[Summit] FW: Today

Tue May 17 23:25:21 UTC 2011

I am only a little off topic with this, but I note the rate increases by
Blue Cross, well above the inflation rate.

RI touts its medical industrial complex as an engine of economic growth.
(many in summit are in the business) But the clearest result is Blue Cross
raising rates so much that everyone is poorer and fewer peo;ple can afford
health care.  A recent survey noted that the US has a smaller percentage of
self employed people than many Euroopean countries and a lower percentage of
workers in small manufacturing plants.  The difference was that people
stayed in jobs for health care  benefits and the authors concluded the cost
of healthcare was a serious drain on innovation.  The remedy every other
country uses to allow people to innovate is national health care.  How many
folks on this list would find it easier to start a business or change jobs
if they were not afraid of leaving their family without coverage or draining
the business account to pay for it?  I know it is an issue in my family.

What we do not get back to is that what drives double digit increases every
year in medical industry costs is that we want people to make lots of money
in health care and therefore health care has to cost more and more each
year.  

I hope our public officials start to pay atttention to this and give more
scrutiny to how the medical industrial complex functions in the economy.

Greg gerritt

on 5/17/11 5:51 PM, Jeffrey Cavanaugh at jeff at cavanaugh.org wrote:

> I am always uncomfortable with these bills that are targeted at individuals or
> groups in a seemingly knee-jerk fashion. I haven't liked it when the state has
> negotiated tax breaks to specific companies instead of putting forth general
> ground rules for economic development and I am equally concerned about them
> targeting specific organizations for increased taxes.  
> 
> On the one hand, it seems reasonable.  On the other hand, these institutions
> have been tax exempt for hundreds of years but now, after decades of
> corruption and greed, we seek to raise their taxes several hundred percent to
> try to fix the problem?  It doesn't seem fair.  Reform how non-profits are
> taxed, develop ground rules that apply to all non-profits - perhaps it is a
> percentage of the regular tax,  perhaps the use of the various properties is
> analyzed and allocated as taxable/non-taxable, the best plan needs to be
> worked out.  That would make more sense.
> 
> I'm very concerned that Blue Cross gets a pass.  They again have requested
> massive rate increases
> <http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2011/05/17/ri_health_i
> nsurers_seek_rate_hikes/>  this year. 
> 
> So these are desperate times, maybe it makes sense for now, but I think any
> bill should sunset in 2 years.
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, May 17, 2011 at 4:46 PM, Jonathan Howard <jon at ceffect.com> wrote:
>> Jeffrey,
>> This bill specifically limits itself to ³eds and meds.² I don¹t think Blue
>> Cross does pay property taxes or would under this bill. I agree that Blue
>> Cross gets very close to the line between nonprofit and for-profit, but to
>> include them would open the door to taxing other more typical nonprofits,
>> like the Boy Scouts, the Food Bank, Big Sisters, etc.  Blue Cross needs a
>> whole reform movement of its own.
>> Jon Howard
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 5/17/11 4:09 PM, "Jeffrey Cavanaugh" <jeff at cavanaugh.org
>> <http://jeff@cavanaugh.org> > wrote:
>> 
>>> Is Blue Cross included in the "Meds and Eds" bill?  Do they pay property
>>> taxes on the shiny new building overlooking Waterplace?
>>> 
>>> On Tue, May 17, 2011 at 12:31 PM, Jonathan Howard <jon at ceffect.com
>>> <http://jon@ceffect.com> > wrote:
>>>> Hello, neighbors,
>>>> 
>>>> Our Mayor and City Council have taken united action to correct unfair,
>>>> illogical subsidies we Providence taxpayers provide for tax-exempt
>>>> organizations, other cities and towns and non-residents. If we can¹t fix
>>>> these provisions this year, we probably never will. If you can¹t be at the
>>>> State House today, you can still make your views heard using this link:
>>>> 
>>>> http://citizenspeak.org/campaign/cityofprovidence/support-stronger-providen
>>>> ce
>>>> 
>>>> Please act today!
>>>> 
>>>> Jonathan Howard
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Be There Today, May 17
>>>> at the Senate Finance Hearing
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> Join Mayor Angel Taveras and the Providence City Council when they testify
>>>> this afternoon at the State House at a Senate Finance Hearing about 3
>>>> city-sponsored bills that are vital to Providence¹s future.  The bills are
>>>> scheduled to be heard at around 4:45pm in Room 211 in the State House. 
>>>> Please come and show your support. 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>>  
>>>> Meds and Eds 25% Bill - $24 Million for Taxpayer Relief
>>>> S-765  Fogarty, Tassoni
>>>> http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText11/SenateText11/S0765.pdf
>>>> This legislation would require non-profit hospitals and universities to pay
>>>> 25% of the assessed property tax to the city or town in which they reside. 
>>>> The total value of hospital and university-owned tax-exempt property in
>>>> Providence is assessed at nearly $3 billion.  The value of the property
>>>> owned by the large non-profits has more than doubled since the start of the
>>>> decade.  The City has provided city services to these institutions without
>>>> asking for payment, passing the costs of delivering these services on to
>>>> homeowners and taxpayers. This is an overwhelming burden for the families
>>>> and small businesses who must fully subsidize the City services that we
>>>> supply. This bill asks the major tax-exempt organizations in Providence to
>>>> contribute their fair share to cover the costs of vital City services, such
>>>> as police, fire, and maintenance of roads and infrastructure.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Fire Hydrant Fairness Act - $1 Million for Taxpayer Relief
>>>> S-615  Metts, Perry, Goodwin, Ciccone, Ruggerio
>>>> http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText11/SenateText11/S0615.pdf
>>>> This legislation would allow municipalities to prohibit the charging of
>>>> fire hydrant rental fees to cities and towns by water providers, upon
>>>> passage of an ordinance and notification to the PUC.  This would generate
>>>> $1 million annually to Providence as well as significant revenue to other
>>>> municipalities such as Pawtucket and Warwick. The firefighters union has
>>>> joined Public Safety Commission Steven Pare in supporting this bill.
>>>> 
>>>> Fee for Master Alarm Fire Box - $1 Million for Taxpayer Relief
>>>> S-537  Pichardo, Ciccone, Jabour, Metts, Perry
>>>> http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText11/SenateText11/S0537.pdf
>>>> This act would allow cities and towns to assess users a reasonable charge
>>>> for use of master alarm fire box systems of the fire departments of the
>>>> cities and towns. Each municipality may define by ordinance who would be
>>>> assessed for the charge.  The firefighters union has joined Public Safety
>>>> Commissioner Steven Pare in supporting this
>>>> bill.                                                            
>>>>             
>>>> 
>>>> If you cannot make it today, please make sure you take our E-Action Alert
>>>> to urge the General Assembly in supporting a Stronger Providence.  Send
>>>> this Alert to your friends, colleagues and contacts!
>>>> http://citizenspeak.org/campaign/cityofprovidence/support-stronger-providen
>>>> ce
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>> 
>> Jonathan Howard
>> Cause & Effect. Inc.
>> 178 Ninth Street,
>> Providence, RI 02906
>> 401.331.2272 <tel:401.331.2272>
>> 
>> jon at ceffect.com <http://jon@ceffect.com>
>> 
>> Cause & Effect: You can change the world... we can help!
>> 
>> Download our FREE online Tools for Change:
>> http://www.ceffect.com/tools-for-change/
>> Sign up for our enewsletter: http://www.ceffect.com/
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> 
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