Last night the City Council met for a work session and guess what, Comegys wasn't present, (again). Mind you, nor was Debbie Campbell. We were told she was ill.
Could Mrs. Campbell's absence have cost her and Councilwoman Cohen the only chance to salvage their health insurance? It looks that way.
Because there were only three Council Members present, in a vote of 2 to 1, (Smith & Shields) voted to force Council Members to pay for their own health insurance. If Debbie and Terry were to pay for their own health insurance it could cost them around $2,000.00 a year MORE than what they are actually paid to represent you.
I personally feel this is a spiteful vote started by the former Council and former Mayor, as do many of you. Folks, it is vital that everyone take who we endorse in this upcoming election far more serious than you have ever done in past years.
We will be reaching out to every registered voter to get out and vote. We will be asking candidates to sign an agreement pledge to assure a guarantee this go around that these people will in fact represent YOU for once and NOT special interests. We need a majority on the Council and we need a Mayor that's going to stop playing games.
Hopefully Mayor Ireton will veto this insurance deal being proposed bt we'll see what happens. Rumor has it he no longer wants to support Terry Cohen and quite frankly Terry might not run if she doesn't have health insurance for her Family. I can't say as I blame her. It's a shame that these politicians can legally do this to control who runs and who doesn't.
It seems, (for now anyway) you have to be well off or have held a state job in the past to have health insurance and run for political office any more. This has to change.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
29 comments:
If Ireton doesn't veto this we can veto him when he runs for reelection.
Does the Wicomico County Council have free health insurance paid by the taxpayers too?
The county council has health insurance. I don't know if members pay a portion. City council members are treated like other city employees in terms of health insurance. They apy a portion of the cost. That was the lie that Smith, Comegys and Shields were trying to perpetrate...that the insurance was free. I think that council members who elect to use the health insurance benefit pay around $300 per month as their share. They pay THE SAME as other city employees who elect to use the benefit.
So they have to pay for their own health insurance. So do I. Welcome to the real world.
How many local towns provide health insurance or any other special employee benefits for their elected officials -- Fruitland, Delmar, OC, Berlin, Cambridge, Princess Anne?
Since Cohen and Campbell are known as the financial watchdogs on the Council, I am surprised that they see no problem accepting health insurance. They are elected officials, not employees of the City. Elected officials, including the mayor, are part-time. It is to be assumed that they have "regular" jobs that offer health benefits and/or are covered by spouses' insurance. Why should we foot the bill in any way? This is one issue--one of just a few--that I must agree with the "other three."
12:06 I totally agree!
I have to pay my own ins. to the tune of almost $400.00 a month for individual coverage so why shouldn't they have to pay for their's. I can't afford to pay mine & their's, too.
Joe, I must say that I am a little surprised by your position on this issue. I, like 12:06 make a distinction between employee and elected official and interpret the benefits rewards similarly. Unless, there is additional information that I am missing, I agree that a council person should pay their own insurance, unless it is to be interpreted as direct compensation for their duties.
Anonymous said...
Does the Wicomico County Council have free health insurance paid by the taxpayers too?
11:11 AM
Yes and I have know problem with it.
Both the Wicomico County Council and the Salisbury City Council members do not get paid enough to represent us and put up with the abuse.
"Hopefully Mayor Ireton will veto this insurance deal being proposed bt we'll see what happens."
Considering the fact that Mayor Ireton is working part time for the Wicomico County School Board and getting full time benefits from the tax payers it would be in his best interest to veto this.
Anonymous said...
So they have to pay for their own health insurance. So do I. Welcome to the real world.
11:49 AM
If you are not happy with your ditch digging job then you have the option to find a job that pays better benefits.
Welcome to the real world!!
Who gets health insurance for a part time job? even with a $400/mo contribution?
Joe it seems that with your vast financial reservces you could afford to pay a measly $2000 a year for Debbie.
TERRY COHEN FOR MAYOR/DEBBIE CAMPBELL FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AMEN.
Hey 12:47, you have no idea what I do for a living. Dig a ditch...don't think so. My point was that most company plans thse days are co-pay whereas the employer (me) contributes as well as the employee. The only platinum plans out there these days that are fully paid by the employer are government related jobs. So while you're taking your foot out of your mouth consider this; If I was a ditchdigger on a government payroll I would likely have my medical insurance paid by my employer (taxpayer). This scenario makes you look like a total dimwit. You must be a lifelong Eastern Shore resident.
