Connie Mack vs. Charlie Crist?
The Florida Hospital Association has hired former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack to help persuade Gov. Charlie Crist to keep the certificate of need process for building new hospitals. Crist has said he wants to deregulate that process.
Crist has called Mack one of his mentors. Mack works for Liberty Partners of Florida, has also signed up to lobby the executive branch for BellSouth, Florida Power & Light, Florida Institute for CPAs, University of Florida Foundation and Callery-Judge Grove (a residential development planned in South Florida).
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“… has also signed up to lobby the executive branch for BellSouth, Florida Power & Light, Florida Institute for CPAs, University of Florida Foundation and Callery-Judge Grove (a residential development planned in South Florida).”
And this is the wonderful Democracy our young American men and women are sacrificing their lives to protect, honor, and spread around the world.
May God have mercy on us all.
Posted by: | February 22, 2008 at 03:28 PM
3:28 - I'm sorry, why is this bad??
Posted by: Michelle Smith | February 22, 2008 at 03:45 PM
A very very smart move on the hospital association's part...as for the overall good, who knows?
Posted by: | February 22, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Well, those who don't already know will soon find out what Charlie Crist is made of...
Posted by: | February 22, 2008 at 04:05 PM
When I saw the title of this article, I thought it was about McCain picking his VP. Connie Mack would be a great choice. Better than that other fudgepacker.
Posted by: | February 22, 2008 at 04:21 PM
So, what is the story here? Mack has been a lobbyist for 8 years since he retired from the Senate. No story here.
Posted by: | February 22, 2008 at 06:50 PM
What kills me here is we never read about any other industry and there hires unless it is a lobbyist. This is a business just like everyother, infact it is a business that is out in the open unlike the rest of the america businss community. Who cares, good for Mack, he deserves everything he gets in the private sector.
Posted by: | February 22, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Gov. Crist, please don't listen to this sellout! The CON process is nothing but a con game designed to enable hospital companies to pad their bottom line through the establishment of monolopies. It has been in place for years and has done nothing to improve access to care. Enough is enough already!
Posted by: | February 22, 2008 at 10:59 PM
The sooner we wise up and get this lobbying coruption under control the better.
Lobbying on behalf of corporations or business organizations should be made illegal. Corporations are legal entities not citizens.
While we are at it eliminate out of district or out of state campaign funding.
I know I know then a vote would be a vote and the average folks would once again hold the power not the PR firms and Lobbyist.
Posted by: Dee | February 22, 2008 at 11:11 PM
I agree with 10:59. There are multiple interests in health care that want to maintain their monopolies. Not only do we need to repeal CON we also need transparency other than on the AHCA website. Hospitals and clinics need to put their prices out there for the public. There are many other federal issues that need to be dealt with too. Anyone in Congress listening today????
Posted by: jensback | February 22, 2008 at 11:48 PM
and this week's "Defender of our freedom of speech award" goes to....Dee
Posted by: moderate | February 23, 2008 at 06:30 AM
CON reform is so George Lemeiux can make more money. When will this be exposed? Once again he has an idea before he leaves (DOT contract anyone?) and then goes out to make money off the proposal. Just watch
Posted by: | February 23, 2008 at 07:54 AM
DOUCHEBAG v. DOUCHEBAG!!
what a PAIR of jokers!
Posted by: | February 23, 2008 at 08:47 AM
11:11 as long as government has the power to regulate business, business should have the right to petition government.
Go back to China, communist.
Posted by: | February 23, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Could the Governor's interest in CON repeal be because his LG is actively suing Lee Memorial for his horrible experience there.
Lets just clean up the institutions that need cleaning up and allow everyone else to carry on working in the best interests of their respective communities doing the best they can under these bad economic times.
Posted by: s arnold | February 23, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Con repeal is not even remotely an answer to stimulate the economy. Lets not fix what aint broke! We have plenty of other things to fix in this State Charlie!
Posted by: lori | February 23, 2008 at 10:04 PM
See we have some influence peddlers and elitist amongst us who do not embrace equality of the vote.
Posted by: Dee | February 23, 2008 at 10:05 PM