Dear Friend: Next week I will be in Tallahassee for another week of committee meetings, which is the first of two committee weeks this month. My time in the state capitol will increase as we get closer to the start of the 2010 Legislative Session in March.
New Committee Assignment-- I have recently been appointed to the Health Care Appropriations Committee and will serve as the Democratic Ranking Member. I am excited to be appointed to this key committee, which has jurisdiction over Florida’s mammoth health care budget, and I look forward to working on solutions to slow Florida’s escalating health care costs without compromising access to care.
2010 Census Update--Now that the New Year is here, 2010 Census activities will become more evident. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data. During the U.S. Census, households will be contacted by mail, telephone or visited by a U.S. Census worker who will inquire about the number of people living in the house. Unfortunately, this process opens the door to those seeking to defraud innocent people.
How do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice:
• If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.
• Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.
• The U.S. Census Bureau will never contact you by e-mail, so be on the lookout for e-mail scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org.
For more information about the 2010 Census, visit www.2010census.gov.
As always, I appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns. Our district office number is (561) 470-6593
Kelly Skidmore, State Representative, District 90