Congressman John Barrow outlined his position on health care during Wednesday's “Morning's unPHILtered” show. Barrow represents the Twelfth District of Georgia, which stretches along the eastern portion of the state, from Augusta to Savannah, and includes all of Bulloch County. He was first elected in 2004 and easily won reelection as a “Blue Dog” Democrat in 2008.
Barrow called host Phil Boyum in from Washington, D.C., where Congress is in session. Barrow currently sits on three Congressional Subcommittees: Energy and the Environment; Health; and Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
Barrow explained his vote against the Health Care Reform Bill passed by the House on Nov. 7, which he called “a re-run” of a bill introduced earlier. Barrow said the bill does nothing to contain “out of control” health costs currently being felt by virtually everyone in America.
Barrow promised to work for a bill that protects the customer as well as the health insurance industry. Barrow spoke of Georgia's “Peach Care” program that requires people to pay for health care on a sliding scale as they can afford it, but makes sure they are covered.
Barrow stated that there has been virtually no regulation of the health insurance industry for some 70 years. Those who collect premiums charge way too much, raise them at a whim, and cut people off from their health care once they get sick, and he promised to do his part to stop these practices.
Barrow said he understands it is unfair to expect health insurance to allow people to get insurance only after they get sick, and then expect for all costs to be covered. He insisted he isn't against a health reform bill, but wants one that is fiscally responsible.
Barrow spoke of how companies use lax laws in the state they are registered in order to allow them to avoid more strict legislation in other states. He stated that state and federal governments need to work for a level playing field in all states in order to avoid the widely-varying costs and coverage depending on what state you happen to live in.
Rather, Barrow said, new regulations really need to protect those who've been paying premiums for years and find themselves getting dropped from coverage once they make their first claim. Barrow said the perfect legislation would see that both the insurance industry and Americans are protected by what legislation is finally passed.
Barrow said that issues like smoking and diabetes, and their huge health costs, must be dealt with in a pro-active manner. This can be done by both getting people to adopt more healthy lifestyles and at the same time ensuring that the best treatment that exists is available to those who suffer from the medical problems associated with those diseases.
Boyum's next guests on the show were Rick Robins, owner of the new “Boro Take Out Express,” and Wayne Circye the owner of “Ocean Galley.” Robins explained that after becoming friends with local chefs, hes learned that individual restaurants couldn't afford to do deliveries.
Robins shared that similar restaurant delivery business have opened to great success in other cities. By providing deliveries from a number of different types of restaurants Robins hopes to be able to meet everyone's needs.
Circy spoke about his ordering from another local restaurant and was very pleased with the speed with which it was delivered and the temperature of the food when it was delivered. Robins said that he already has agreements with one dozen restaurants, and spoke of how he was in negotiations with a great many others which he hopes to add to his list of services very soon.
Robins spoke of how business is slowly but surely picking up, and they have high expectations for a big increase in delivery orders in the near future, especially as the number of restaurant choices increases.
There is a single order charge for a delivery of $3.50 for the first restaurant, with an additional $2.25 charge for each additional restaurant that food is picked up at for the same delivery location. Orders can be made on-line, and credit cards can be used to pay on-line as well. For orders or more information, call 225-3608 or go to borotakeout.com
The next guests were Christian Lentz, Statesboro's city planning director, and consultant Denise R. Grabowski, who works for Lott Barber Inc. of Atlanta. They came on the show to talk about the new Unified Land Development Code (ULDC).
This governmental code regulates the use of land, the location and use of buildings and other site improvements, and the construction of public facilities and private improvements related to the development of land in each jurisdiction.
This ULDC addresses almost all issues for individual homes or large subdivisions. Some states are now requiring that every community adhere to a single UDLC, in order to get rid of the problems caused by a whole host of antiquated and outdated ordinances that just don't cover issues that need to be addressed.
Lentz shared that many ordinances were developed when Statesboro was a small town. Now that Statesboro has grown to a rather large city it needed a new set of plans. The UDLC has one major objective: to raise standards for new commercial and residential developments while reducing the amount of time necessary for developers to clear all of the numerous regulatory hurdles.
Grabowski stated that the document is laid out so that it easy to read and not be confusing, and it cross-reference all of the other various regulations that the developer will be held accountable for. Statesboro's city staff will undergo specialized training so that they will have the knowledge in order to serve those who are using the document.
