PoliFiLogic.com

I went to Staples the other day dressed in a pair of khaki jeans and a pink golf shirt (don’t laugh, Suzie likes that shirt). I picked up the items I needed and went to the checkout counter where a young African-American gentleman waited on me. He tallied the items and I slid my credit card through the machine. Then, he asked to see my credit card and driver’s license. I jokingly said, “If we were in Arizona they would say you’re profiling me.” He seemed a little taken back, but recovered quickly by saying, “The only thing I’d profile sir, is that shirt.” (more…)

I shouldn’t pick on the same person from one article to another, but he deserves it. The “he” I’m referring to is Kevin Kamenetz; a member of the Baltimore County Council and candidate for Baltimore County Executive. If he has a family, I’m sure his kids love him, but I hope he doesn’t run his family finances the way he views government finance. (more…)

It’s official – I am a candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in Legislative District 5-B. The district spans northern Baltimore County from the Carroll County line to the Harford County line, from Pennsylvania to (basically) Shawan Road and Paper Mill Road.

I’m running against a nine term incumbent. I’m running because I think 36 years is far too long for anyone to hold office. He’s a nice person and I like him, mainly because he sends a quarterly newsletters and frequent emails to constituents. But, I don’t always agree with him. He’s the subject of an article I recently wrote about individual health insurance. Check it out. (more…)

I’ve often written about how most Americans hold moderate political views while the extreme left and right fight with each other. If they want to do each other away, that’s OK with me, except for the fact that we pay for the ammunition. (more…)

Maryland found a loophole in the individual health insurance market, and someone came up with a fix. The bill, known as HB 814, passed the House of Delegates and awaits action in the Senate. If passed, it would take effect October 1, 2010. HR 814 was introduced in response to a citizen who suffered two rate increases (16% and 20%) on their individual health insurance policy in the same year. The bill will impact 3.4% of Maryland residents and is being touted as “mindful of the need for a measure of predictability and reasonability” and will “ensure lasting affordability for individuals seeking coverage for themselves and family members.” (more…)

Last summer when the town hall meetings were getting exciting, I made the point that one of the problems with the cost of healthcare is the simple fact that consumers aren’t part of the equation. The payment structure used by many insurance plans pays doctors and hospitals directly, without the patient ever knowing the true cost. In many plans patients merely make co-payments of ten or twenty dollars and that’s it. I was in one of those plans and rarely considered cost in my healthcare decisions. (more…)

There are three reasons why the fat lady may never sing…

Thomas Jefferson was an advocate for minimal federal government, and last week the state of his birthplace was the first state to pass a law stating that Virginians can neither be required to have health insurance nor be fined for not having it. Other states are following suit. One is considering an amendment to their constitution. (more…)