Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 3-29-16 Edition

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Ethics Committee Investigates Florida Legislator
State Rep Ed Narain’s Press Conference Deals With Expanding Healthcare In Florida
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
While attempts to expand Medicaid in Florida have failed, Rep. Ed Narain said he believes there’s still a chance it could happen.
It all comes down to who wins the White House come Nov. 8, Rep. Narain said at a press conference held at his Ybor City offices on Thursday.
“It’s a political football right now, but we’ll see it ex- panded if a Democrat is elected into office,” he said.
Last week marked the sixth anniversary of the law that has provided health in- surance to an estimated 20 million Americans.
Among African American adults, the uninsured rate de- clined from 22 percent to 10 percent since 2013.
In Florida, the uninsured rate has dropped from 21 per- cent in 2010 to about 16 per- cent today, according to various polls and analyses.
Expanding Medicaid would help the estimated 800,000 Florida residents who are uninsured because they currently do not qualify for Medicaid and are not eli- gible for federal tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, Rep. Narain said.
“This is not just about sta- tistics,” he said. “We’re talk- ing about actual lives.”
At the conference, Rep. Narain introduced small business owner, Ken Con-
State Representative Ed Narain, left, with Ken Conklin and Dr. Mona Mangat at the press conference on expanding healthcare in Florida hosted by Rep. Narain in his Ybor City office. (Photograph by BRUNSON)
klin as one of millions of Americans who have benefit- ted from the Affordable Care Act.
Mr. Conklin, an IT engi- neer, said for years he suf- fered from extreme asthma that almost kept him a pris- oner inside his St. Petersburg home.
After signing up for health insurance, Mr. Conklin fi- nally was able to visit an ear, nose, and throat specialist who recommended he have sinus surgery to alleviate his condition.
Mr. Conklin said access to the Affordable Care Act has led to his improved health and business.
“Today is the first time in four years that I was able to go outdoors in this season,” he said.
Dr. Mona Mangat, who runs an allergy and immunol- ogy practice in St. Petersburg, said at the conference that there remains some quirks in the system, including high co- pays and prescription drugs, network mergers, and fewer choices in doctors. Still, these matters are out- weighed by the benefits of the program, said Dr. Mangat, who is Mr. Conklin’s doc- tor.
“Access has improved and lives have been saved,” she said.
The House Ethics Commit- tee has officially opened an in- vestigation into U. S. Representative Corrine Brown (D) over a number of allegations, including fraudu- lent activity with an unnamed organization.
The committee will defer to the Justice Department and did not actively pursue the probe because of the federal investi- gation.
The Panel also is aware of allegations that Rep. Brown may have improperly solicited charitable donations, used campaign money for personal use, and failed to comply with tax laws.
Rep. Brown did not com- ment on the allegations.
Earlier this month, Carla Wiley, a close associate of
U. S. REPRESENTATIVE CORRINE BROWN
Rep. Brown, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and agreed to testify as part of a larger probe into the activities of a Leesburg, Vir- ginia-based charity called “One Door For Education.”
Rep. Brown, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, has served in Congress since 1993.
Missing Teenager Found Unharmed
Last Tuesday night, Shar- ifa Hackett, 16, got into an ar- gument with her parents, and at some point during the night, left the home, leaving behind a note.
Her parents immediately
contacted law enforcement,
and Hillsborough County Sher-
iff’s deputies were able to locate
Hackett. She was not harmed
and was medically evaluated
before reuniting with her fam-
ily. arguing with her parents.
SHARIFA HACKETT .....safely returns home after
Wrong Way Accident Claims Life Of Elderly Man
A traffic accident claimed the life of an elderly Tampa man last Friday. He was reportedly driving in the wrong lane when he became involved in a head on collision with another vehicle.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Dwight Bradley Thomas, 66, was driv- ing his 1999 Honda in the wrong lane on Joe Ebert Road, in Seffner shortly before 6 a.m.
The other driver, identified as Christopher Lee Thomas, 32, of Plant City, was driving his 2003 Silver Mitsubishi eastbound when he observed a vehicle coming over a hill in his lane and had begun applying his brakes when he was struck head on by the other vehicle driven by Thomas. Thomas died at the scene.
Turner was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he was admitted in serious condition. The investigation is continuing.
Pedestrian Killed In Hit And Run Accident
A 40-year-old man died after being struck by a hit and run driver early Saturday morning. He died at the scene.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Eric P. Flodin, of Lake In The Hills, Illinois, was walking westbound across the northbound lanes of State Road 597, near Medical Drive, at 12:49 a.m. Flodin entered the roadway and was struck by a vehicle.
After striking Flodin, the unidentified
driver fled the scene.
Investigators have described the vehicle as
possibly an orange Dodge Dart. The vehicle pos- sibly has damage to the front left side, including the headlight and turn signal. It may also have damage to the driver side mirror.
The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to con- tact the Florida Highway Patrol at (813) 631- 4020.
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