“Mornings unPHILtered” airs live Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on statesboroherald.com and also simulcast on WWNS-AM 1240 on the radio. You also can listen anytime at BoroLive.com on statesboroherald.com
Barrow called host Phil Boyum in from Washington, D.C., where Congress is in session. Barrow currently sits on three Congressional Subcommittees: Energy and the Environment; Health; and Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
Barrow explained his vote against the Health Care Reform Bill passed by the House on Nov. 7, which he called “a re-run” of a bill introduced earlier. Barrow said the bill does nothing to contain “out of control” health costs currently being felt by virtually everyone in America.
Barrow promised to work for a bill that protects the customer as well as the health insurance industry. Barrow spoke of Georgia's “Peach Care” program that requires people to pay for health care on a sliding scale as they can afford it, but makes sure they are covered.
Barrow stated that there has been virtually no regulation of the health insurance industry for some 70 years. Those who collect premiums charge way too much, raise them at a whim, and cut people off from their health care once they get sick, and he promised to do his part to stop these practices.
Barrow said he understands it is unfair to expect health insurance to allow people to get insurance only after they get sick, and then expect for all costs to be covered. He insisted he isn't against a health reform bill, but wants one that is fiscally responsible.
Barrow spoke of how companies use lax laws in the state they are registered in order to allow them to avoid more strict legislation in other states. He stated that state and federal governments need to work for a level playing field in all states in order to avoid the widely-varying costs and coverage depending on what state you happen to live in.
Rather, Barrow said, new regulations really need to protect those who've been paying premiums for years and find themselves getting dropped from coverage once they make their first claim. Barrow said the perfect legislation would see that both the insurance industry and Americans are protected by what legislation is finally passed.
Barrow said that issues like smoking and diabetes, and their huge health costs, must be dealt with in a pro-active manner. This can be done by both getting people to adopt more healthy lifestyles and at the same time ensuring that the best treatment that exists is available to those who suffer from the medical problems associated with those diseases.
Boyum's next guests on the show were Rick Robins, owner of the new “Boro Take Out Express,” and Wayne Circye the owner of “Ocean Galley.” Robins explained that after becoming friends with local chefs, hes learned that individual restaurants couldn't afford to do deliveries.
Robins shared that similar restaurant delivery business have opened to great success in other cities. By providing deliveries from a number of different types of restaurants Robins hopes to be able to meet everyone's needs.
Circy spoke about his ordering from another local restaurant and was very pleased with the speed with which it was delivered and the temperature of the food when it was delivered. Robins said that he already has agreements with one dozen restaurants, and spoke of how he was in negotiations with a great many others which he hopes to add to his list of services very soon.
Robins spoke of how business is slowly but surely picking up, and they have high expectations for a big increase in delivery orders in the near future, especially as the number of restaurant choices increases.
There is a single order charge for a delivery of $3.50 for the first restaurant, with an additional $2.25 charge for each additional restaurant that food is picked up at for the same delivery location. Orders can be made on-line, and credit cards can be used to pay on-line as well. For orders or more information, call 225-3608 or go to borotakeout.com
The next guests were Christian Lentz, Statesboro's city planning director, and consultant Denise R. Grabowski, who works for Lott Barber Inc. of Atlanta. They came on the show to talk about the new Unified Land Development Code (ULDC).
This governmental code regulates the use of land, the location and use of buildings and other site improvements, and the construction of public facilities and private improvements related to the development of land in each jurisdiction.
This ULDC addresses almost all issues for individual homes or large subdivisions. Some states are now requiring that every community adhere to a single UDLC, in order to get rid of the problems caused by a whole host of antiquated and outdated ordinances that just don't cover issues that need to be addressed.
Lentz shared that many ordinances were developed when Statesboro was a small town. Now that Statesboro has grown to a rather large city it needed a new set of plans. The UDLC has one major objective: to raise standards for new commercial and residential developments while reducing the amount of time necessary for developers to clear all of the numerous regulatory hurdles.
Grabowski stated that the document is laid out so that it easy to read and not be confusing, and it cross-reference all of the other various regulations that the developer will be held accountable for. Statesboro's city staff will undergo specialized training so that they will have the knowledge in order to serve those who are using the document.
“Mornings unPHILtered” airs live Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on statesboroherald.com and also simulcast on WWNS-AM 1240 on the radio. You also can listen anytime at BoroLive.com on statesboroherald.com