Litterbugs Abound Defends Budget Proposal President Says Plan Not Ideal but Includes Some ‘Tough Reforms.’
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1A SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2013 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Special Olympics: March of Dimes: SUNDAY EDITION 29th torch run Walk for babies set for Thursday. 1C coming Saturday. 1D ‘Cafe’ ban unpopular with some Sweepstakes, where the employ- The ban responds to a recent ban, Smith, her employees and the Employees, patrons ees now gather to discuss the scandal involving the Allied cafe’s customers still hope there is unhappy about likely future of their industry. Lately, the Veterans of the World charity a chance the governor will change closing of facilities. talk has gotten a lot darker. accused of running a $290 million his mind. A ban on all storefront gam- illegal gambling business. “If he signs it, it’s a mistake,” dis- By AMANDA WILLIAMSON ing facilities, known as Internet “Allied screwed up,” said trict manager Carolyn Strickland [email protected] cafes, now sits on the desk of Internet Royale Sweepstakes man- said. “He needs to stop and think Gov. Rick Scott, after state legisla- ager Leslie Smith, “so everyone how many families he’s putting Unemployment: The word tors pushed the bill through both has to pay.” out — just like me. I’m a single AMANDA WILLIAMSON/Lake City Reporter hangs like a curse around the the House and Senate with over- Though Scott announced pub- Internet Royale Sweepstakes cash register at Internet Royale whelming support. licly that he intended to sign the CAFES continued on 3A in Lake City. Obama Litterbugs abound defends budget proposal President says plan not ideal but includes some ‘tough reforms.’ By JIM KUHNHENN Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his soon-to-be released budget, already criticized by friends and foes, is not his “ideal plan” but offers “tough reforms” for benefit programs and scuttles some tax breaks for the wealthy. That’s a mix, he contends, that will provide long-term defi- cit reduction without harming the economy. In his first comments about the 2014 spending blueprint he’s set to release Wednesday, Obama said he intends to reduce deficits and pro- vide new money for public works projects, early education and job training. “We don’t have Obama to choose between these goals — we can do both,” Photos by JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter Obama said in his weekly radio Lake City resident Tony Kurtz patrols the shoulders of the streets near his home in his pickup truck, searching out a growing menace — litter. and Internet address, broadcast Armed with a reaching claw tool and a garbage can on wheels, Kurtz has made it his mission to free his neighborhood from discarded junk. Saturday. ‘It’s disgusting,’ said Kurtz, who has been cleaning up litter, mostly fast food packaging, for decades. ‘Oh, I’ve found some very passionate Obama’s plan for the budget year love letters thrown from a school bus,’ he said. that begins Oct. 1 calls for slower growth in government benefits programs for the poor, veterans and the elderly, as well as higher Area roadsides, lakes cluttered with trash taxes, primarily from the wealthy. Some details, made public Friday, Officials, volunteers fret drew a fierce response from liber- als, labor unions and advocates for about apparent increase older Americans. House Speaker in littering in recent years. John Boehner, R-Ohio, was not impressed, either. By AMANDA WILLIAMSON “It’s a compromise I’m willing [email protected] to accept in order to move beyond a cycle of short-term, crisis-driv- ilted trash litters the grass en decision-making, and focus on along Peacock Terrace, a growing our economy and our curving country road that middle class for the long run,” Tony Kurtz calls home. Obama said. W Bank statements, love Obama proposes spending cuts letters, beer bottles — he’s found it all in and revenue increases that would the ditches he works to keep clean. result in $1.8 trillion in deficit “I really don’t think people want to be reductions over 10 years, replacing litterbugs,” he said. “But they get them- $1.2 trillion in automatic spending selves in the habit of doing it, and they cuts that are otherwise poised to just don’t think about it.” take effect over the next 10 years. When Kurtz moved to the area in 1972, Counting reductions and higher his house was the only one on the street. taxes that Congress and Obama He’s been cleaning up the area ever since, have approved since 2011, the 2014 spending two to three hours out of his budget would contribute $4.3 tril- day every couple weeks. lion to total deficit reduction by As the road developed, he noticed an A duck swims past a plastic bottle caught in vegetation at Alligator Lake. Plastic bottles, Styrofoam cups and containers, and other trash often dot the lake’s shores. 