Alachua County Democrats » smickelb

Vote for Local Democrats in the August 24 Primary!

smickelb — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:24:28 +0000

The following local Democrats will be on the August 24th primary ballot. Complete web site links will be up soon. Be sure to vote in this important election!
Alachua County Commission, District 2
Jack Donovan; Lee Pinkoson
Alachua County Commission, District 4
Cynthia Moore Chestnut
Alachua County School Board
District 1: Bonnie K. Burgess; Felecia Moss; David Palpant; Rick Nesbit
District 3: Wayne Gabb; Gunnar Paulson
District 5: Jennifer D. Deachin; Carol Oyenarte; Jancie Vinson

Meetings & Events This Week

smickelb — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:18:31 +0000

All meetings are at the Democratic Party offices at 901 NW 8th Ave., Suite A3, unless otherwise stated.

Monday, July 19
6:00 pm: JOINT MEETING Campaign Planning Committee, Legislative, & Communications Committees.

Tuesday, July 20
6 pm: Alachua County Disabilities Caucus
7:30 pm: Young Democrats at Satchel’s (Note special day and place of the meeting this month.) Many candidates have been invited.

Wednesday, July 21
6pm: Affirmative Action Committee.

Saturday, July 24
Alachua County Democratic Party/Organizing for America Day of Action. Precincts will begin the canvassing, phone banking, and other activities associated with the campaign to reach our targeted voters. Details will be sent to you mid-week.

Cedar Key Mayor Endorses Alex Sink!

smickelb — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:19:32 +0000

Read all about it at http://cedarkeynews.com/All/4729.html!

Lawton Chiles Gala will be October 3!

smickelb — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:23:49 +0000

The 2010 Lawton Chiles Gala is coming up this fall! Mark your calendar now for the evening of Sunday, October 3, and watch this spot for details to come. Contact Evelyn Foxx at Evelyn Foxx to volunteer for the Gala Committee!

Next ACDEC Meeting – Wed., August 11th!

smickelb — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:00:07 +0000

online casinoThe July meeting of the Alachua County Democratic Party will be Wednesday, August 11th at 7:00 p.m. in the County Administration Building, Jack Durrance Auditorium on the second floor. All Democrats are encouraged to attend! Some of us will gather before the meeting (around 5:30 pm) at Emiliano’s Cafe (7 SE 1st Ave.) for supper and to socialize. Please join us!

Next Blue Door Cafe on Friday, Aug. 20th, at 5 pm!

smickelb — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 00:11:32 +0000

Alachua County Democrats will have our monthly Blue Door Cafe on Aug 20th at 5 p.m. at the ACDEC Offices. Please bring something to eat or drink and join other Democrats to discuss any and all things political or otherwise!

“Whitehouse.gov” The President’s Weekly Address, plus “Health Care Reform–What It Means To You!”

smickelb — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:24:13 +0000

Visit Whitehouse.gov to see President Obama’s Weekly Address. Read about the Obama Administration’s responses to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill. Featured also are: Featured Legislation; Health Reform—What it means to you; and blogs with members of the administration!

Immediate Effects of Obama’s Health Care Reform

smickelb — Sat, 29 May 2010 22:16:52 +0000

KEY PROVISIONS that take effect immediately under Senate Bill as amended by Reconciliation Bill:
1. SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS. Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage. Effective beginning for calendar year 2010. (Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50 percent of premiums.)
2. BEGINS TO CLOSE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE. Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010. Effective for calendar year 2010. (Beginning in 2011, institutes a 50% discount on brand name drugs in the donut hole; completely closes the donut hole by 2020.)
3. FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER MEDICARE. Eliminates co payments for preventive services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the Medicare program. Effective beginning January 1, 2011.
4. HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES. Creates a temporary re insurance program (until the Exchanges are available) to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees for health benefits for retirees age 55 64. Effective 90 days after enactment.
5. ENDS RESCISSIONS. Bans insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Effective 6
months after enactment.
6. NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHILDREN WITH PRE EXISTING CONDITIONS. Prohibits new health plans in all markets plus grandfathered group health plans from denying coverage to children with pre existing conditions. Effective 6 months after enactment. (Beginning in 2014, this prohibition would apply to all persons.)
7. BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE. Prohibits health insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage. Effective 6 months after enactment.
8. BANS RESTRICTIVE ANNUAL LIMITS ON COVERAGE. Tightly restricts the use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care in all new plans and grandfathered group health plans. These tight restrictions will be defined by HHS. Effective 6 months
after enactment. (Beginning in 2014, the use of any annual limits would be prohibited for all new plans and grandfathered group health plans.)
9. FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER NEW PRIVATE PLANS. Requires new private plans to cover preventive services with no co payments and with preventive services being exempt from deductibles. Effective 6 months after enactment.
10. NEW, INDEPENDENT APPEALS PROCESS. Ensures consumers in new plans have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal decisions by their health insurance plan. Effective 6 months after enactment.
11. ENSURING VALUE FOR PREMIUM PAYMENTS. Requires plans in the individual and small group market to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services, and plans in the large group market to spend 85 percent. Insurers that do not meet these thresholds must provide rebates to policyholders. Effective January 1, 2011.
12. IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH RISK POOL. Provides immediate access to affordable insurance for Americans who are uninsured because of a preexisting condition through a temporary subsidized high risk pool. Effective 90 days after enactment.
13. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 26TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENTS’ INSURANCE. Tightly restricts the use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care in all new plans and grandfathered group health plans. These tight restrictions will be defined by HHS. Effective 6 months after enactment.
14. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for nearly a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
15. INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS. Provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
16. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SALARY. Prohibits group health plans from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that have the effect of discriminating in favor of higher wage employees. Effective 6 months after enactment.
17. HEALTH INSURANCE CONSUMER INFORMATION. Provides aid to states in establishing offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals with the filing of complaints and appeals. Effective beginning in FY 2010.
18. CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM. Creates a long-term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide home and community-based services to adults who become functionally disabled. Effective January 1, 2011.

2010 Outstanding Democrats Awards!

smickelb — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:30:58 +0000

The Alachua Democratic Party had its 2010 Outstanding Democrats Award Luncheon on Monday, April 26th, at the Paramount Plaza Hotel! Congratulations and thanks to all award recipients for their outstanding service!
Congratulations to Fred Pratt who received our Democrat of the Year Award! The Eleanor Roosevelt Award went to Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, and Gainesville Commissioner and Mayor-Elect Craig Lowe received the Harry S. Truman “The Buck Stops Here” Award. The Young Democrats awarded their Jeffrey Mattison Wershow Award to Robert Prather. “Unsung Hero” Awards were received by Ron Bern, Warren Clark, Sheila Crapo, Rosemary Christy, Sally Guthrie, Victor & Martha Harrell, Matthew Marsh, and Robert Prather. Emily Browne was given the Special Lifetime Contribution Award for her long and effective advocacy of progressive causes in our community. The Party Chair, Jon Reiskind, gave special recognition this year to the chairs of standing and ad hoc committees in 2009: Beth Richardson, Susan Bottcher, Rosemary Christy, Matthew Marsh, Terry Fleming, Don Herget, Jocelyn Peskin, Sally Guthrie, Robert Prather, Evelyn Foxx, and Julia Reiskind.