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Legislation will keep prescription drugs safe and ample

Re: Prescription for peril, May 17.

This editorial sends the wrong message. As the author of the landmark 2003 Prescription Drug Protection Act, I can speak with authority that Florida currently has the safest, most secure drug distribution system in the country. It's so safe that 11 other states have already used Florida's law as model legislation and 22 other states are considering implementing our law in their states this year.

The 2003 act established a "closed system" for the 34 drugs considered the most susceptible to counterfeiting. Since the act took effect three years ago, there have been no known counterfeit, diluted or diverted drugs to penetrate this "closed loop" system. It worked exactly as we intended, and Floridians have benefited from a more secure medicine supply.

Your characterization that HB 371 would "gut" or "blow a hole" in the 2003 bill is therefore a disservice to your readers. To the contrary, HB 371 applies this proven closed-loop system in effect for 34 drugs to all prescription drugs, effective July 1. Under the bill, Florida will be the first state in the country to require chain-of-custody documents for all prescription drugs sold by wholesalers in the state, and the act's strict wholesaler licensing and criminal penalty provisions - the toughest in the nation - remain in effect as originally enacted. The bill is based on a proven approach to address the threat of counterfeit drugs, and does so in a way that will assure an uninterrupted supply of medicines for Floridians.

As a faculty member at the University of South Florida school of medicine and a practicing orthopedic surgeon, I have a vested interest in seeing that my patients, my constituents and all Floridians get the medicines they need, when they need them.

With the hurricane season approaching, we want to keep our drug supply chain working safely, securely and effectively as it has been for the last three years so we do not end up with short supplies because of a switch to an untested way of doing business.

Rep. Ed Homan, M.D., Tampa

A better immigration response needed

Re: Compromise, not deportation, by Sens. Chuck Hagel and Mel Martinez, May 15.

This well-crafted political statement says a lot of nice things but leaves too many openings for backroom political "adjusting." Compromise is, of course, necessary; "massive deportation" is impossible. The statement tacitly admits that politicians have been degrading our national integrity and values - and the protection of U.S. citizens - for 30 years.

If our government enforced the existing laws, "mass deportation" would be unnecessary. If government took legal action against major employers who ignore the law (and make large campaign contributions to politicians), the mass hiring of illegals would dry up - and many illegals would return home. We would have higher employment of U.S. citizens - and, yes, higher food prices - as employers had to pay a living wage to U.S. workers. I could accept higher food prices - and would enjoy lower costs and taxes for health care, education, welfare and unemployment compensation, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security ... the list goes on.

Note that "the third group" of illegal immigrants (workers who have been here five years or more) will be allowed to stay in the United States, apply for legal status and even "earn a green card through good behavior." The intent is to then reward illegal immigrants by allowing those green cards to be converted to full U.S. citizenship - yet another amnesty.

Legal citizens deserve better than to see U.S. citizenship given as a reward to persons who willfully violate U.S. laws to even be in the United States. Are U.S. citizens rewarded for breaking the law? Do we have fewer "rights" than illegal immigrants?

R.J. Radford, Clearwater

A barrier to assimilation

What is the incentive for Spanish-speaking immigrants to learn English when there are so many Spanish-language radio and television stations broadcasting all over the United States? How did all these stations get their licenses to use the airways?

Without this type of information and entertainment, Spanish-speaking immigrants would learn to speak English and assimilate into the American culture faster.

The English language has been the glue that unites this country, and it is time to make English the official language of the United States of America.

Jack Eaton, Clearwater

Will any body do?

Re: The search for Hoffa heads to horse farm, May 19.

The FBI's looking for Jimmy Hoffa's body reminds me of one of my favorite jokes:

The police are dredging a lake. A drunk staggers to the edge of the water and yells out to the police officer, "What are you looking for?"

The police officer answers, "A body."

After a few seconds of silence, the drunk says, "What do you want one for?''

Donald F. Kelly, St. Petersburg

Run them out of town

Re: Sale, or foregone foreclosure? May 14.

This article about Richard G. Wilson and Leroy Luke Heath really made me angry. These men are clearly opportunists who put on a deceptive mask of Christianity to gain the trust of innocent, desperate people. Christian means "Christ-like" and I have never heard a parable wherein Jesus put a desperate family out on the street. This masquerade alone is reason enough to suspect their motives.

And as far as waiting for our elected officials to right the situation - don't hold your breath. How can we expect our elected officials, who are mostly wealthy lawyers themselves, to understand the reality of middle-class working people or put the interests of the average citizen ahead of the special interest groups? It's time to take a page from our forebears in the Old West and run the likes of Richard Wilson, Leroy Heath out of town.

Tracy L. Downing, Seminole

What 'good' Catholics know

Re: Missing the key to the "code," by Eugene Cullen Kennedy, May 12.

Eugene Cullen Kennedy takes to task church authorities who urge Catholics not to buy or read The Da Vinci Code. He says good Catholics will realize it is fiction. Duh! He obviously ignores the fact that millions will swallow the fiction hook, line and sinker even when the author proclaims it to be "fantasy."

Then Kennedy presumes to know the minds of millions of Catholics by presuming that church officials have made them feel guilty about sex "just for being normal, healthy human beings.'' The truth is "good" Catholics know what is sinful and what is not and still consider themselves to be "normal, healthy human beings."

Jean Clark, Oldsmar

Why bash the Vatican?

Eugene Cullen Kennedy's May 12 article Missing the key to the "code" is enlightening. He criticizes the "frenzy of self-righteousness." As a practicing Catholic, I agree.

Kennedy is fair in his criticisms of both Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone of Genoa ("Don't read it") and Cardinal Francis Arinze of the Vatican, who urges lawsuits vis-a-vis the book.

Kennedy's point that "good Catholics can be trusted to sift the gold from the sand in this much maligned book/movie" is well-taken. What is too bad is that, in summary, Kennedy just could not resist bashing the Vatican.

Laurence Veras, Clearwater

[Last modified May 22, 2006, 07:57:14]