The Folwell Resolution Will NOT be Joined Here in Beaufort County | Eastern North Carolina Now

On a slow night on the Beaufort County Commission, the most important item of business was possibly the one that was not heard.

    Allowing North Carolina's Treasurer Dale Folwell the ability to do what is within his purview as treasurer is a major issue to decide the path of a North Carolina government. Do we let the special interests control us, bend us to their economic way, as their economic slaves, or do we guide our path by better governing our way forward? Limiting North Carolina's active, determined and wise Treasurer from accomplishing his constitutional tasks as mandated by his elected directive is the initiative now of the special interests within North Carolina's Health Care industry; their owned politicians within the Democratic Socialist party, and even, the non Conservatives within the Republican party.

    Maintaining the status quo, which insures that the medical industry remains a full blown monopoly, where free markets will never control the costs of health care is their overarching desire, and the nexus of these beginnings can be found in the proposed HB 184. It is also an overarching desire of a 5 to 2 majority of Beaufort County Commissioners, and, therefore, will not be brought before the people of Beaufort County for the consideration of their representatives.

    The Republican party's 3rd District Resolution here just below will not be considered at the April 1 General Meeting, and further below is my reply to 3rd District Chairman Carl Mischka as why Beaufort County government can not muster the Conservative principles to do what is right for our county and, in some small way, for the people of North Carolina.

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Below: The "N.C. 3rd Congressional District GOP Adopts Resolution Supporting Treasurer Folwell"

News Release:

    Contact: Carl Mischka, (252) 626-8199 or carl@mischka.us

N.C. 3rd Congressional District GOP Adopts Resolution Supporting Treasurer Folwell

    WASHINGTON, N.C.     Executive Committee Members of the North Carolina Third Congressional District Republican Party met last month, and by a unanimous vote, adopted a resolution supporting Treasurer Dale R. Folwell's clear pricing project to increase transparency and reduce costs​ for the State Health Plan. See resolution below along with additional key points.

Resolution Supporting Treasurer Folwell



    WHEREAS, North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell is working hard for the taxpayers fulfilling his Constitutional duty to safeguard solvency of State programs by his efforts to investigate the $35 Billion shortfall in the State Health Plan to identify needed reforms; and

    WHEREAS, Treasurer Folwell's efforts to bring solvency to the State Health Plan will benefit the taxpayers of North Carolina, as well as the State employees and retirees who use the State Health Plan; and

    WHEREAS, certain special interests are seeking legislation to stop Treasurer Folwell in his efforts to reform and make the State Health Plan solvent.

    NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of the Third Congressional District Republican Party commends Treasurer Folwell for his efforts to protect the taxpayers and State employees by making the State Health Plan solvent; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call upon all legislators from our region to back Treasurer Folwell in his efforts and to defeat any legislation from the special interests that would delay or halt those efforts.

    Adopted this 2nd day of February, 2019.

       Carl Mischka, Chairman

           N.C. 3rd Congressional District GOP

    ATTEST:

           Cecilia R. Wasserman, Secretary

              N.C. 3rd Congressional District GOP

    WHEREAS, the North Carolina State Health Plan spends more than $3.4 billion annually providing health care coverage to the approximately 727,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, and their dependents; and

    WHEREAS, in 2008, expenses were roughly $2.2 billion, thus, medical and pharmaceutical costs are increasing five to nine percent annually and current spending projections estimate that the Plan will be insolvent by 2023 unless action is taken; and

    WHEREAS, the North Carolina General Assembly has vested the State Treasurer, the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees for the State Health Plan with certain responsibilities to provide and administer the health plans to Plan Members; and

    WHEREAS, on October 4, 2018, Treasurer Folwell announced that the State Health Plan will launch a new medical reimbursement strategy for North Carolina providers that care for Plan members; and

    WHEREAS, effect January 1, 2020, the State Health Plan will move towards a payment model based on publicly available Medicare rates, thus, amid at keep rising health care costs under control while promoting quality care, transparency and affordability; and

    WHEREAS, the initiative seeks lower medical costs, saving $258 million for taxpayers and more than $57 million for teachers, state employees and other public servants; and

