Commissioner Mike Schware points out that it will cost too much, but colleague Percy Dougherty counters its only $250,000-500,000 per County.
Former tea party blowhard Joe Hilliard instructs, “There is no pressing need, no outcries or demands for a massive bureaucracy governing two counties to save the roving bands of people keeling over from food poisoning all over the rural areas.”
Oh yeah, what about zombie attacks? Didn't think of that, did you, Joe?
Joe's about to get his wish. Not food poisoning or zombies. But there will be outcries at the August 8 meeting of Lehigh County Commissioners.
Former Commissioner Gloria Hamm, R.N., has sent out this email blast:
"Last evening, several Lehigh County Commissioners proposed Lehigh County stop further efforts to unite with Northampton County to create a bi-county health bureau. A Board of professionals and business people have been meeting for several years to create this partnership, unique in the state. It would cover over 600,000 people of all ages.Also whipping up support is an unnamed Commissioner, probably Dr. Dougherty:
"These several commissioners feel they are voting to disband because the LC residents want this. They will vote on Wednesday, August 8 at the 7:30 PM meeting. We would like to show there is a significant segment of the population in support of a two county arrangement. In the interest of time, we should not all speak. Also, please send an email or call these commissioners asap to let them know of your feelings. Refer to the Lehigh County web site for their individual addresses or send an email to commissionersoffice@lehighcounty.org."
"Now is the time to give a last minute push. Brad [Osborne] is not totally in their camp and he will bend if there is a big public push to save the Health Department. Mike Schware is in a delicate position and may face an opponent because of his stand, plus lose one of his major financial backers. Get people to contact the commissioners individually.
"The best I hope to gain is a stalemate and have the death penalty tabled for the time being."
29 comments:
THIS HEATLH BOONDOOGLE IS THE REAL ZOMNBIE, IT JUST WON'T DIE. TOO MANY GOOD PAYING GOVERNEMNT JOBS AT STAKE AND THE HANDOUTS, OH MY!
THE MEETING WILL BE FULL WITH THE USUAL COMMUNITY PARARSITES. ALL THE PLAYERS THAT HAVE A HAND OUT AND SOMETHING TO GAIN FROIM THIS NEW BOONDOOGLE WILL BE THERE IN FORCE.
ONE THING YUOU WON'T SEE, MANY OF THE ORDINARY CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS!!!!
The taqxpayers never asked for this and still don't want or need it. Should be interesting if the new LC Commissioners have the internal fortituse to join Northampton County and again say,
"NO THANK YOU, NOW GO AWAY!!!"
How much money has gone into this group's meetings and room rentals and endless news articles. Good grief.
Wasn't the plug pulled on this idiotic unnecessary expanse of local government? Don't these people pushing this get it, yet?
This is a for minorities only program sponsored by bleeding heart liberals.
If you are a blondie with blue eyes you won't get any help from these do-gooders.
Kill the monster before it multipliers.
I'm tired of spending my money on others
Maybe one of the interview questions for the County Executive candidates should be whether they would agree with or veto the bill to kill it if it passes. If it passes with a 5-4 majority and the new executive vetoes it, it will fail.
This is assuming the commissioners appoint a new exec at the meeting on August 8th. Don't know whether Tom Muller would veto this if it were presented to him.
I get your point, but the Bill already has 6 co-sponsors, so it is veto proof.
a step backwards from Geeting's 'one world government' dream
Allentown has a health bureau. It is willing to save funds by giving its employees over to someone else. Bethlehem has a health bureau. Maybe they are willing to give it up for the same reasons. It works well for Bethlehem to have a bi-county health bureau given the fact that Bethlehem is a bi-county city. For the reason that Bethlehem is Bi-County is the reason it would not participate in a go alone Lehigh County Health Bureau. Rigth now accept for Allentown the rest of Lehigh County can be served by the Pennsylvania Health Bureau. A betting man would be surprised if the current Board of Lehigh County Commissioners would voted against the Current Bi-County Health and Lehigh County Health repeal bill.
Step by Step the victors of last fall move through their spoken agenda.
As a former candidate for County Commissioner my statement on it was clear and consistent with what was said above.
No, I am not an candidate for Lehigh County Executive ... No I will not be a candidate for Dan McCarthy's replacement should he be appointed executive. No I was not appointed ti the most recent City of Allentown Council vacancies.
