COUNTY TO SET LOBBY GOALS; OPTIONS INCLUDE SEEKING FEDERAL AID, REVISING REGULATIONS.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer Ventura County's lobbyists could be seeking federal help with financial and procedural problems in the county health care system, under a new lobbying agenda going before the Board of Supervisors next week. The proposed lobbying agenda, to be discussed Tuesday, includes asking for federal dollars for open space and supporting a new state policy to allow credit card payment of property taxes. But top items include those to help the county through its current fiscal crisis - including money to offset $15.3 million the county lost in a Medicare settlement; to help build the new juvenile justice facility; and to create housing for the mentally ill. Deputy Administrative Officer Larry Siegel Larry Siegel is a comedy writer who was one of the "Usual Gang of Idiots" at MAD Magazine from 1958 to 1990. At MAD, Siegel had an aggressive writing style that did not shy away from being occasionally provocative or inflammatory to make a point. said some of the planned lobbying efforts have taken on added weight because of the financial situation spurred by problems in the Behavioral Health Behavioral health was first used in the 1980's to name the combination of the fields mental health and substance abuse. As an example, an organization serving both mental health and substance abuse clients might refer to its practice as behavioral health or Department and the recent settlement with the U.S. Attorney over improper
``Last year I don't think we had the same kind of governmental pressures we have (now),'' said Siegel. County lobbyists plan to hit the health issue two ways - asking for $15.3 million in federal funds Federal Funds Funds deposited to regional Federal Reserve Banks by commercial banks, including funds in excess of reserve requirements. Notes: These non-interest bearing deposits are lent out at the Fed funds rate to other banks unable to meet overnight reserve to offset money lost through the settlement, and pushing for revised regulations to keep county operations in line with federal rules, Siegel said. The county was cited by federal investigators for its system of satellite clinics which did not follow federal regulations because they are too far from oversight
Oversight may refer to:
``We need probably the Congress, perhaps the Department of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979 Health and Human Services, HHS , to permit within their regulations the kind of organization we use to provide services,'' Siegel said, referring the county's system of satellite clinics. And Siegel said lobbyists would ask the federal lawmakers to boost financial support, probably through Medicare or Medi-Cal laws, to the county, under the lobbying agenda going before supervisors. Also on the list are several millions of dollars in funds to help provide housing for the mentally ill - a shortcoming short·com·ing n. A deficiency; a flaw. shortcoming Noun a fault or weakness Noun 1. noted in a recent state audit of county services. Additionally, county lobbyists would work to secure funds to build the non-detention facilities in the planned new juvenile justice complex, whose funding has come under scrutiny because of a projected $5 million shortfall in the county's general fund budget surplus. The county hires two lobbying firms - one in Sacramento that is paid about $110,000 and another in Washington, D.C., paid about $130,000, officials said. The proposed 2000 lobbying agenda also includes support for state issues such as a prohibition prohibition, legal prevention of the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages, the extreme of the regulatory liquor laws. The modern movement for prohibition had its main growth in the United States and developed largely as a result of the on siting schools in agricultural zones, agricultural pest prevention and increased state funds for county parks operations. U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly Elton W. Gallegly (born March 7 1944), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1987, currently representing the 24th District of California (map). , R-Simi Valley, had not yet seen the county's agenda and was unable to comment on specific needs, a spokesman said, but was ready to work with the county on federal issues. ``Congressman Gallegly's record for helping the county with federal issues or to get things done on the federal level is solid,'' said spokesman Tom Pfeifer. ``Once they get their legislative agenda together, Congressman Gallegly would be happy to review it, analyze it. Anything he could do, he would be happy to accommodate.'' |
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