Like it or Not, the Democrats got their decades long healthcare wish when the historic and extremely controversial healthcare reform bill passed the US House of Representatives yesterday without a single Republican vote. Under the most comprehensive and sweeping reform to the American healthcare system in more than 50 years, 32 million uninsured Americans will now be covered, at a cost to the government of around $938 billion over the next 10 years. The bill just made it through with a majority – 219 to 212, with 34 Democrats siding with the Republicans.

As someone who was uninsured for 25 years, I have to say that I am not pleased with the idea of shared responsibility. All individuals will generally be required to get coverage or pay a penalty of 2.5 percent of income. The bill claims to make health insurance and college more affordable and accessible, while creating millions of jobs and reducing the deficit. So until I read the bill I’ll remain only somewhat displeased.

House Democrats have posted the bill online. Here is the summary. Here is the bill.

At one time school safety was a minor focus for schools. Unfortunately, weapons are an issue on high school and even middle school campuses. The National Education Association provides the following statistics:

Every school day:

• at least 100,000 students bring guns to school.
• 160,000 students skip classes because they fear physical harm.
• 40 students are hurt or killed by firearms.

Random searches can be thought to be an infringement on the student’s civil liberties. If implemented,  it would be essential to ensure that the searches are random and fair. I also realize that the searches may feel somewhat like a circus and be disruptive to the learning environment, but if it were for the safety of the students I would support an unobtrusive effort.

What are your thoughts?

What are your thoughts about being randomly searched at the airport without cause?

The bill is targeted at winning $2.5 billion from the pot of federal stimulus money to build a high-speed rail system in the state. State lawmakers believe the best way to do that is to impress the feds with their commitment to a state rail system: the special session bill would earmark $15 million per year to subsidize the struggling South Florida Tri-Rail line and spend $432 million to buy 61 miles of track from CSX for a Central Florida commuter line, known as SunRail.

Since the special session opened last week, lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Crist have repeated and repeated again the same mantra: “This is about creating new jobs.” Crist said he will “take money from anyone” as long as it creates jobs. Although the bill doesn’t actually talk about jobs, they would be a consequence of creating rail systems.

At a fundraiser for Florida’s largest gay and lesbian rights organization, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and leading Democratic candidate for Governor, Alex Sink said that the primary concern should be the child’s best interest, rather than the sexual orientation of the adoptive parent. “We need a system in which all of our children are assured that they live in a healthy, loving home…a home that’s determined not by any law,” Sink told the room filled with gay activists who packed a gallery of modern artwork at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale. “The decision has to be made by the judge, in consultation with the experts, to determine what is the best for that individual child.” Sink said she looked forward to working with Democratic state Sen. Nan Rich of Weston, who has unsuccessfully pushed legislation to repeal the state’s gay adoption ban.

Permanency is a primary goal of Florida’s dependency system, and we are the only state that specifically bans “homosexual” individuals from adopting, although the state does allow them to be foster parents. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman overturned the law and allowed a North Miami gay couple to proceed with their adoption. Frank Martin Gill took in two young boys on a temporary basis five years ago. The case is currently on appeal, with the State’s Attorney General, and leading Republican candidate for Governor Bill McCollum, defending the state law before the appeals courts.

A total of 4,642 children are available for adoption and families have been identified for more than 2,727 of them. The remaining 1,915 desperately need adoptive families. With these numbers, Florida should be searching high and low for qualified adoptive parents. Instead, the state bans all gay and lesbian individuals from becoming adoptive parents. This may seem like legislation preventing gay adults from the right to raise a child, but the ones that are most affected by the legislation are the orphaned children. I think its time for the State of Florida to acknowledge that sexual orientation has nothing to do with parental performance.

Economists and the business community have advanced a birth to five policy agenda. Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families has released an article that examines the economic benefits of investing in the earliest years, and provides a state example that demonstrates it in action. It also provides tips and strategies for how states and/or communities can work with business leaders and economists to establish similar investments for infants, toddlers, and their families.

When choosing investments in the world of finance, we strive to yield the highest rate of return while minimizing the financial risk involved. Investing in our children’s first years fits this investment principle quite well.  Both scientists and economists now agree that investing in early childhood is a critical and proven strategy to ensuring our nation’s future economic success.  Business leaders can invest in early childhood opportunities for young children to create a stable, educated workforce fueled by people who prioritize good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences.

James Heckman, a Nobel Memorial Prize winner in Economics, proposes investing in early childhood programs because it provides the answer to global competitiveness, better health and education outcomes, and less crime and poverty. As parents, child advocates and leaders in business the community we can ensure larger gains collaboratively than an individual investment could yield alone.

This idea was put into action when the initiative of many corporate leaders, formed the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation (MELF).  Supported by $20 million in private funding, MELF’s mission is to recommend cost-effective strategies to prepare children for success in kindergarten and beyond. The idea is to have corporations be strategically invested, rather than just supporting programs.

]]> http://triplemartinilunch.com/a-proven-return-on-investment/feed/ 2 http://triplemartinilunch.com/increasing-our-cultural-competency/ http://triplemartinilunch.com/increasing-our-cultural-competency/#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:41:43 +0000 admin http://triplemartinilunch.com/?p=964 Day two of my Guardian Ad Litem training covered cultural competency. It was very well put together and I walked away with a better attitude, and more awareness, knowledge and skills than before. The class was such a personal success, that I think Developing Cultural Competency classes should be required as part of a continuing education program to retain citizenship in the United States.