Terry Cohen puts in more hours than most members ever have. But maybe that's beside the point.
My brother was a town commissioner in a town out west. Some nutjob got upset at some city decision and hit him.
You think we don't got nutjobs in this town? Look at what Joe's been reporting.
If the health insurance costs more than what the city pays, who would want the job?
My brother finished out his term, but his family said that's enough. We're going to wind up with nothing but Louise Smiths and Shanie Shields here.
I like you response 203PM! Obviously 1247PM gets his health insurance covered. I too my own insurance (over $400.00 a month with a high deductable and I am NOT a ditchdigger...quite the contrary. Dont you just love em!
Sounds like a real typical Eastern Shore mentality.
Let me ask a question:
If Smith and Shields care so much about saving money, why did they give our firehouse -- the people's firehouse -- and the people's riverfront property away for $100,000?
Any body thinks this is about saving money or whether elected officials should have insurance or not (and lots of towns provide it at some level), I have a bridge in New York to sell you.
This is just Salisbury Sicko Politics again. They couldn't get Debbie Campbell so now they are going after Terry Cohen -- and her family. Get it? That's all this is.
No matter how they try to smear Cohen, she has my vote and I am going to call her and volunteer for if she runs. I hope this b.s. won't keep from her running.
Anonymous said...
I like you response 203PM! Obviously 1247PM gets his health insurance covered. I too my own insurance (over $400.00 a month with a high deductable and I am NOT a ditchdigger...quite the contrary. Dont you just love em!
Sounds like a real typical Eastern Shore mentality.
3:32 PM
If you are not happy here on the ES then why don't you pack your bags and go back to where you came from. Chances are you're not welcomed here with that attitude.
4:27, if we all did that (pack our bags and go back where we came from) your backwards Eastern Shore economy would tank and you would be SOL. There has never been enough IQ here to sustain an economy. Don't believe it? Take a ride south to Virginia, not much going on there. You shorebillys should just thank me beg me to stay and be done with it.
I was wondering about the MD Legislature being full time. They are only in session 3 months and receive State health and retirement plus other benefits. They are partime and most have other jobs. What is the difference? They make around $43,000 a year too. They deny they are but cannot prove they work 40 hrs a week conducting Legislative business.
ANON 4;27 Why didn't you keep going south instead of stopping here when you transplanted?! I think the REAL problem with Virginia is they have too many transplants down there sucking them dry. Stand in a corner and wait for this Shorebilly thanks you, begs you to stay here. HAHAHA!
Anonymous said...
4:27, if we all did that (pack our bags and go back where we came from) your backwards Eastern Shore economy would tank and you would be SOL. There has never been enough IQ here to sustain an economy. Don't believe it? Take a ride south to Virginia, not much going on there. You shorebillys should just thank me beg me to stay and be done with it.
5:04 PM
A better than thou REDNECK!!!
Joe, you should have made it clear that Campbell and Cohen both pay premiums the same as every city employee to cover themselves and their families. They don't get their insurance free. The premiums are deducted from their monthly stipend.
Shanie Shields was covered by the state and the city when the city was footing the bill.
Anonymous said...
Shanie Shields was covered by the state and the city when the city was footing the bill.
7:30 PM
How was Shanie covered by the state? do you mean Welfare/medicaid? If so she is covered by us, the taxpayers.
Anonymous said...
ANON 4;27 Why didn't you keep going south instead of stopping here when you transplanted?! I think the REAL problem with Virginia is they have too many transplants down there sucking them dry. Stand in a corner and wait for this Shorebilly thanks you, begs you to stay here. HAHAHA!
6:38 PM
4:27 wasn't the transplant, 3:32 was.
Here's the real questions you should be asking:
Will you support Louise Smith in the election over this one issue?
Will you drop support of Terry Cohen in the election over this one issue?
Me, I will take Terry Cohen over the three state-subsidized "I got mine, you go get yours" vindictive morons any day.
why are they dicussing this in a work session when ther are things like ...uh... safe streets maybe?
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