting, Kendra Saunders specifically questioned the value of this resolution. She made it clear that it is nothing more than a symbolic gesture, and wondered aloud if it will make a difference. The people promoting this resolution were very clear that the symbolism is needed to influence change.

Dr. Kendra Saunders is clearly the most intelligent and cognizant individual currently on City Council. It's a shame she chose to not run for re-election; she will be missed.



Maybe. On the other hand, this resolution MIGHT have some impact on our State legislators.

I agree with the statement you made last night, that these specific laws are flawed, and that the numbers being quoted are probably overly optimistic. On the other hand, SOMETHING needs to be done about health care costs; more and more of our tax dollars are being spent simply to maintain current levels of staffing in public and emergency services.

If I were on City Council, I would have moved to amend this resolution to eliminate the references to those two specific bills, and the specific dollar amounts.

So when exactly are you announcing your candidacy, and where can I pick up a sign?

[Bouquet]

Read the bill being proposed here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/...660&pn=2440

Sounds awesome!

We can improve the lives of those in Pennsylvania without having to get dragged under by the backwards folks in the south.

[FDR06-10]

Unmentioned in this article is Mayor Gray's rather timely prediction of "grave budgetary decisions" (read: personnel cuts) in the city's emergency services bureaus, presented last night at council.

I say timely because when asked about the budgetary needs of the emergency services BEFORE the election, Mayor Gray confidently stated that he didn't intend on laying off any emergency workers.

Funny how 7 short days can change the tenor of a conversation, isn't it?

I look forward to the preliminary budget conversations this year. I wonder how many hundreds of thousands of dollars the city will funnel out of taxpayer's pockets and into the hands of (sometimes) councilman Joe Morales' full-time employer Lancaster Community Safety Coalition?

Council must hold the line on personnel reductions in our emergency services bureaus. We absolutely need our police and fire fighters in the numbers we currently employ. Any reductions in either service will place both the responders and citizens at risk, and the city will suffer the consequences of slow responses, increased medical costs and legal liability.

Gee, and we thought you were advocating for more firefighters and less police officers in some of your rants? So now you feel both are adequate? As the crime rate continues to rise in the city you feel no more police officers are needed?

I can't wait to see what you have to say when Gray hacks some of these people.

[Kate]

Of course this lame duck, rubber stamp council will promote socialized government. That way,when dozens of city employees are laid off permanently the city can always come back and say they supported public option healthcare which will help those who they laid off.

There have been many useless "resolutions" over the years in support of issues the local government has no business dabbling in. Some resolutions are silly.

[Pericles]

On the other hand, SOMETHING needs to be done about health care costs; more and more of our tax dollars are being spent simply to maintain current levels of staffing in public and emergency services.

Neither the house or senate bills do anything to reduce costs. They both just create bigger pies.