I knew that it was not legal for lesbian or gay adoption or marriage in Florida, but I did not realize that it was legal for them foster children.  I think this is a very interesting double standard.  Whatever rationale brought the State to the conclusion that it was safe and acceptable for Gay or Lesbian families to foster children, should be the same rational that allows them to adopt, and quite frankly I cant think of any rational reason to prevent two people from getting married.  I’m not sure that we should be taking any rights away from groups of people as a whole. While were at it, maybe we can make them take custody of all the Pitt Bulls as well.

The Florida law banning lesbians and gay men from adopting stifles efforts to find families for the approximately 3,500 foster children the State in need of homes…leaving some children without the option of having a “forever family”.

In a landmark ruling in 2008, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman ruled the state’s 1977 ban on gay adoption was unconstitutional. The decision allowed Miami resident Martin Gill and his partner to adopt two foster brothers whom he has raised since 2004. But the state’s appeal threatens the long-awaited adoption. Legal documents the American Civil Liberties Union challenge to the Gay Adoption ban were made public earlier this year.  Some of the documents including the State’s Appeal Brief can be found here. You can meet Frank Gill and his boys here: Fighting Florida’s Gay Adoption Ban

The most respected Florida and national children’s health, welfare and legal advocacy groups filed seven “friend-of-the-court” briefs before a Florida appeals court urging the court to strike down the Florida law barring lesbians and gay men from adopting. Here are the participating groups.

Children’s Health and Welfare Groups

• The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)
• American Psychological Association
• North American Council on Adoptable Children
• Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
• Center for Adoption Policy
• Foster Care Alumni of America
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• Florida Chapter of the NASW
• Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Legal Advocates for Children

• National Center for Adoption Law and Policy
• Juvenile Law Center
• Lawyers for Children America
• National Center for Youth Law
• Southern Poverty Law Center
• Family Law Section of the Florida Bar
• Foster Children’s Project of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County
• University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law Center on Children and  Families Children & Youth Law Clinic of the University of Miami School of Law
• Florida State University College of Law Public Interest Law Center
• Florida International University Juvenile Justice Clinic
• The Barry University School of Law Children and Families Clinic
• The Nova Southeastern University Law Center Children and Families Clinic
• Child Advocacy Clinic at Hofstra School of Law
• Ohio State University School of Law
• Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center
• Loyola Chicago School of Law
• Children’s Law Center of Minnesota
• Justice for Children Project
• Support Center for Child Advocates
• Civitas Child Law Clinic

Every ten years, after the census, the boundaries of our congressional, state house and state senate districts are redrawn. Redistricting was originally intended to ensure that districts are roughly equal in population, making each vote count.

In the past, under both parties, district lines have been drawn to strengthen whichever party held the majority in the Legislature. Starting with the last redistricting in 2002, computerized mapping and voting data analysis made districting a far more powerful political tool than before. As a result, our representatives are choosing their voters.

Although this would probably help the Democrats and hurt the Republicans (who control the legislature and altered the redistricting in 2002 to benefit them greatly) at least initially, this is a non-partisan effort that goes far beyond changing the current political effort. Although there is no organized opposition at this point in the game, some can be expected some from the Republican legislature. The next step is to start running a political campaign. Although they have not started this phase, I am eager to get involved once they do and will be sure to update you with ways you can get involved. Until then, here is a link where you can find out more, download and sign the petition and find ways to get involved now.

So what do you think of President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize? My initial thought was that the prize seemed a bit premature. I admire his efforts toward Middle East peace, but what exactly has he done? Obama’s efforts on Nuclear Non-Proliferation are important, but at this point they are just that, efforts. A lot of hard work is ahead. It is my understanding that winning the Nobel Peace Prize is typically granted for a lifetime of work in promoting peace like the work of Nelson Mandela. The Nobel Prize Committee states that Obama has “created a new climate in international politics.”  Which is true, the American President, Christian, but with a Muslim name is willing to speak with a Muslim Country, about the injustices they have faced and the ones they have caused. Perhaps winning this award will give President Obama more power in his Middle East peace efforts and more confidence to and encouragement to make some serious actions ahead.

The nomination process begins in September each year when the Nobel Prize Committee sends letter to individuals qualified to make nominations.  The deadline for submission of nomination letters is the following Feburary. That being said, President Obama had been in office for a month at the most since his late January Inauguration. In recent years, there have been up to 200 submissions for nominations. I tried to explore the nominatin database further, but the information about the nominations, investigations, and opinions concerning the award is kept secret for 50 years. Jane Adams was nominated 91 times between 1916 and 1931 before she was finally awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, granted she was one of the first women to recieve the award, but this sort of life’s work is what I associate the Nobel Prize with.

I don’t intend to bash the President or his efforts to run the Country or keep the peace by any means, I’m quite thankful that it is his job and not mine. I’m just questioning the Nobel Committee and the process of selecting the recipient of the award. What do you think of Obama getting the Nobel Prize?

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