Deliberate?

October 1, 2013

I wonder if the Times publishes what it does out of ignorance or incompetence or to deliberately try to influence public opinion.

Sunday’s article “Affordable Care Act: Marketplace in El Paso,US set to open Tuesday” contained this:

“Though there are exemptions, most people who don’t sign up will receive a penalty referred to as the individual shared responsibility payment.”

To be factual they could have written this:

Though there are exemptions, most people who don’t already have health insurance and who don’t sign up will receive a penalty…”

Or if space for fairness and accuracy is limited in the Times, they might have written this:

Though there are exemptions, most uninsured people who don’t sign up will receive a penalty…”

According to the Times we should hurry to sign up.

Muckraker

3 Comments | El Paso Times, Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Muckraker

Keeping up with the Jones

September 30, 2013

The headline article in the Times today talked about the scheduled sentencing of some more people that have been involved in the public corruption cases here in El Paso.

These three individuals pleaded guilty to illegal activity relating to health insurance for local school district and government employees.  Access HealthSource was administering the health coverage.  Bribes were evidently offered to elected officials in return for their votes to give Access contracts.

This story is another one of those that the Times writes often about.  Maybe it is good for circulation.

More of the story

Below is my opinion:

What the Times failed to mention today is that they played a big part in creating the environment that led to the corruption.

For many years Young Insurance had the contracts to administer health insurance for the major school districts and local governments in town.  Steve Young was the head of the firm.  He administered the health insurance programs with fairness, efficiency and honesty.  The employees were happy.  He stepped in frequently to get to the bottom of problems so that employees were taken care of.  Young Insurance regularly saved the employers money and kept their health costs in line.

Enter a former local big shot (who is now in federal prison) who decided he wanted Young’s business.  Allegations were made about the fact that Young Insurance was not in fact an insurance company.  Other allegations were made that Young was secretly taking money from hospitals even though video coverage at the time showed Young explaining his financial dealings with the hospitals in open city council meetings.

The Times saw a scandal.  Scandals are good for circulation.  They published article after article about the situation.  We see the same behavior with the El Paso Independent School District story and the public corruption story today.

Eventually the pressure on Young and his business became too destructive.  He sold his business to the same Access HealthSource, owned primarily by our federal detainee.  Our former county judge who is also now a  federal prisoner and who coincidently has the same last name as the Access owner then helped to lobby for Access.

The result is the scandal that was covered again in the paper again today.

What about Steve Young?  Charges were never filed.  The investigating agencies never made an accusation.  He never got so much as a reprimand.  I think he lost his business thanks in large part to relentless hounding by the Times.

Steve died penniless a few years ago, but not before the Times printed a below the fold front page article that explained he had done nothing wrong.  Steve was grateful for that.

We deserve better

Brutus

3 Comments | City government, County Government, El Paso Times, Federal Government, Open Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Get this message, give us the texts

September 30, 2013

Let’s get down to basics.

The City of El Paso is suing the attorney general of Texas over citizen access to public information.

El Paso taxpayer money is being spent against Texas taxpayer money.   Those of us in El Paso are paying for both sides of a lawsuit, we are taxpayers in Texas too.

The lawsuit is about current and former public city officials refusing to obey Texas law and provide the citizens of El Paso with information.

Now according to elpasotimes.com one of the former public officials says that “he has emails “on hundreds of issues” having to do with city business on his personal account, but maintains he’s always acted within the law.”

Hundreds of issues

This guy just admitted that he was conducting city business regularly on his personal email account.  He says that he does not have to turn them over to the citizens even though the attorney general of Texas says he does.

The city is using citizen money to fight the citizens.

The real text

The original open records request also asked for text messages containing public information sent and received from the personal devices of these officials.

These messages may be very revealing.  They may show what kinds of discussions were going on between city officials during city council meetings, behind the backs of the citizens.

Open meetings are supposed to be open.  The public is supposed to be able to see and hear the deliberations.  One city council member passing a note to another during a public meeting is a violation of the spirit of the Open Meetings Act.  It may turn out to be a violation of the law.

Public officials sending emails and text messages between members of city council during a city council meeting is rotten.

We deserve better

Brutus

3 Comments | City government, Open Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Constitution Day

September 29, 2013

Constitution Day (September 17) came and went this year with no mention in the local newspaper.

More troubling to me, the local schools and university did not obey the law and teach students about the constitution.  http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/09/16/constitution.day/

Our Constitution is largely ignored except for those cases that involve the rights of each of us as individuals.  The portions of the Constitution that control how government is allowed to work seem to be treated as though they are irrelevant in today’s world.

The Constitution is not only the law, it is the supreme law.  I personally believe that many parts of it should be changed to reflect our situation in this 21st century.

The problem with ignoring it is that we end up with uncertainty.  How can we respect a law that contradicts the Constitution?

The document provides two ways to make changes.  Many have been made.  Historically most amendments are ratified within two years.  Waiting two years is not much to ask when the supreme law of the nation is being changed.

All three branches of our government are guilty of doing things in violation of the Constitution.  Why?  Some have decided that changing it the right way is too difficult.

How can we know what the rules are when government officials feel free to ignore them and then pretend that what they are doing is right?

Eternal vigilance is the cost of liberty.

Cato

8 Comments | El Paso Times, Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Cato

Wanting better

September 28, 2013

This came in from balmorhea with a request that I post it:

The Political Season Has Begun

On October 3, some big hitters are gathering for a fundraiser for District  5 Rep. Michiel Noe.  I won’t mention names, but you can be assured there are some deep pockets sponsoring the event. Host donations are $1000, supporter donations are $250. The RSVP address is at Weststar Bank so I assume that bank is offering an in-kind donation.

Nothing illegal here. The election laws allow both big-hitter and in-kind donations. I can only wonder if Rep. Noe’s opponent (if anyone runs against him) will be able to raise as much money.

All I know is that I respect local candidates who do not take donations. There have actually been a couple and maybe someday one of them will win.

Dream on.

balmorhea

2 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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