Lagoon Hope
$8 billion in promises for our water
A3
Evironmental advocate
Centennial teacher shares eco lessons
A9
Set your clocks back... 1 hour, this Sunday morning
ST. LUCIE WEST • TRADITION
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 1/ISSUE 51
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
The many angles of ObamaCare
Looking for a McCure
Nicole Rodriguez Staff writer
nrodriguez@YourVoiceWeekly.com
TREASURE COAST — Opponents of the hotly debated Affordable Care Act, or “ObamaCare” as it’s most commonly called, say the new law, which requires all Americans to have health insurance by next year is unconstitutional. But whether the new law is legal or not, really depends on who you ask. “I’m very disappointed. If anybody reads the Bill of Rights, it gives the right to pursue happiness, not give happiness or healthcare,” Bill Paterson, chairman of the Republican Party of St. Lucie County said. “Making it mandatory for somebody to purchase something is unconstitutional. Yes, making it mandatory for people to buy car insurance if they’re driving on our roads is constitutional. That last point is key. This president has trampled all over our Constitution,” Paterson said. Nationwide sign up for affordable healthcare plans through the new marketplace began on Oct. 1 at HealthCare.gov. The site has been largely blacked out since its launch because of technical difficulties. Paterson said the major glitches and unavailability of the site are indicators of things to come. “It’s become a joke on the late night shows,” Paterson said. State Rep. Larry Lee Jr., D-Port
See HEALTHCARE page A6
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013
Christopher Lyons, 5, of St. Lucie West gets a lesson in ball spinning from Ronald McDonald before the start of the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk Saturday, Oct. 26 at Tradition Stadium in St. Lucie West. Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer
Governor receives lukewarm greeting from lagoon activists at store opening Nicole Rodriguez Staff writer
nrodriguez@YourVoiceWeekly.com
TREASURE COAST — Gov. Rick Scott laid political blame on the president for lingering pollution that plagues the once pristine Treasure Coast waterways. Scott, who spoke briefly at the grand opening of Bass Pro Shops located just beyond Tradition’s border,
said President Barack Obama is remiss for not visiting the discharge-ravaged lagoon or funding special projects to clean up and prevent future damage. “Unfortunately, the federal government is not doing their job. Lake Okeechobee is their responsibility. They’re not putting money into the dike like they should. It’s very disappointing,” Scott told members of the media after his brief appearance. “President
Obama needs to come down here, and show up and look at what he’s doing. Because he’s clearly not funding Lake Okeechobee the way he should.” “What we are doing in our budget, this last year we put $20 million into storm (water) treatment 44A and we’re going to add another $40 million this next year,” Scott said. “On top of that,
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