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Page 6A - The MalakoffNews - Friday, February 18, 2011
lichols
(Continued from Page 1A)
Four different federal
judges have
ruled on that
legislation,
two saying it
was constitu-
tional and
two saying it
isn't. The lat- Nichols
est, a federal
judge in Florida, ruled the
whole law needed to be
thrown out.
: Nichols said that uncertain-
ty leads to an uncertainty
about funding and makes it
hard for state's to budget.
. "That's one of the main rea-
sons 26 states have asked for
expedited hearing before
the Supreme Court, so they
can know what their funding
Will be." he said. "We don't
have control."
.. Some agencies have said
the Medicaid cuts could be
~ven deeper. The Texas
Health Care Association
(THCA) estimates the cuts to
Medicaid-funding for nursing
and rehab to reach 33 percent.
l,ocally, Cedar t,ake Nurs-
ing Home administrator Dou-
gl.as .Flumble III said, "In my
opmton, lawmakers are
hrowing out unrealistic pro-
posals to prepare us for some
,sort of deep cuts, but any
,@eep cuts will be devastat-
5~Nichols said he has heard
Oom nursing home operators
By Michael V. Hannigan
lT~e,News StaR"
dents
The results have been
positive for local consumer
advocates; TAMER, the
has
organization
customers saw a judge
grant interim rates for the
first.time ever last Septem.
bet.
Despite the success, ad-
vocates say the system is
in his district.
"They are very Medicaid
sensitive," he said.
"We're not going to push
people out of nursing
homes," he added.
Two areas he is looking at
include easing the adminis-
trative load at nursing homes
and just this week he filed
legislation to fight Medicaid
fraud.
"Medicaid fraud is a crime
against every Texan who pays
into the system." he said.
"This bill gives prosecutors
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will:
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tools needed to better pursue
violators."
The bill would increase the
statute of limitations on Med-
icaid fraud from 3 to 7 years,
allow Medicaid fraud to be
prosecuted as organized
crime, and increase penalties
for those convicted.
Nichols said the bill in-
cludes suggestions from the
Attorney General's Office.
"Last year, the Attorney
General's Medicaid Fraud
Control Unit identified $71
million in Medicaid overpay-
206 E. Royali
E. Hwy 31
Malakoff
(903)489-0532
ments. By giving the division
even better legal avenues to
prevent fraud. I believe our
state will save even more," he
said.
While not a member of the
education committee,
Nichols said he is very con-
cerned with edudation issues
as well.
"We have to strive to have
good, quality, education," he
said.
Early this month, State Sen.
Florence Shapiro, chair of the
Senate Education Committee,
a water utility
added. We do not ha e
filed legislation she said
would "return control over
personnel matters, opera-
tions, and resource allocation
to school districts."
The change would in part
allow districts to consider
giving teachers pay cuts and
unpaid furloughs to help deal
with the state's budget
crunch. Estimates have
ranged between 80.000 and
lO0,O00 possible jobs lost
statewide if preliminary
budget cuts remain un-
changed, and Shapiro said her
bill offers school districts
"greater autonomy in making
decisions" and could save
teacher jobs.
Nichols agrees, at least in
theory.
He said he spoke with most
of the 84 ISDs in his district
before the Legislative Ses-
sion began.
"What I kept hearing was if
the state was going to cut, at
least give local district's more
flexibility,," he said.
Nichols said Shapiro's bill
would change existing law in
order to give school districts
more choices.
"That is a good idea if you
believe in local control, and I
do," he said.
Malakoff ISD Superinten-
dent Dr. John Spies believes
in local control, but he does-
n't like the idea of teacher pay
cuts or furloughs.
"This would be a step back
for the education communi-
ty." he said. "Our future will
be determined by the quality
of instruction that takes place
in public schools. It would
send the wrong message to
teachers and the community
to reduce teacher pay and re-
duce the number of days in
which they work. More and
more expectations are being
placed on our educators. We
need the best and brightest
teaching our students. We
cannot do this by reducing
their salary."
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The following businesses help support Malakoff area nonprofit organizations and events.
Communi . Minded, Customer Focused.
A
24 HOUR SERVICE
1417 E. Tyler St • Athens
e
It is time to get the Junk out of your Trunk and bring
it to the Cain Center for a County Wide and Beyond
Garage Sale. Set up will be Friday, Feb. 18. The sale
will be on Saturday.
Booth fees will be $30 per 10x8 foot booth and will
include one table and two chairs. Additional tables and
chairs will be available on a first come first serve basis
during the set up time on Friday. A limit of two booths
per family has been established.
Initial set up will be in the MPH / Multi-Purpose
Hall. Overflow booth space may be allotted in adjacent
rooms. All set up will be on Friday t om 12 noon until
8 pm. Early entry for booth holders only will be at 7
a.m. on Saturday. You must have your assigned wrist
band to get in early.
Food, beverages or baked goods may not be sold.
There will be a concession stand in operation. Flea
market will not be permitted. We have reserved a few
spaces for small businesses. So get everything togeth-
er and make your plans to be a part of this first ever De
Junque de Trunk Garage Sale. Applications are avail-
able for pick up or via email
poor.shannon@yahoo.com. Do not delay! These booth
spaces will go last! Call 903-677-2001.
As this is a fund raiser tbr the Cain Center, if you do
not have enough items for a booth, just bring them by
on that Friday and drop them off at the Cain Center
booth. We are located at 915 S. Palestine Street in
Athens, TX 75751
BERRY LUMBER
"Your Hometown, Home Owned Company"
206 E. Royall- E. Hwy 31
South Terry St. •
3-489-0512
[]
. Athens
o Gun Barrel City
. Malakoff
