Holiday Tree...
Marlin 'Snarlin Marlin' Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) has a bill that could go before the Assembly to rename the pointy green thing with decorations on it from Holiday tree to Christmas tree. Isn't that something? Our Capitol rotunda has had a Christmas tree each year since 1916. It was a Christmas tree until 1985 when we permitted our lawmakers to go off the track. At that point, it became known as the Holiday tree, even though everyone who saw it called it by its correct name...Christmas tree.
Our governor says the tree's name is irrevelant. Again, I find myself disagreeing with the governor. We have simply lost our bearings in this morass we call 'political correctness' and it is time for us to reclaim our Christmas tree.
Washington County Board...
As of this morning, there are now eight County Supervisors who have announced that they will not stand for re-election. Wouldn't this be a great time for the Board to reduce itself to a more workable and less expensive size by deciding to take the vote and create 22 new districts from the current 30? Supervisors don't seem able to take a risk that their position could be one that is eliminated. This would solve that dilemma. And there can be little doubt that 22 would be able to serve the constituency as well as or better than 30.
Supervisor Brady, why not take a shot at this?
Mike Gousha Returns...
Area television just got a real boost with the announcement that Mike Gousha is returning to our screens with a Sunday morning show as well as political analysis and commentary at other times. He is simply the classiest and best TV person we've seen in ages, and it is good to be able to look forward to seeing him.
Health Care Costs Unequal Across State...
An analysis by Citizen Action, a coalition of labor unions and grass-roots groups, just announced that health care costs vary by as much as 26% from one part of Wisconsin to another. Eau Claire, Milwaukee and Racine had the highest costs while Madison, Janesville and Beloit had the lowest. This study used the rates for the state employees' health insurance program.
There are two major factors at work here, in my opinion. First, the Madison/Janesville/Beloit area is filled with state employees to the point that it is the largest employer of record, and it has greater competition among more provider groups. Second, the Eau Claire, Milwaukee and Racine areas have less competition amongst provider groups coupled with fewer state employees.
These two factors combine to produce lower or higher rates respectively. Insurance rates are a direct function of health care costs assuming that the relative health of citizens doesn't differ markedly from one side of the state to another.
Frankly, this disparity of costs will likely increase with the continued vertical integration of health care providers.
