Economy topic at ‘Roundup Recovery’ forum

The forum focused on jobs and local, regional and national economic recovery efforts. Though the goal was to discuss the importance of reasonable dialogue and on-partisan reform efforts, discussion was quite heated politically at times. Of the roughly 20 attendees, the overwhelming majority identified themselves as Democrats.

Topics discussed included health care reform and the economy; job bill report; small town economic recovery in northeast Georgia; job creation in rural counties; small business, farming and manufacturing; and unemployed and underemployed worker assistance.

Panelists for the evening included moderator Russell Edwards, a law student at the University of Georgia; Joe and Diane Cook, small business owners of Pakmail, located at Banks Crossing; Deborah Taulk, regional director of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services; Anderson Lipscomb, a former member of the Young Democrats at UGA; and Fazal Khan, a professor of law at UGA.

Edwards asked Khan what he thought about the importance of healthcare reform and what were the main obstacles keeping the country from enacting reform.

“I think one of the problems in terms of the health insurance market is lack of competition,” Khan said. “I think it’s interesting that you see good ideas come from both sides of the political spectrum.”

Khan went on to say that he felt politics are in the way of what needs to be done in the country in terms of healthcare, a sentiment everyone in attendance seemed to be in agreement with.

Moving on, Edwards mentioned that healthcare costs for most people in the economy are so high that it inhibits the possibility for growth in the economy. For small business owners, it’s a liability to own a business, and risks are tacked on when considering becoming sick and dealing with healthcare costs on top of the already risky business.

Edwards turned to the Cooks, the small business owners, and asked them about the issues they deal with on a day-to-day basis.

“We have healthcare to protect our large assets,” Mr. Cook said. “So there’s virtually no healthcare, it’s just an insurance policy against catastrophes.”

He also mentioned monthly deductibles and how the monthly premiums are “unbelievable.”

Edwards likened the Cooks’ healthcare plan to bankruptcy insurance and commented on how this side of the small business industry really inhibits the entrepreneurial spirit.

The forum took place the same day that President Barack Obama held the healthcare summit. Edwards opened dialogue to reflect on the president’s summit.

“The main thing I heard today was that the Republicans – and this was the party line – they want to hit the reset button on healthcare reform,” he said. “So all the work that has been done legislatively the past year, the Republican party wants to start it over from the beginning and enter the process all over again.”

He said that the Democrats think they have a better plan, that being the national exchange, which Edwards thinks has the best chance of coming out in a final bill.

The national exchange is basically where all insurance companies in the nation get to compete nationally, thus fostering competitive pricing. The national exchange could bring down costs for everyday Americans.

Discussion soon shifted to Taulk, regional director at DFACS, and if she’s noticed changes in the clientele over the past year.

Taulk said that during the last year, the caseloads in the 13 counties that she represents, including Banks, have grown, and in some instances, have grown up to 50 percent.

“It’s terrifying at some points to see all these people coming in for benefits,” she said. “We’re there to serve the public, so we will serve whoever comes in, but the numbers are increasing.”

The services DFACS assists with are providing Medicaid for families and children, food stamp programs, childcare assistance for parents who are employed or in school, and temporary assistance for needy families in the form of a work program.

“The number of people that are coming to DFACS requesting assistance has not only grown, the clientele has changed,” Taulk said. “More people who perhaps had a $50,000 a year job two months ago, have now been layed off. They’re receiving the unemployment benefits, and thank goodness, the unemployment benefits have been extended.”

Taulk also contributed the increase in clients to the ease online services add in the process.

“A lot of rural people in the past have not wanted to come to the welfare office,” she said. “But now, people can apply online so it’s a little bit easier not necessarily having to have the face-to-face interview, so it’s easier to apply and it’s not that much of a stigma anymore because everybody’s right there in the same boat and we’re here to provide the services for whoever needs them.”

One of the most successful ways to get money back into the economy that was mentioned is the food stamp program.

“Food stamps (are) not only good for the public, it puts money back into the economy,” Taulk said. “They spend the food stamps at the grocery store and it goes back in the economy, so food stamps is the big program that we’re pushing.”

As people struggle to break even in whatever way possible and jobless claims continue to increase, Edwards said that two of the best ways to stimulate the economy will be the food stamps program and also continuing to put people to work by establishing local projects and getting federal help.