Lincoln Diaz-Balart turns down chance for Senate appointment

The Miami Herald's Naked Politics blog has the latest on Gov. Charlie Crist's search for someone to replace Mel Martinez in the U.S. Senate until after next year's general election, which Crist hopes he will win:

U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart announced late last night that he turned down Gov. Charlie Crist's request that he submit the questionnaire for an appointment to the U.S. Senate to fill the rest of Mel Martinez's term.

"It was a great honor to be considered by Governor Crist for appointment to the United States Senate,'' Diaz-Balart says in a written statement. "I thank him for his kind gesture of confidence. After giving the Governor's request serious consideration and deliberation, I have decided to remain in the U.S. House of Representatives fighting for the causes which I deeply believe in."

Diaz-Balart was elected to Congress in 1992 and would have had to give up a politically safe seat for a brief Senate stint. Crist is running for the Senate seat himself and it's understood that his appointment would bow out in 2010.

Crist is scheduled to interview the other Miami Cuban-American on his shortlist -- former U.S. Attorney Roberto Martinez -- at Miami International Airport today at 1 p.m. He's a Republican but far less partisan than Diaz-Balart, having never run for public office or immersed himself in GOP politics. His bio is here.

Reagan endorses Pilon in House District 69

State Rep. Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton, has endorsed former Sarasota County commissioner Ray Pilon, the only Republican so far in the race to unseat Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota. District 69 covers northern Sarasota County, and stretches north to take in the Whitfield area of Manatee County.

“We need leaders in Tallahassee who will get things done from day one and understand how to achieve their goals within the majority,” Reagan said in a news release. “Ray will be a welcome addition to the delegation we send to Tallahassee.”

A county commissioner from 1996 to 2000, Pilon formerly worked for the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. He currently is director of community affairs for the Peace River Water Authority.

Sen. Martinez has money to burn

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez may be winding down his political career, but that hasn't stopped him from spending his campaign cash.

It's all above board, under federal campaign regulations that give politicians broad leeway in how they spend their campaign contributions - even when they're about leave office.

The Miami Herald reports:

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez announced eight months ago that he would not seek reelection but has continued to spend campaign donations on consultants, staff, air fares, meals, cellphones and purchases at the Senate gift shop.

Federal Election Commission records show Martinez has spent $147,642 since his Dec. 2 announcement. He also returned $419,051 to his contributors, with $456,200 remaining in the account as of June 30.

Federal law gives officeholders wide latitude to spend campaign donations on anything related to their election or in connection with their official duties.

``My general advice is, `contributors beware,' '' said Paul Ryan, an election law expert at the Campaign Legal Center, a Washington-based watchdog group. ``The door is close to wide open for what federal officeholders can do with the money in their coffers.''

Martinez's campaign treasurer, Tampa accountant Nancy Watkins, said the senator has adhered to federal law.

``It has to be for the campaign or official business,'' said Watkins, whose firm has received thousands of dollars from Martinez's campaign for accounting services in recent months. ``There's no conversion for personal use, and we don't have any of that going on here.''

Read the whole thing here.

A 'common sense' debate about health care reform

The shouting and name-calling that have marked the "debate" over health care reform in other parts of the country has largely been absent in Manatee County, probably because U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan opposes what President Barack Obama and the Democratic congressional leadership have proposed. So there has been no need for conservative opponents to flood his town hall meetings or other gatherings to try to shout-down Buchanan or those who favor a massive overhaul of the nation's health care system.

In fact, some who disagree with Buchanan on what exactly must be done, agree with him that the system needs an injection of "common sense."

Of course, one politician's "common sense" can be another politician's nonsense.

In a recent column published in the Bradenton Herald, this is how Buchanan defined his "common sense" approach to health care reform:

There is no question that we need to reform a health care system that now consumes 16 percent of our national economic output. We need to make health care more affordable and accessible under a system that emphasizes preventative treatments and early detection.

Congress should take steps to make sure that health insurers cannot callously deny care to people with pre-existing conditions, like diabetes, heart disease or cancer. And we need to make coverage more portable so people can keep their insurance when they leave or change jobs.

Reducing frivolous lawsuits also would lower the overall cost of care and allow doctors to practice preventive medicine instead of defensive medicine. We should also create association health plans that allow small businesses to purchase group health plans, which will make coverage more affordable by spreading risk and increasing negotiating power. Finally, we should target waste, fraud and abuse rampant in the current system.

