EBONY NEWS TODAY, INC.
PALM BAY, FLORIDA

When the president of the United States doesn’t know what he’s talking about, and refuses to educate himself, Americans should not be surprised that the White House is dysfunctional, and the members don’t have any idea of what they are doing. Initially John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, issued a statement at the beginning of last week that the administration was supportive of Rob Porter, after a news report broke detailing the domestic violence allegations he was accused of. But once photos were published in the Daily Mail, Kelly issued a contradictory statement taking a firm stance against domestic violence. On Wednesday of last week, White House senior aid, Rob Porter, announced his resignation. The CDC’s report further revealed that nearly half of black fathers living apart from their young children said they played with them at least several times a week, 42 percent said they fed or dined with them that frequently, and 41 percent said they bathed, diapered or helped dress them as often — rates on par with or higher than those of other men living apart from their children. Florida is controlled by the Republican Party in both Houses, but there are more Democrats registered to vote in the state. If Governor Rick Scott and The Republican Party cared about the people in the state, they would have approved the expansion of Medicaid, because it can help over 1 million residents. Our governor continues to tell the residents that his initiatives and plans are working, but we find time and time again that our state is at the top of bad lists. Florida is ranked first in fraud, first in identity theft, first in home foreclosures, and first in public corruption convictions. It is obvious that to be first on a bad list is an embarrassment, and we have to question if our legislators are doing their job, and if the governor cares. Florida is the second worst in the country on per-capital spending on higher education, access to emergency care, and the most regressive taxation system. We are also the third worst in per-capital spending on public education, the widest income disparity between the top 1 percent and the bottom 99%, the most long-term jobless, and among the three worst states for future retirement security. Our state is also the eight in violent crime rates, and the 42nd in per-capital spending on public welfare programs. Most of this information comes from a research paper from the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, and they are now not recommending retirees to come to Florida to retire. In 2011, the Scott administration cut money for spring protection, and gutted the state’s water management districts. All around the state, there are toxic dumping grounds in minority communities, which are making the residents sick. There is excessive runoff from urban areas, septic tanks, landfills, and agriculture areas, which can cause vomiting, rashes, lung and liver diseases. The headline above the fold in a recent edition of The New York Times says it all – Republican Bill Curtails Reach of Bank Rules. While that article focused on banking regulations propped up in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, a larger picture is coming into focus. Put another way, a GOP-led Congress and Administration are effectuating and reversing decades of regulatory-creep. Washington bureaucrats have quietly been pouring sand in the engines of economic growth and enterprise for too long, and the Trump Administration is finally doing something about it. Whether on bank rules, environmental policies, federal land grabs, immigration… the list goes on; in every instance, you see an Executive Branch saying, “enough is enough” and turning around these runaway policies. The economy is responding favorably and no one is dying in the streets. The clear winning strategy for this White House and how it is covered is to think beyond the Beltway. Treat and celebrate major rollbacks in regulations as key policy wins, because they are. Push the spotlight to the growing ranks of Administration personnel thriving in their respective fields of expertise. For example, Dr. Scott Gottlieb of the Food & Drug Administration is a pure genius when it comes to health care. Tout that and the work he is doing to bring prescription drugs and medical devices to the market on behalf of American patients and their families. The United States is a world leader in delivering medicines and pacemakers to consumers, both here and around the globe. Showcase that in an unprecedented way. Like it or not, we have federal government agencies that practically mirror every major industry in this country, from farming to transportation to energy to science. So, the list of Administration involvement and successes in each of these fields could be endless. Start today because there is much ground to be made up politically for this White House and its opponents are many! This time, though, Moore says Washington isn’t helping much. He says both political parties are failing Americans who are struggling to get by. Moore is working to change that narrative. To date, Robin Hood has raised more than $2.5 billion. The funds help support educational programs for low-income children, poverty research and early stage companies helping low-income Americans. But Moore recognizes that philanthropy alone is not enough. He’s on a mission to revise policies — making sure families don’t go hungry, ensuring access to quality education that is not defined by the zip code a child lives in and reforming the criminal justice system. To help, Robin Hood plans to hire a Chief Public Policy Officer to inform policy makers and offer commentary for discussions centered on poverty, the foundation’s spokeswoman said. For Moore, this mission is personal. “I would say the things that happened there saved me,” he tells Harlow. “I found a passion for leadership, and I found a passion for doing something and being in a place where you know your belonging actually matters.” In his mission to create opportunities for the less fortunate, Moore acknowledges government must help — and he doesn’t rule out a run for public office sometime in the future himself.