2023. increase in the amount of trash, especially The main deficit reduction ele- in the past 10 years. ments of the plan incorporate an Cigarette butts, worn out tires, fast food can, has become just as common a sight “Who would want to be seen picking up offer Obama made to Boehner in packaging — the litter stains the grass on the side of the road as the trash he trash?” he said. “People should take pride December when both sought to with splotches of white and brown, easily clears away. in Florida instead of defacing it.” avoid automatic, across-the-board noticeable to drivers as they cruise down Residents and passersby honk and Thomas Henry, director of the Lake spending cuts and broad tax the street. Kurtz, with his mechanical wave as they pass the good Samaritan, trash claw and homemade rolling trash- but not many stop to help him. TRASH continued on 3A OBAMA continued on 3A Vol. 138, No. 309 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 Business . 1C5A 9177 6453 Obituaries . 5A PEOPLE TUESDAY SUBSCRIBE TO T-StormPartly Cloudy Chance Obituaries . 6A THE REPORTER: Advice.Advice & . .Comics . .. 5D8B Halle Berry Local news Voice: 755-5445 Puzzles . 5B Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A6A Puzzles . 2B expecting baby. roundup. 2A 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER SUNDAY REPORT SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2013 Page Editor: Jim Barr, 754-0424 Friday: Friday: Saturday: Saturday: Wednesday: Wednesday: 2-23-37-40-8 8 1-11-12-28-30 Afternoon: 8-4-8 Afternoon: 1-7-9-3 6-7-20-46-48-51 1-6-8-12-35 Evening: N/A Evening: N/A x3 PB 3 AROUND FLORIDA Feds: Fla. owes millions in Medicaid overpayments MIAMI — Federal criminate against one class felony, from Champion’s health officials say Florida and not another is wrong death. But prosecutors owes millions in Medicaid for me.” increased the charges to overpayments, according Nelson pledged to add manslaughter last month. to a report released Friday. his name to the petition of Two former band mem- The Florida Department senators asking the U.S. bers already have pleaded of Children and Families Supreme Court to declare no-contest to felony haz- identified $22.3 million in the law that prohibits gay ing, and a third is expected Medicaid overpayments marriage unconstitutional. to enter a plea later this between 2007 and 2010 Nelson had previously month. and the federal share is supported civil unions Champion collapsed about $12 million. The for gay people but had and died in Orlando in feds initially said the state believed marriage should November 2011 after what should return all $12 mil- be between a man and a prosecutors say was a sav- lion, but amended their woman. age beating during a haz- recommendation after With Nelson’s reversal, ing ritual. It happened on a state officials said they had only six Senate Democrats bus parked in a hotel park- only collected $4 million remain opposed to gay ing lot after FAMU played of those funds and should marriage. A handful of a rival in football. not be expected to repay Republicans, including funds they have not yet Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Man gets life recouped, according to a have also changed their for killing wife report by the Department stances. of Health and Human A national poll released NEW PORT RICHEY Services inspector general. ASSOCIATED PRESS Thursday by Quinnipiac — He was 9 the last time DCF determines University showed he saw his mother, but Medicaid eligibility but the Mass pet adoption American voters favor three decades could not Florida Agency for Health A puppy waiting to be adopted looks out of a pen Saturday during a pet adoption event at same-sex marriage 50-41 dull James Earley’s mem- Care Administration is the Tropical Park in Miami. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals joined percent, compared to 47-43 ory of how his stepfather sole recipient of federal forces with Miami-Dade Animal Services and other groups in an attempt to find homes for hun- percent in early March. In beat her. On Thursday — finally funds for the program. dreds of homeless animals. Some 288 cats and dogs were placed during the 12-hour event. July 2008, voters opposed Most Medicaid overpay- same-sex unions 55-36 — Earley watched that ments result from mis- percent. man go off to prison for takes made by applicants, ful-death claim against the they will keep the amount Martin’s family claims he the rest of his life. but there are also mistakes homeowners association confidential. targeted the unarmed 17- “We did our sentence for made by the agency and of the subdivision where Martin was fatally shot year-old mainly because Hazing suspects 30 years,” Earley said after their son was killed.