The Larry Kane Report

Will a hospital crisis be the next economic bombshell to hit America? It could be. Several large city and suburban hospitals, mostly non-profits, are facing a difficult year, with the negative elements of an uncertain economy starting to trickle down. Is it an emergency yet? Not quite, but if the employment picture doesn’t improve soon, it could worsen quickly.

The problem is two-fold. Layoffs and expiring Cobra coverage are forcing many of our fellow citizens to put off necessary medical testing. Expensive co-pays are forcing some Philadelphia region families to put off important visits and treatments. The result – layoffs along with a cutback in the purchase of new and valuable equipment.

So the question remains. If there is a health care overhaul, will hospitals be ready for the new patient load? Or better yet, will they be around when the demand suddenly outpaces the supply?

SODA TAX – A CAN OF WORMS? WHAT ABOUT BEER?

The proposed tax on soda in Philadelphia offers a chance to open up a new debate, and it’s all about the limits of government. You can assume that if it were legal to tax lethal cigarettes, it would be legal to tax anything that might be harmful to your health. On paper, it is not a bad idea. But on a closer look, it might make one of life’s guilty pleasures become less available to thousands upon thousands of people. And then, if sugar were bad for your health, why wouldn’t excessive drinking of beer be even more taxable? And then, if government taxes drinks with sugar, would it try to impose extra taxes on Tastycakes or candy? We all know that extra taxes on Tastycakes and beer, in Philadelphia, would be political suicide. But this issue of sugar in soda might also be dangerous. For example, owners of sports teams might pass the extra taxes on to the already super-taxed fans. And what if sugar-craved soda drinkers switched to candy bars to get their fix?

Would City Hall try to impose heavier taxes on caramel crunch and nutty chocolate candy bars? Where will it stop? Are Tootsie Rolls next?

These are interesting questions as the Nutter team moved forward with the proposed tax increases.

BEATLE MANIA-

My thanks to the hundreds who showed up for the first three shows of my Ticket To Ride multi-media at the Franklin Institute. Nine more shows are slated starting this coming weekend. See the banner ad above.

Just a “program note.” At 1:30 P.M. Wednesday, the Philadelphia Daily News will be featuring a “live web chat” with me and it is all about the Beatles. Go to philly.com, on Wednesday for all the details.

Questions about the proposed increased taxes for soda are allowed.

Comments(14)

Watch out. Pennsylvania’s infamous reputation for political corruption is taking a hit.

Since colonial days, elected officials in Pa. have taken the lead in jail time and horrid publicity for trying to get  rich off the public dole. Just take a look at the current bonusgate investigations. But wait a minute! New York is on the brink of taking  the crown away from Pa.

Congressman Charles Rangel was forced to take a leave of absence from his chairmanship of the tax committee because of numerous investigations of his own finances and dealings. Now, NY Governor David Paterson is on the brink for alleged problems, including a possible charge of obstruction of justice.

The scary thing is that the New York problems are larger and more serious than  some of the crimes facing Pa. lawmakers.  Frankly, it is refreshing to see Illinois (Guv Blago) and New York get all the attention . Someday it would be nice to consider Pennsylvania the bush league of political corruption. Don’t hold your breath.

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Yes, there is money in one of the health care bills to help train new doctors, but hardly enough. So the problem remains and also dismissed by architects of health care legislation.

The nation is facing a severe shortage of primary care doctors. Right now, scared away by malpractice insurance, there are simply not enough doctors around in Pennsylvania to to treat the current load of patients. What the heck is going to happen when 39 million new Americans are added to the health care rolls? I’ll tell you what’s going to happen – chaos.

This extraordinary lack of judgment on the part of lawmakers means that we are heading on a collision course for a medical crisis bigger than the one we are facing. Until Congress understands the nature of our doctor shortage and figures out a way to fix it, any health care reform will be dangerous at best. Is there anyone out there with an answer?

TIGER TALK-

The Golf Digest magazine reports that after word of his sexual affairs surfaced, Tiger Woods received words of encouragement from President Obama and former President Clinton. In a journalistic understatement, the magazine said that Mr. Clinton’s ” experience might be particularly instructive.”

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Jim Bunning is a Philadelphia sports legend,  the owner of a perfect game on Father’s Day 1964. The hurler left baseball and eventually became a U.S. Senator from Kentucky. In the Senate, he has been known as a loose cannon, a big mouth without any clout to back it up.

Until now.

Bunning is the lone Senator blocking  jobless benefits to over a million and a half Americans. They expire today, along with Cobra health benefits.. Bunning wants to know how the Democrats are going to pay for it. It is a reasonable question, but when millions of Americans are out of work, it’s a question usually answered by a budget appropriation. In this case, Bunning may be stopping such simple things as food on the table, and clothing for the kids, along with health care. His filibuster has even embarrassed members of his own party.

Congressional sources tell us that Congress will pass an extension on Tuesday with some Republican help. But Bunning, in the meantime, has caused needless anxiety to so many Americans.

Bunning has decided not to seek re-election. He’ll leave the Senate at the end of the year.

He will always be remembered as being perfect, in baseball. He will also be remembered by some unemployed Americans as the man who played with their lives at a very difficult time.

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