It is apparent that John Wood has forgotten the role he played in trying to turn down a contract with the Valley Baptist Health System for the county's indigent less tha
n two years ago.If he had, perhaps he wouldn't have been trying to steal the spotlight from Gov. Rick Perry's made-for-campaign photo ops last weekend at Juliet Garcia Middle School.
An eyewitness to the event said that Wood, commissioner for Precinct 2 and Democrat nominee for county judge in November, and Democratic Senator Eddie Lucio forgot they were Democrats and virtually lunged at any opportunity they saw to get included in the picture.
"It was laughable watching these two politicians kissing (up to the Governor)," he said. "Wood was pathetic. Trying to get into every photo shot possible and attempting to have people believe he is somebody. A true hypocrite after he has publicly endorsed Bill White.
"Same thing for Lucio. A bunch of opportunistic leaches," he commented.
Now, we know something about Wood's highly developed criteria for providing health care to the indigent of Cameron County. It was he, after all, who persuaded fellow commissioner Sofie Benavides to vote against the majority on a generous contract to provide health care to the indigent despite the fact that the majority of the indigent reside in her precinct.
Benavides and Wood voted against the takeover back in August of 2008 because (based on their extensive public health background?) both believed residents who qualified for the program would not be served.
Instead, a report issued by VBHS president and CEO James C. Springfield nine months after contracting with VBHS to run the program indicated that it had experienced a 17 percent increase in patient load. In the agreement VBHS said it would add an additional $700,000 to the indigent health care program, which would bring the amount of funding to it to $5 million. Cameron County contributes about $3 million with the remaining coming from state funds.
Laura Martinez of the Brownsville Herald reported then that since VBHS took over the program, the amount of patients seen as of April (2008) was 2,650 compared to 2,265 in 2007. Patient care for 2008 was $2,437,000 compared $3,381,400 in 2007 – , which is a savings of $944,400, she reported. The average cost per patient is $1,276.
And what did the hapless Benavides have to say about her blind loyalty to her mentor Wood?
"I'm happy it turned out well," Benavides told Springfield. "I voted against it. I'm glad that you proved me wrong."
County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said the report shows the county made the right decision when it decided to go into contract with VBHS to run the county's indigent care program.
"I think it was the right decision we made when we entered into this agreement. I know that we have a long way to go, but based on this report that I have seen" the program is working, Cascos said.
Cascos, who by virtue of being the county judge and Republican to boot, was not seen scurrying after Perry trying to get in to the picture like Wood and Lucio were.
Billed as Operation Lone Star and "an annual effort that not only brings much needed medical care to the citizens of South Texas it also puts our medical responders through their paces," Perry applauded the project as "a tangible manifestation of that time-honored Texas tradition of neighbor helping neighbor."
Coming on the eve of his election battle with Democrat Bill White in November, Perry's appearance in the Valley, which has felt the brunt of the his cutbacks in health services to the poor, was seen as a blatant political appeal for local votes.
By that measure Wood and Lucio's gyrations probably fit in quite nicely, thank you.
3 comments:
As a long time county observer, it will become very apparent in the next several months that John Wood is inept. He is way out of his league. He is truly clueless in terms of county administration. It will be interesting to note, what recommendations he and his sidekick, Benavides will provide to balance the budget. My money says he will sit back, offer no solutions and possibly come up with insignificant recommendations. I saw last weeks commission meeting and it was obvious to me that Wood doesn't have a brain cell when it comes to the budget. I think his comment to the auditor was "let's look at the numbers". OOOOOOOOOOOOOK. So Johnny, you're going to look at the numbers. Wow. That's innovative. Let's just watch the budgetary process and see what Woods's recomendations will be to balance it. If the last 2 years are any indication, he will say nothing, offer nothing and at the end of the day vote Nay...yet in his political propaganda he states he has "led" the way in funding law enforcement, emergency management, health etc. How can you lead anything Johnny, when you vote against funding these departments?
Eddie Lucio is a pirrana, as is John Wood, frankly I don't have words for Sofia Benavides, I think that woman is missing a screw, somewhere in that empty head of hers. No brain just Mush as the tribune writers way.
Eddie Lucio is a Republican dressed in a Democrat suit. He has been in office longer than I care to think about and the Valley is still like third world conditions and people still vote him in. God please give me patience.
Wood cares so much about health care for the poor..pendejo. Ask him why he voted against the partnership with Valley Baptist in 2007 that provided more funding for the poor. Then ask him why he supported it later. Pendejete. Esta bien tapado este pedazo de madera.
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