But what we cannot do is jeopardize the sacred relationship between patient and doctor by putting health care decisions in the hands of Washington bureaucrats. Any reform that results in delayed or denied treatment under a government-run system is a step backward, not forward.

In response to Buchanan's piece, Jan Schneider, who four times has run for the congressional seat now held by Buchanan, has co-written an op-ed in which she agrees with many of Buchanan's conclusions about American health care. But she concludes by offering her own "common sense" solution, one much more radical than the congressman's:

(W)e are convinced that the best solution is ultimately through a single-payer health insurance program covering all United States citizens and legal residents. Although the payer would be the federal government or a government-created entity, this is not “socialized medicine.” Doctors and hospitals would not work for or be owned by the government (except as already so with DOD and VA healthcare). Nor need there be a one-size-fits-all approach. As with Medicare supplements, individuals and businesses should have options to purchase additional coverage.

But beyond advocating for a particular, long-term approach, there is a more crucial point here. President Barack Obama has taken an exceedingly far-sighted, compassionate and brave position in promoting reform of the seriously ailing and outdated U.S. healthcare system. Those of us who support the initiative must assist by making our views known -- rather than allowing the debate to be framed by obstructionists, detractors and nay-sayers.

You can read all of Schneider's column below.

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Common Sense and Health Care: A Differing Perspective
By Jan Schenider and Thomas E. Coler

“Do no harm” is a start, and we agree with most of the other guidelines professed by Representative Vern Buchanan (R-D13) in his article on “Apply common sense to health care reform.” Nevertheless, with the United States healthcare system in critical need of reform, our Congressman has offered no practical guidance.

The United States is the only wealthy, industrialized nation without a national health insurance or health care system. Our federal government, however, already directly provides health insurance for 28% of the population, including senior citizens, disabled, federal employees, military families and veterans, children, and the low-income. This is done through Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, TRICARE, Veterans Administration health care (CHAMPVA) and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Unfortunately, about 46 million Americans have no health insurance. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people with insurance are bankrupted by an accident or illness. Providers too are suffering, since it is becoming increasingly untenable to comply with the federal mandate requiring of access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay.

Overall, about 60% of our health care is currently financed by public money, including federal and state taxes, property taxes and tax subsidies. About 20% is financed individually through health insurance premiums, out-of-pocket payments (such as deductibles and co-pays) and payments for care for the uninsured. Private employers pay only 21%.

At about 16% of gross domestic product, the United States spends roughly 70% more on health care than other developed countries. We also spend much more on a per capita basis (at around $7,300 annually). Still, the United States consistently receives low ratings on quality and efficiency of care, access, safety, and equity. We have lower life expectancies, higher deaths per thousand individuals, higher infant mortality rates, and so forth.

There are also collateral consequences of the current system. For example, our troubled automakers build in as much as $1,500 per vehicle in employee and retiree health insurance. With the rest of the industrialized world benefiting from national plans, this creates significant trade disadvantages.

With medical costs escalating, health insurance company profits have been growing even faster. This is so even though the administrative expenses in the private sector are considerably greater than for public programs. Company costs run in the range of 14 to 22% percent for most private employer-sponsored health insurance and more for individually-purchased plans. By contrast, Medicare administrative overhead runs about 3 percent of general expenses (6 to 8% factoring in support from other government agencies).

Against this background, the overall goal must be to make quality health care more affordable, accessible and economical. We agree with Congressman Buchanan that Congress must protect working families and small businesses – and avoid sacrificing the needs and interests of senior citizens. Those suffering from pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease or cancer should not be excluded from health insurance –- nor treatment for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia precluded. Portability when people change jobs or move is likewise important. Similarly, the paired imperatives of modernizing health records by rendering them in electronic form while protecting patient privacy may improve both patient care and economy of delivery. We even concur with Mr. Buchanan on the desirability of reducing frivolous lawsuits (although probably disagreeing on what constitutes “frivolous”). And certainly, there should be increased emphasis on preventive and follow-up care.

Nevertheless, we are convinced that the best solution is ultimately through a single-payer health insurance program covering all United States citizens and legal residents. Although the payer would be the federal government or a government-created entity, this is not “socialized medicine.” Doctors and hospitals would not work for or be owned by the government (except as already so with DOD and VA healthcare). Nor need there be a one-size-fits-all approach. As with Medicare supplements, individuals and businesses should have options to purchase additional coverage.