    WHEREAS, on November 28, 2018, a report released by the Pew Charitable Trusts confirms that the State's unfunded retirement/health care costs as a share of personal income are one of the worst in the country, right behind Illinois; and

    WHEREAS, after the release of the Pew report Treasurer Folwell stated "this new report underscores our immediate need to get medical and pharmaceutical costs for the State Health Plan under control. Every man, woman and child in the state would have to pay almost $3,200 each to cover our current promises of health care for state and local government retirees. We're having to act because others haven't"; and

    WHEREAS, a campaign against lower health care costs is largely funded by special interests, notably the North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA), with Vidant Health of Greenville taking the lead; and

    WHEREAS, part of the campaign against clear pricing and lowering costs could be paid using taxpayers' dollars since the State's hospital, UNC Health Care, is a member of NCHA paying thousands of dollars a year in dues to the organization.

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Email of explanation to Republican Party 3rd District Chairman Carl Mischka on why Beaufort County will not support greater transparency, and more fulsome negotiations with the medical industry within North Carolina by traditional means through the good office of the State Treasurer

    Sorry Carl, but the Folwell Resolution will not happen in Beaufort County, and will not even be heard. I put it on the agenda, but since another similar resolution had failed 3 months earlier, the nominal Republican commissioners, Frankie Waters and Jerry Evans, will not allow the resolution to be put on the agenda even though they voted for this exact resolution in the affirmative on the floor of the recent Beaufort County convention when I brought to the floor for consideration.

    This was exact Republican 3rd Resolution that they voted for, and in my correct understanding of how important this issue is for North Carolina tax payers, I wisely elected to drive the resolution to an affirmative completion here in Beaufort County, since I had both of the nominal Republicans yes votes on the local convention record as a clear message that it should pass.

    To my amazement, the county manager passed word along to me: 'Mr. Alligood (county manager) followed up with Chairman Evans and Commissioner Waters and both said they did not think it appropriate to put this back on the agenda due to it having already been discussed and decided at the last 2 meetings'.

    In actuality, these two nominal Republican commissioners had voted against a resolution that Commissioner Hood Richardson had brought to the commissioners in support of Treasurer Folwell at their January general meeting, and a similar, but separate resolution, offered by myself at the March general meeting in support of Treasurer Folwell was never allowed to be considered but at least Commissioner Richardson, and I at least had the opportunity to offer the Conservative position even though these two nominal Republicans were still able to work with the board's two Democrats and a third nominal Republican to keep the Resolution from coming to the floor for a vote. When I was asked to bring the Republican Party's 3rd District Resolution on the support of Treasurer Dale Folwell, I jumped at that opportunity, but, I must admit that I was stunned when the Resolution passed unanimously. Considering the gravity of this issue, one should be able to understand why I thought it incumbent to the Conservative cause when "Chairman Evans and Commissioner Waters" publicly displayed an abrupt change of political heart and voted in support of this 3rd District Resolution.

    If one stands for our state and county employees, and, just as importantly, our taxpayers paying the freight for their insurance: Why would I not seek to bring one county's resolution of support to aid in better governing at the state and county level; that we should endeavor to be far more effective in doing the people's business.

    Sadly, now I know that I was wrong to put too much stake in the professed actions of these nominal Republicans, probably all nominal Republicans. What we have here is a clear tale of two political personas, and I reckon clearly that their strong RINO roots got the better of them.

    Personally, as a politician and 18 year county commissioner, I prefer the one persona model. Seeing the world clearly, and then regarding it in terms of truth and fiction, I am often not properly armed to treat the multi persona politician properly, and, therefore, my cognitive vision is flawed by the limits of my honesty, and my misunderstanding of other humankind's dishonesty.

    For that I apologize if I promoted any ascending hopes that Beaufort County could lend any support to this worthy and most necessary Conservative cause.

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( March 28th, 2019 @ 8:34 pm )
 
I seriously do not understand the two persona model for a majority of elected Republicans in Beaufort County.

If we truly are a Democratic Republic: Are these two persona Republicans elected by two persona members of the electorate? Possibly so; however, I will contend that the one persona model might make for a better citizen, a better husband or wife, a better father or mother, a better friend, etc.



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