Bernie O'Hare calls me Bi or Tri Polar on what Public Office I would like to serve on ... Just say this I am knowledgeable about the issues that confront the City of Allentown, Bethlehem and the Lehigh County. But it seems that everybody else gets a try out before me ... and eventually they disappoint the public
Dennis Pearson
As far as the "liberals" loving this plan. Do you mean all the "bleeding heart liberals" on the LV Chamber of Commerce and the LV Business Partnership, that support this thing?
2:44 -
Yes.
If you think the Chamber isn't liberal, go back and review their opposition to Allentown's tax hikes. Or Allentown's pro- union bills that were passed in recent years.
When you find that info, please post it because no one has heard of it before.
The reality is that the Chamber is populated by big-government types from both parties. Even liberal councilman (and soon- to-be state rep Mike Schlossberg works for them. Hardly a supporter of business interests.
Good points re: The Chamber. They are beggars and have done better at the feet of big government than big business, lately. The Chamber has lost it's way by relying upon government for "commerce." This is Blue Pennsylvania, after all, and it's difficult for The Chamber to see the forest from the trees.
Creating another bureaucracy is never a good idea. Government types get jobs that are paid for with money taken from those who truly need it. We've all seen this movie before and know how it ends. The health bureaucratic really is a zombie and must be carefully dealt with to insure absolute death.
Anon 3:58, I agree. Why do businesses keep paying six figure salaries to people in the Chamber that do, what? Iannelli is just a big bellied glad hander. It seems like a fraternity for "big" businesses like banks and big insurance. Can't see why a "small" business woiuld want to joing at their dues.
I think most Lehigh Valley taxpayers both Republican and Democrat want this boondogle to die.
Enough! Disband the committee and end it.
If the hospitals want a place to schuffle the poor, let them create their own independent clinic system.
Don't need a new bureaucraxcy to check on the little league hot dog stands, if the parents don't check, their kids get sick. Pretty simple really!
Please know that I do in fact support a bi-county health department and would like to correct everyone out there who believes public health is only for the poor. Do only the poor eat at restaurants, do only the poor have septic systems, do only the poor get STDs (if you think so talk to some college students), do only the poor need assistance with emergency preparedness, do only the poor get diabetes/heart disease, do only the poor have pre-mature babies? (I think I made my point)
That being said, now is definitely not the time for a public health agency to be started. The initial plans for the department are extremely underfunded and will actually cause public health services already in existense to be spread too thin.
Bernie - please look into the recent cuts in public health financing from our wonderful Governor - 5% cuts across the board for all health departments (retroactive to FY12). How can we possibly start a bi-county (or single county) department, with "no tax payer money" (or even minimal amount of money) when the State reserves the right to decrease reimbursements after the money was already spent.
Please contact the commissioners and say table for now and put this thing out of its agony (at least for now)!
Instead contact your Congressmen and ask to restore the funding for health departments in PA - especially for work already done! Ask Commissioners to table this exercise in futility and turn attention to burdens affecting our current public health system!
Dr. Snow, Thanks for your comment. You point to Corbett's budget cuts. How long will it be before he decides on cuts to public health, reducing the state match for county dollars? That's a very real concern.
I agree that now is not the time. I also happen to agree with your assertion that public health is for everyone. I wish that our well-endowed hospitals were willing to commit some cold hard cash.
That is the problem - the cuts are retroactive. The 10 local health departments received a letter from the Department of Health simply stating they do not have the money to reimburse for services already performed. In this case the locals are getting a 5% cut on services already provided in FY11, that were to be paid in FY12. For City Departments, this loss is slightly more managable than county bureaus that are now hundreds of thousands of dollars in the RED.
The Acts state that the Commonwealth will reimburse a MAXIMUM per capita rate of $6.00/head, if the money is available - in this case it was not...too bad. To make matters worse, it is my understanding that no information is avaialable in regards to the possiblity of these cuts continuing (or increasing) in future years.
These cuts are forcing locals to look at their missions and decide which services are no longer needed, or which service can be cut with the least amount of damage to the public. Since public health is a system of non-events (primarily preventative, minimal reactive), this is a recipe for disaster.
While I agree that local hospitals should be willing to contribute to this cause, please remember that a certain separation of government and private business must be maintained. How can one entity regulate the entity that is contributing to its very existence?
