By FITSNews || The “big government dentist fairy” is back, people …
S.C. Sen. Ray Cleary (RINO-La La Land) – who a year ago made headlines by suggesting (presumably with a straight face) that South Carolina’s chronic education woes were due to students’ “poor dental health” – is once again “selling crazy” at the State House.
Cleary is trying to get the S.C. House to approve Medicaid-expanding legislation creating “Community Oral Health Coordinators” in several rural S.C. counties. These bureaucrats would then (surprise, surprise) hook Cleary and his fellow dentists up with a steady stream of Medicaid reimbursable – a.k.a taxpayer-funded – business.
So yeah … it’s basically a bureaucracy-expanding bailout for dentists.
Believe it or not, Cleary’s bizarre bill actually passed the “Republican-controlled” S.C. Senate last year by a 33-10 vote. That’s right – in the worst economic year in more than eight decades, a majority of Senate “Republicans” voted for this nonsense.
Anyway, Cleary’s bill is now before the House Education committee, where it is awaiting a hearing.
Let’s hope it doesn’t get one …
WEB EXTRA:
The Big Government Dentist Fairy Act
By Another Opinion February 24, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Disagree with you on this one, FITS.
Dental care should not be neglected in the realm of healthcare and it currently is.
By Holly February 24, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Children cannot learn when they are in pain. Early prevention efforts pay off in many ways.
By Old Bike Dude February 25, 2010 at 7:32 am
I dunno, Gabby Hayes did pretty good for himself.
By Groundball February 25, 2010 at 8:47 am
You’re right Old Bike Dude … not to mention “Moms” Mabley!
By Bonnie Blue February 25, 2010 at 9:12 am
I wonder why “fairy Cleary” doesnt help the “poor” kids by going to these poor counties on the weekend and give them care for free? Seems to me if its such a problem these dentists would be willing to go out and donate their time right?—-Represent the people of your district and do something productive to create jobs for the people that put you where you are….Oh wait the ADA put you where you are…dang
By Catherine February 25, 2010 at 10:34 am
Bonnie Blue, I come from a family of dentists (literally, father, mother, and brother) in a rural county in SC. And they do free dental clinics ALL THE TIME!!! SC dentists DO go out into the community and provide services to the indigent out of the goodness of their hearts. But it is not nearly enough. Child oral decay and disease is epidemic in rural SC. Medicaid for children is NECESSARY!!! And to be clear, medicaid only covers dental care until the age of 19. And even then all it pays for are exams, bi-annual cleanings, fillings, metal crowns, root canals, extractions and annual x-rays. These kids aren’t getting veneers and braces on the taxpayer dime. Also, Medicaid hasn’t increased its payouts for dental care in 10 years. So basically, IT IS PRO BONO!!!! My family basically make nothing on any medicaid child they see. So get your facts straight before you start preaching.
By Bonnie Blue February 25, 2010 at 11:26 am
Cat,
I commend your family that is their choice and very admirable. Now, I was commenting on a SENATOR who is a DENTIST pushing a bill that gives his profession a check from the State. It will create a board of DENTIST that when they decide a certain county needs dental care our tax dollars will pay for it. Im sorry more hand outs is not the answer. I do not remember any children when I was in school saying ” man I just cant do this work due to my tooth hurting.” Think about the Brits they have awful teeth, yet their test scores are much higher….why is that? I have friends that are realtors, should they run for Sentate and say ” poor kids cant sleep at night due to living conditions, so we should pass a bill that reqs. everyone to buy a new house (the State will loan the money) and they have to buy a house from a licensed realtor and the realtor will make 7% commission.?????????? Same thing….
By Catherine February 25, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Then what is the answer? Aside from regulating procreation. Can’t do that as it is a constitutionally protected right… unfortunately. Children don’t deserve to suffer because of the bad decisions of their ignorant parents. I’ve never had a cavity, but I hear its agony. No child deserves that. If a committee could go into an area and seek out these children and get them some help, then it needs to be done. Now, there is a better way. The dentists in our county do this every year, pro bono, by going into each elementary school and doing free screenings. The kids get toothbrushes and paste, and a treatment plan to take home to their parents, all on each dentists personal dime. I assume that the committees the senator is trying to get approved would do the same thing. Maybe we don’t need committees. Maybe dentists in other counties are as responsible to their communities as the dentists in my county. But while the bureaucrats are fighting it out, the kids are suffering. And that’s not right.
By Bonnie Blue February 25, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Could you direct me to hard evidence ie survey, poll,etc that could relate your statement that the kids are suffering? If not the same could be said about losing sleep due to poor housing. I agree 100% that if the dentists want to do some pro bono out reach to the “less fortunate” thats fine. I think they should. I like you had dentists come to my school to hand out toothbrushes, info etc. Give them some tax breaks for their time maybe, but tax dollars going to a shady bunch of folks who at anytime they want could increase their business by stating the poor kids need us, thats a joke. If this were proposed by a Senator who was not going to prosper off the bill then it would hold more merit.
By scooter February 25, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Children who are fed and healthy have a better chance at learning, staying in school, and becoming productive citizens. Do not laugh at this bill. I do not know the motive behind the bill, but the need is there.
By BIN News Editorial Staff February 25, 2010 at 8:27 pm
sic(k) willie is such a m@r@n.
He needs a root canal. Down his spine.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
P.S. Wacko’s should not think it was a threat against sic(k) willie. The BIN News staff is totally non-violent.
By CNChapin March 2, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Screw the damned kids. If you want to get them dental care, do it with YOUR money and quit thinking it is acceptable to TAKE MINE to use for your charity! Taxation is theft. Using the stolen money for charity is just a sign that you’re not willing to pay for it yourself.
If children in pain can’t learn, then direct them to CVS or Walgreen’s to buy some damned tylenol and shut up. To hell with tax payers being forced to pay for everyone’s little pet project or charity. The kids and their parents should have to fend for themselves like the rest of us who PAY TAXES instead of RECEIVE TAXES.
By southernmapart May 8, 2010 at 10:24 pm
“Underprivileged” children are getting basic dental care through Medicaid, meaning that our taxes pay for this care.
I assisted such a child in my custodial care through several dental appointments. After each visit, I was asked at the reception desk to sign off for the care, which I did. When I asked how much the charge was, they explained that the child was covered by Medicaid and that a statement would be sent later. Eventually, I received a bill for $450 as my part to pay of the total cost of the several visits. I never knew the total amount billed.
I complained to my legislator that (a) those receiving the care had no idea of the cost, and generally most were accepting of the idea of “free” dental care with no concern about the taxes used to pay the bill; (b) the dental office could have billed that state for any amount, because I only signed that the child had been there and received care on that date; (c) that there appeared to be no controls in place for billing the state for medicaid dental services.
He shrugged off my complaint. We need a complete change of mindset in our legislature.