US Sen. Bill Nelson visits Live Oak

January 11, 2006 08:16 am

— Many public officials and concerned citizens turned out for the town hall meeting with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson at Live Oak City Hall Jan. 5.
Mayor Sonny Nobles welcomed and introduced Nelson to the group, thanking him for his work in the state of Florida spanning more than 30 years as a state legislator, congressman, insurance commissioner and U.S. senator.
Nobles said Nelson has imposed measures to protect our consumers from identity theft, increased penalties for sending spam emails, worked to get affordable prescription drugs for seniors, worked for quality health care for veterans and their spouses, worked to protect the environment and advocated for the nations space program.
Suwannee County Sheriff Tony Cameron presented his concerns about the county getting its fair share of unclaimed money seized during a recent seizure.
Cameron said about a year ago $1.9 million of unclaimed money was seized at the Suwannee County Agriculture station. The U.S. attorney's office in Jacksonville divided the money between the Ag station, Tallahassee Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the court system. Suwannee County Sheriff's Office did not receive any portion of the funds.
"We've always gotten some of the money in the past except this last time," Cameron said explaining this is usually thought to be drug money. "We've recently done another seizure just over $1 million, and I want to make sure this doesn't occur again."
Cameron explained the Ag Department discovered the money, but the Sheriff's Office was highly involved in seizing it, counting it and getting it to FDLE.
"Though we weren't the founding agency, we've always gotten a slice of the pie in the past; this last time it fell through," Cameron said.
Nelson said he would speak to the court systems to help Suwannee County get its fair share of the funds and would see about getting the county a portion of the money from about a year ago.
A couple of concerned citizens made pleas for several issues.
"We feel decisions made make us feel nobody counts but that top two percent; when you go back to Washington we're asking you to promise us you'll change that," one lady said.
Nelson agreed and said he voted against the tax cuts designed to give the most cuts to the wealthiest people.
Another citizen said cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, Pell grants and Head Start hits the poorest people.
"You've hit the ones that were just cut," Nelson said, explaining he stood against these cuts on the floor of the senate.
Nelson said cuts to Medicare are a bigger concern than Medicaid, because Medicaid cuts are mainly coming through the state. He said other cuts of concern are cuts for county commissioners and Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) that communities and cities depend on.
"What you should do is start raising Cain with the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation who are voting for these cuts," he said.
Nelson said another example of such cuts is the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which was enacted into law. This prohibits negotiating prices of drugs down by bulk purchases where drugs are considerably reduced in price.
Nelson said he did not vote for this law and is offering an amendment to allow the Veteran's Administration to negotiate bulk purchases.
Former Live Oak Mayor Buddy Nott expressed concerns about the status of the new post office which has been promised to Live Oak. The corner of U.S. 129 and 77th Trace has been approved as the site for the project.
Nott said the project has repeatedly been put on hold.
"I don't know where we are except that we have a 90-year-old post office and the parking lot is a danger to walk through and it's just as dangerous to get in it," Nott said.
Nelson's aid Lynn Bannister said they have contacted the postal service to find out what happened and will move forward after they get a reply.
Suwannee County School Superintendent Walter Boatright presented concerns about the No Child Left Behind Act and necessary funding which seems to decrease.
Boatright said the Supplemental Educational Services (SES), which is a tutoring program for schools which don't achieve Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), is suffering under certain requirements. The requirements are saying the Suwannee-Hamilton Technical Center cannot be a provider for SES and asked if Nelson can help get the center approved.
Boatright also expressed concerns on title funding which he says every year the District battles the risk of losing. Another concern was the Carl Perkins program, which Boatright says is a life-blood for vocational and adult programs. Boatright said these funds continue to decline.
Nelson said Title 1; Head Start and programs for children with disabilities are among the educational programs cut.
"In standing up against this, we often lose the fight because we don't get the votes," Nelson said. "Others want to use the money for other things."
Nelson said No Child Left Behind is a good program that is largely under-funded.
"The purpose is to hold the state accountable for the progress they're making, and to use as the carrot federal assistance for doing it," Nelson said.
Nelson said year after year there's not enough financial assistance for the program and year after year they get voted down on getting efficient funds.
"But I will keep fighting for it," he said.
Supervisor of Elections Glenda Williams told Nelson the county is working on getting a touch-screen voting system that produces paper ballots. She asked Nelson if he had strong views about the touch screen and the concern for a paper trail.
"People all over the state are scared about someone getting in and messing with the computer programs or machines," Nelson said. "People would like the security of seeing a paper trail. If we had to recount, and we hope this will never again happen, we'd have a backup system."
Williams said they are hoping to purchase the new systems and get them certified.
Advent Christian Village staff member Jerry Buchart thanked Nelson for introducing legislation about the negotiating of prescription drugs prices and asked him to remain diligent about the issue of privatization of social security.
"If this slips through, it would be a disaster," Buchart said.
County Commissioner Randy Hatch expressed concerns about energy costs.
"With LP and natural gas going up, people may be faced with the choice of buying food or staying comfortable," Hatch said.
Nelson said during Hurricane Katrina gas went up 40 cents per gallon overnight, due partly to fear and panic.
"I wanted to freeze the prices, but I didn't get a response from Washington and the oil companies," Nelson said, explaining the price spike is inexcusable.
Nelson said there will be more of a demand for hybrid vehicles. He also said we need to wean ourselves from depending on oil overseas.
"About 70 percent of our daily supply of oil is coming from foreign soil," he said. "Some countries are threatening to cut off our oil supply. I foresee a crisis if things don't change."
Nelson visits Live Oak to address concerns about once a year.

Photos

A local resident shares her concerns with Sen. Bill Nelson about tax cuts designed to give the most cuts to the top two percent. "When you go back to Washington, we're asking you to promise us you'll change that," she said.