Dr., I'd argue that there is no conflict bc a hospital grant would not go directly to the public health department. It would instead go to the county, which would use the money for matching purposes. That's enough of an insulation, albeit artificial, to prevent a conflict of interest claim.
Agreed, however I am not only referring to an "claim" of conflict of interest that could be defended as you suggest, but an actual situation where the department would need to investigate a situation involving the hospital.
Case in point - hospital acquired infections (HAI). Although I will not pretend to have all the data related to HAI prevalence, I do know that this has been a topic of concern. How could a public health agency investigate HAI rates, when the implicated hospital is a general contributor to its existence? I am not saying a public/private partnership is not possible, however various scenarios will need to be considered and egos checked at the door.
Thanks for all your insight on various topics, it is nice to see public health getting some attention. I am not sure how these cuts in public health have went under the radar of our traditional media outlets, I truly appreciate you allowing me my soap box rants. Citizens need to be advised that potential services may no longer be available (services utilized by the poor and "rich" alike).
You are more than welcome here.
most poor people want to be poor because they are lazy. they just want someone else to take care of them. How do you think obama got elected?
then comes along a real leader such as Governor Corbett. He is willing to see the bigger picture and make the proper cuts so that all can survive.
it is high time that the people of this state and this nation pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and took care of themselves instead of relying on the government to take care of them.
Make further cuts to these silly programs of gimme, gimme more and make people earn their way.
Can the silly notion of a bi-county health boondoggle. Can most of the Allentown and Bethlehem health bureaus programs.
@4:30
"It is impossible to beat an ignorant man in argument"
~William G McAdoo
"Dr. SNOW",
Are u falling back on insults to prove your point or are you admitting that my viewpoint is correct?
@ 7:36
No insult intended, just simple statement of fact. I do not plan on entertaining comment supported simply by ignorance/arrogance and not data. When you have the data to support your claims, I will be more than willing to further discuss the topic with you.
We are losing Human Service departments and someone wants to start a brand new department..Seriously, it's time to kill this monster once and for all..The state is supposedly going to help fund the new department..Yea right, just like they are funding human services and education..They always renig on their promises..they are millions in debt...The idea of beginning a health department is nutzo!!! Just crazy!
Hey doc,
there go using negative words again. I don't need to have a study done by some sociology major to tell me that the users are quickly out pacing the supporters in this country. Look at the illegals, the welfare roles , the drug users murder, rape and other crime reports.
if you are illegal and need help to get up on your own two feet - fine - to a point but not forever.
this unnecessary and wasteful white elephant is nothing but bleeding heart liberal so called health providers way of getting more money from the government for themselves and for people that should be standing up on their own two feet instead of constantly begging.
u can drag out all the charts, graphs and studies you want. It will not change the obvious truth that most of these people are nothing but parasites looking for another handout from our government and people who have earned their own way
One of the best ways to deal with this issue would be a referendum. Let the voters of both counties give their opinion on whether or not the two counties should form a new health department.
The supporters of the idea have fought this refernedum suggestion for over a decade. Why? They know the voters would kill it once and for all. They have instead concentrated on the sitting county legislatures to "slide" this thing into existence.
Again, if you are serious, have a referendum. However, I don't even see the need for that as most of our county officals aren't intersted and neither are most taxpayers.
The medicine may be good for me but at the end of the day it is my choice whether or not to take it.
Excellent suggestion, and one specifically provided for by law. It would give advocates an opportunity to make their case.
Again, if the truth is obvious then you should be able to hold an intelligent debate about the topic referencing hard facts. I know I can. By the way, I will remember to tell the next baby who was born premature that they are parasites...Also, please let me know when a mosquito asks for socio-economic status prior to transmitting disease. I am done with your arrogance, I feel sorry for you. Good Day.
@ 3:54
We have been asking for years to send to referendum! As you can read I am a strong proponent of Public Health, but now is not the time for this. Due to personal agendas many are trying to push this through to add to their resumes, and have lost sight of the current picture. Utilize the money from the numerous studies and consultants and give to another existing entity so that true public health can occur!
doc snow - see you can't be trusted. you said you were not willing to entertain comment not supported by fact - but you did.
I need not to waste anymore time on you. Obviously you are too blinded by your own ambition and liberal views to seek the truth.
Keep sucking up the government money so you can go home and drink you wine and snack on cheese telling yourself that you have done the poor masses some good.
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