Never mind
The doctor who led the petition drive for universal health insurance for Portland public school students, paid for by the city, is now saying he'll withdraw the ballot measure on the subject because the city is promising to study such a program.
Without getting into the merits of his decision, I'm a little surprised that can he do that unilaterally. With the signed petitions already turned in, I would have thought it would no longer be up to him. But hey, what do I know?
One more reason to think twice before sign petitions, I guess. You never know whether the group you're signing for is going to go through with "their" measure. And it appears they don't have to come back and ask you before they change their minds. Your signature becomes their bargaining chip.
| Posted at 9:16 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (8)
I signed that petition and I'm not happy that this rather naive Doctor now says he
"trusts" these politicians.
Come on folks!
These turkeys are politicians and their craft is deceit and lying with a straight face!
I say forget the trust and go forward with the petition.
Posted by one who knows what City Hall is all about | June 18, 2008 9:49 AM
My objection to the proposal, unless I misunderstand, is there was no component of means testing. Parents could actually cancel their childrens' insurance and move them to the city program regardless of their income level.
I'm all for helping people that need help and all kids need health insurance. But I'm not excited about a system fraught with loopholes.
Posted by Dave Lister | June 18, 2008 10:12 AM
If he has turned in enough signatures to qualify to the ballot, he cannot withdraw it. If the verification process determines that he didn't submit enough signatures, he could waive his right to submit additional signatures.
The City has until June 26 to finish verification. Since he submitted a pretty modest buffer (12%) it is likely that he won't qualify upon first submission.
ORS 250.029 Withdrawal of initiative or referendum petition...The chief petitioners of an initiative or referendum petition may withdraw the petition at any time prior to the submission of the petition for signature verification.
Posted by Panchopdx | June 18, 2008 11:10 AM
Thank you for that informative clarification.
Posted by Jack Bog | June 18, 2008 11:34 AM
I'd prefer for schools to use their focus and money on education and we find some other way to get universal health coverage.
Posted by Deeds | June 18, 2008 1:12 PM
I don't have kids...don't plan on having any ...and resent paying any tax monies to help other people's kids...the people WITH kids should pay for things like this just like they should have paid the three years of extra "multnomah tax" I had to shell out.
Posted by PDX Renter | June 18, 2008 2:33 PM
A petition must have a chief petitioner, and this petitioner can withdraw his name if I not mistaken. I'm not sure another chief petitioner may be substituted after the signatures have been collected.
This is a stupid proposal anyways. It depends on drawing more students to Portland to grab more funding from the state. The only problem is most families try to flee from communism not to it. If they don't come, it would mean raising local taxes either directly or indirectly which would drive even more families out of this local communist state. And what happens? You have a quota driven system like the Oregon Health Plan. I'd rather ration healthcare through price and private insurance rather than long waiting times for little or no care. There should be a safety net for those who through no fault of their own can't afford healthcare. Repeat druggies and obese folks who abuse hospital staff and refuse to follow doctor directions should be given a kick in the rear and maybe Uncle Darwin will weed them out.
Posted by Bob Clark | June 18, 2008 3:46 PM
Yeah, only the people who have kids should have to pay for kid related services (tongue planted firmly in cheek)...
And poor people should have to pay for services to the poor.
Elderly and disabled should pay for services to the elderly and disabled.
The homeless should pay for services to the homeless.
Criminals should pay for jails and the cost of prosecution.
That's how a civil society works: user pays.
Screw everybody else: me and mine are taken care of...
Posted by Oh my | June 21, 2008 11:42 AM