Hospitals get shafted on red light camera money

[desertsun41]

Ohhhhh my!! Do I detect a distrust for your politicians? Then tell me why you vote them in. Perhaps I should instead ask why do you bother voting. You know deep down in your heart your vote is meaningless.

I could care less about a billion dollar "for profit" hospital getting their share of illegal immoral money that was extorted from us law abiding citizens who are just trying to live our lives peacefully without interruption from the fat cat Bureaucrats who wear badges stained with jelly donuts. That is our money taken from us without our permission and given to criminals who rule with an iron fist from their thrones at city hall. Pizz on them all.

[baytownb]

Not even close to an explanation. At the end of each year, (going back to 2006 for Houston) the city has to send half of the camera profits to the state. The state is supposed to distribute the funds to trauma hospitals to cover the expenses for all of those treated without insurance. The state is holding onto the money not Houston. The state doesn't give 2 shakes of a dead cat how much Houston is on the hook for. Besides that money can't be used to pay to break the contract. The fact is the state has already spent that money. It won't ever go to where it is supposed to.

Originally Posted by LostInHouston

Could it be that the money is sitting around due to the ongoing lawsuits surrounding the vote to turn the cameras off? Aren't there heavy fines the city would have to pay to the service provider for breach of contract if the cameras had remained off? So isn't it possible this is actually an incredibly fiscally smart decision to not spend the money from the cameras until all of the court stuff is cleared up, in case they have to use it to pay the company off for breach of contract?

Honestly, I have no idea, I'm just throwing it out there as a plausible explanation.

[karuna95]

Originally Posted by Thila

Reminds me of how lottery money was supposed to go towards the education fund.

If the money goes into the education fund to educate kids, the kids might get better at math, and realize the statistical improbability of winning the lottery, and the lottery would collapse

Originally Posted by desertsun41

I could care less about a billion dollar "for profit" hospital getting their share of illegal immoral money that was extorted from us law abiding citizens who are just trying to live our lives peacefully without interruption from the fat cat Bureaucrats who wear badges stained with jelly donuts.

The hospitals with the trauma centers are anything but fat cats, and they're definitely not for profit. Memorial Hermann in medical center and Ben Taub could really use those funds. For a city of almost 5 million people, having only 2 Level 1 trauma centers is ridiculously inadequate, which is why they are on drive-by status so often. Just pray that you don't need their services, esp when they go on drive-by. It affects all of us.

I didn't realize that bureaucrats wear jelly-stained badges. Will have to pay more attention next time!

[jvredlitefacts]

The mayor of Houston, or any other city has no control over what the state does. The main question should be why the money isn't being used as mandated BY LAW. That money is mandated to be sent to the Trauma centers by law. It isn't just a "promise" like they did made with the lotto money. The Texas Transportation Code Chapter 707 has some interesting things in it. One of those things is where the states half of Red Light Camera money goes. It isn't just a regular budget item for the state.

[eric3781]

Originally Posted by desertsun41

Ohhhhh my!! Do I detect a distrust for your politicians? Then tell me why you vote them in. Perhaps I should instead ask why do you bother voting. You know deep down in your heart your vote is meaningless.

I could care less about a billion dollar "for profit" hospital getting their share of illegal immoral money that was extorted from us law abiding citizens who are just trying to live our lives peacefully without interruption from the fat cat Bureaucrats who wear badges stained with jelly donuts. That is our money taken from us without our permission and given to criminals who rule with an iron fist from their thrones at city hall. Pizz on them all.

You'd get my vote for city council.

[eric3781]

Originally Posted by karuna95

If the money goes into the education fund to educate kids, the kids might get better at math, and realize the statistical improbability of winning the lottery, and the lottery would collapse

BWAHAHAHA!

Memorial Hermann in medical center and Ben Taub could really use those funds. For a city of almost 5 million people, having only 2 Level 1 trauma centers is ridiculously inadequate, which is why they are on drive-by status so often.

I guess us citizens need to get together and find a way to fund more level 1 trauma centers. Preferably one that doesn't involve bilking law abiding citizens out of money in a slimy, unconstitutional manner.

Bizarre how that $0.19/$100 of valuation hospital property tax for Harris County doesn't stretch that far.

[Houston3]

Originally Posted by 14Bricks

And the scam continues. Thank you mayor Parker.

The red light cameras belong to ex mayor bill white, the commie...the new drainage fee belongs to her...Don't you just love hidden liberal taxes?