But beyond advocating for a particular, long-term approach, there is a more crucial point here. President Barack Obama has taken an exceedingly far-sighted, compassionate and brave position in promoting reform of the seriously ailing and outdated U.S. healthcare system. Those of us who support the initiative must assist by making our views known -- rather than allowing the debate to be framed by obstructionists, detractors and nay-sayers.

Mel Martinez's resignation letter

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, who already had announced he wasn't running for re-election next year, is immediately resigning from the Senate because of personal reasons.

Via the Miami Herald's Naked Politics blog, here is a copy of a letter from Martinez to friends and supporters that already is making the rounds:

"Because you’re a friend, I wanted you to know first about the decision I will announce today to step down from public office. Twelve years ago I offered myself as a candidate for public office in Florida out of a deep sense of appreciation for what America and the people of Florida did for me as a young immigrant to this country.

"In 1997, Kitty and I decided it was time to give back and we entered the public arena, first as Mayor of Orange County, then as a Member of the President’s cabinet and now as a United States Senator. Through those experiences I have gained the greatest respect for the people of Florida and have enjoyed serving their interests. When I began my term as Senator, I promised I wouldn’t simply warm a seat; I promised to take on the difficult issues and work to make a difference.

"Keeping that promise has meant pressing for help and assistance for families struggling to keep their homes, their jobs, and their confidence that our country is safe. And on that note, I am especially grateful to the men and women of our military and their families whom I have had the distinct honor of representing in Washington and I thank them for their service to our country.

"As a US Senator, I have also had a platform to speak against the oppression of the Cuban regime and my hope for a better future for the people of Cuba. I will continue that lifelong passion in the next phase of my life. I will always be grateful to the people of Florida for bestowing on me the singular honor of representing them in the United States Senate.

"My priorities have always been my faith, my family and my country and at this stage in my life, and after nearly twelve years of public service in Florida and Washington, it’s time I return to Florida and my family.

"So today I am announcing my decision to step down from public office, effective on a successor taking office to fill out the remainder of my term. I have enjoyed my time in the Senate and have the utmost respect for my colleagues and the institution. I especially thank Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for his guidance and insight."

Manatee County is only a drop in the bucket for Crist

A visit back to the Federal Election Commission's Web site reveals that it is now a bit easier to find out who exactly has donated to Charlie Crist's Senate campaign, which last month reported collecting a whopping $4.4 million - including more than $4.1 million from individual donors.

So far, Manatee County residents have donated barely a fraction of the total take. Donors who list mailing addresses in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, etc., have donated a total of $31,200 to Crist, according to the FEC.

Donors can donate up to $2,400 for Crist's campaign for the Republican nomination, and another $2,400 for the general election.

Manatee residents who have donated the max include developers Nathan Benderson, Carlos Beruff and Pat Neal; and David Wick, vice president of Cargor Inc. Additionally, Florida Senate president John McKay has donated $2,400 to the governor.

Crist's financial support from Sarasota County, has been at least three times as rich, according to records. Residents with addresses in Sarasota, Venice, etc. have donated a total of almost $94,000. Among Sarasota residents donating the maximum amounts to Crist is U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota.

Other major Senate candidates have yet to really put out their hats for contributions from local residents.

Crist's chief rival for the Republican nomination, former Florida House speaker Marco Rubio, reported no contributions from Manatee County residents, and only $750 from Sarasota County. In all, Rubio has reported more than $604,000 in contributions, including more than $578,000 from individual donors.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Kendall Meek, D-Miami, reported more than $2.9 million in contributions, including more than $2.1 million from individual donors. Of that, only $510 - from a single donor - came from Manatee, and $17,400 came from Sarasota.

The second-leading fund raiser on the Democratic side, state Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, collected $390,000 in contributions - but none from Manatee or Sarasota.

Following the campaign money not entirely easy

If you want to know if your friends, neighbors or co-workers have contributed to the U.S. Senate campaigns of Marco Rubio or Kendrick Meek, it's rather easy. Click on the right links, and up pops the list of donors for Rubio and Meek as listed on their most recent campaign finance reports and then you can search by name, city, etc. to find what or whom you are looking for.

You'll have to work a little harder to find who has donated to Charlie Crist's campaign. There isn't a similar, searchable link to take you to a list of individual Crist donors. (However, there is a link to the list of political action committees that have contributed to his campaign.)

You can generate a 884-page copy of Crist's filing detailing almost $4.4 million in contributions. To then find out who has donated to the governor's campaign, all you will need is time and a strong pair of eyes.

But then making it as easy as possible for the public to find out who is funding his campaign for Senate may not be Crist's top priority.