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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 19, 2008

Emulate Texas

Regarding "Florida's Coming Medical Disaster" (Commentary, Aug. 10):
Floridians should not become too upset about Florida's coming medical disaster if they don't mind a longer commute to health care. All they have to do is follow their doctors to Texas, which has enjoyed an influx of 11,000 physicians from other states during the last four years.

Texas' secret? It passed legislation that put reasonable limits on medical malpractice awards, which led to dramatic decreases in insurance premiums that doctors have to pay.

To keep our doctors, is it too much to ask Florida's legislators to emulate Texas' solons?

DAN UFFNER

Sun City Center

Who Will Take Action?

I want to commend writer Jack Jawitz for taking on what is most likely the biggest issue facing Florida for decades to come next to the energy issue.

Like every profession, there are those who work for the common good and those who learn to "work" and oftentimes, abuse, the system. In lawsuits against doctors and dentists in Florida, the attorneys for them want the cases drawn out as long as possible since they are billing by the hour. I know one dentist in Florida who never had the first complaint against him in the entire time he has practiced dentistry in other states, who was falsely accused by a former patient who had a history of false accusations against others. He is still having to endure the ridiculous legal process for months on end, even after the accuser actually called back to the Department of Health and admitted fabricating the whole accusation. We must have reasonable time limits placed on these complaints filed against these professionals since most are frivolous and simply opportunities for a few attorneys to drag out cases to bill more hours.

It is not too late to correct this. Will Gov. Crist take action? The Legislature?

T. WILKINS

Tampa

Ignorance Is No Excuse

Regarding "Mounds Of Mulch" (front page, Aug. 11):
Dianna Williams owns and Paul Savich manages a 600-acre parcel of land in Hillsborough County that they have made hundreds of thousands of dollars from by illegally dumping yard waste to a depth that is ruinous to the land and destroys delicate habitat.
Savich claims ignorance and blames local agencies for his blatant disregard of the law. To be in any business in the state of Florida you have state, county and city regulations that must be adhered to in order to conduct business. To do business with the county you have to acknowledge that you are in compliance with the laws for your business or industry within the state. Ignorance or abuse of the law is no excuse.

The county commission may have made a mistake, but the responsibility lies with Williams and Savich to abide by the law. There should be significant penalties.

ROBERT WEISMAN

Tampa

A Very Bad Precedent

Regarding "Conviction Tossed In Baby's Tub Death" (Metro, Aug. 12):

I almost choked on my lunch when I read that Judge William Fuente finds that leaving a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old in a tub with running water unattended for 30 minutes is somehow not criminal because it was not "willful." I am almost positive that even a 12-year-old babysitter knows that you don't leave babies in any amount of water, for any amount of time, unsupervised!

This woman needs to be behind bars so she can think about what she did. Also, if anyone has a spine in this case, she should be kept far away from the surviving child.

This is setting a very bad precedent. It will soon be open season on unwanted children. Just put them in the tub, walk away, and whatever you do, be sure it doesn't look "willful."

CHRISTINA FLETCHER

Tampa

Skandera Rebuttal

Inaction often seems to paralyze the Florida Legislature when they face the most difficult and complex issues. Their actions are often retroactive, addressing issues long after the average citizen has already had to shoulder the burden of higher taxes, increased insurance or higher energy prices. Overall, the Florida Legislature lacks a comprehensive vision of how to address the most pressing issues that will affect Florida's future.

I intend to bring a new vision and perspective to the Florida Legislature. Florida's future is at stake; the decisions that are going to be made within the next four years will have lasting consequences for generations to come. It is paramount that these decisions are not hijacked by the pervasive power of special interests.

I am free from the political webs of control, whether from special-interest groups or my political party. One of my greatest assets is my freedom from influence by rejecting all campaign contributions and self-funding my campaign. I intend to do what is best for the citizens of Florida by listening to their needs to ensure a brighter future.

I know what it's like to be a student in an overburdened education system, feel the burden of economic hardship, worry about being able to get a good job in an unsound economy, find affordable housing and feel unrepresented in the Florida Legislature. I will stand up to the insurance companies to ensure affordable coverage, advocate for educational policies that are student oriented, increase the accountability of the Legislature to the citizens of Florida and increase our reliance upon alternative means of energy production to lead Florida into the future.

I do not have the privilege to be ambivalent; I find political action to be a necessity. On Aug. 26, I ask for your consideration.

RICHARD SKANDERA

Palm Harbor

The writer is Democratic candidate, state Senate District 11.

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