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Friday, Dec 28, 2007
Medicare For All via H.R. 676
by Stephen Crockett, co-host of
Democratic Talk Radio
A bill has already been
introduced in The House by Congressman John Conyers that effectively
addresses the issue. H.R. 676 expands Medicare to cover all citizens.
The scope of the
healthcare crisis in America is huge. It has very serious economic and
moral implications. It is crippling our nation in terms of protecting
American manufacturing, competing in the global economy and undermines
our national security. It reflects badly on us as a just and moral
society. It is literally killing Americans in huge numbers.
Read more...
Thursday, Dec 27, 2007
Illinois
Teachers
Unions Endorse HR 676
Rejecting a “band-aid
approach” to healthcare, the University Professionals of Illinois, AFT
Local 4100, endorsed HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation
introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich).
“Beyond the fact that 46
or 47 million uninsured Americans are forced to play Texas Hold ‘Em
with their health care, nearly a third of our health care dollars
supports private insurance bureaucracy and paperwork. That’s not
health care. That’s waste,” said Sue Kaufman, UPI Local 4100
president.
HR 676 would institute a
single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly
improved Medicare system to every resident.
HR 676 would cover every
person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including
prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary
and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home
health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance
abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends
deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by
eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private health
insurance industry and HMOs.
HR 676 currently has 87
co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. Co-sponsors and bill text are
here...
HR 676 has been endorsed
by 345 union organizations in 48 states including 94 Central Labor
Councils and Area Labor Federations and 29 state AFL-CIOs.
Read more about HR 676...
Wednesday, Dec 26, 2007
Republican Roadblock to Children's' Health
Care Hurts Kids
The modest spending
increase that Congress approved for a popular children's health
insurance program will maintain coverage for those already enrolled.
But many children who lack insurance are doomed.
In 2007, Democrats
proposed a huge spending increase on the federal-state partnership
known as the
State Children's Health Insurance Program. Many Congressional
Republicans embraced the idea. Meanwhile, states all over the country
were drawing up plans to expand health coverage.
Now, many of those SCHIP
plans have been suspended indefinitely. The spending increase most
lawmakers supported has been vetoed twice by President Bush, who
balked at the $35 billion price tag and method of payment - a tobacco
tax.
Typically, many states
provide health coverage for families with incomes up to twice the
federal poverty level - $34,340 for a family of three. To cover more
children, those states planned to increase the income eligibility
level.
Some analysts say the
number of children getting SCHIP coverage may still decline in 2008 -
a bitter prospect for Democrats who promised they would expand
enrollment from 6 million children to 10 million.
Republican lawmakers say
they wanted to work out a compromise, but many seem satisfied with the
extension the House approved this month . This when analysts predict
that more and more middle and low income families will be forced to
drop coverage to put food on the table and gas in the car to get to
work.
Republicans say any
expansion should not allow middle-income families to drop private
coverage for the public kind even though private coverage is
increasing at annual rates in excess of ten to 20 percent. They
insisted that SCHIP retain a new Bush administration directive that
makes it harder for states to cover middle-income children. Democrats
criticized the directive for months. They promised to rescind it, but
failed.
Read more...
Monday, Dec. 24, 2007
Edwards is FDR
with a Southern Accent
by Stephen Crockett, co-host of
Democratic Talk Radio
The Democratic
Presidential candidate John Edwards is potentially the person most
likely to realign the two major political parties for the next
generation or two. Edwards is a Democratic political leader who is not
only closely mirroring FDR as a historical figure but is doing so by
following in the same political and economic traditions as FDR. The
main differences are personal backgrounds and accents.
Read more...
comment on this news item...
Thursday, Dec 20, 2007
P4P Health Care Conference
Progressives4Pennsylvania (P4P) plans to host a healthcare
conference on Saturday, January 12, 2007 at approximately 1:00PM at
the Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center. The conference will be
hosted by Health
Care for All PA.
Health Care for All
PA is promoting
The Pennsylvania Family and Business Healthcare Security Act (HB
1660 and SB 300), a single-payer bill that, when passed, will bring
comprehensive universal health care coverage to every man, woman and
child in Pennsylvania.
 The
healthcare conference will follow the Democratic State Committee
meeting which is being held at the Host on January 11th and 12th. The
Health Care for All PA conference is scheduled to take place in
Ballroom B at the Host. The doors to the conference will open at 12
noon. Snacks and beverages will be served. The conference will begin
as soon as the State Committee Meeting adjourns at 1:00PM.
P4P will have a
table set up at the Host on both Friday, January 11th and Saturday
January 12th in order to provide information about the healthcare
conference.
The agenda for
Health Care for All Pa’s conference will be forthcoming and be posted
on the P4P web site (www.progressives4pennsylvania.com),
and the Health Care for All PA’s site:
http://www.healthcare4allpa.org.
Healthcare advocates
planning to attend should RSVP at:
info@progressives4pennsylvania.com
Map to the Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center...
Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007
As
Ethanol Takes Its First Steps, Congress Proposes a Giant Leap
Congress is on the
verge of writing into law one of the most ambitious dictates ever
issued to American business: to create, from scratch, a huge new
industry capable of converting agricultural wastes and other plant
material into automotive fuel.
 It is
estimated that the energy bill would require more than 100 new corn
ethanol plants. The potential benefits include reducing the nation’s
dependence on oil and the emissions of gases that contribute to global
warming. But the goals Congress is considering are so sweeping,
analysts say, that it is not clear they can be achieved.
No fuel of the type
in question has been produced commercially in the United States. Even
in the view of people who back the idea, the technology to do it is
immature, the economics are uncertain, and the potential for
unintended consequences is high.
Hundreds of new
factories will be required, perhaps a billion tons of plant material
will need to be hauled around every year, and estimates of the
required investment start at tens of billions of dollars.
Read more...
comment on this news item...
Monday, Dec 17, 2007
Top Ten Reason You Know It's Going to Be a Long Holiday
by Kim
Rentschler
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Abominable Snowman
admits steroid use...."Reindeer Games" tarnished forever.
-
Plagued by fears
of global warming, Frosty suffers near "meltdown" and is recruited
by Al Gore.
-
While hunting,
Dick Cheney sees "feeling of Christmas" in air....accidentally
shoots Rudolph.
-
Grinch's "green"
card revoked during immigration crackdown in "Whoville"....reportedly
facing deportation.
-
Citing "lack of
value", IRS denies charitable deductions for "re-gifted" fruitcakes.
-
Acting
aggressively, EPA installs carbon monoxide detectors in Clement
Moore's house amid reports of creatures "not stirring".
-
Pressured by
declining margins, Dell computer chips now manufactured by "Utz".
-
Already "cold"
North Pole real estate market declines further....hundreds of Barbie
"Dreamhouses" facing foreclosure.
-
Sadly, even Dr.
Scholl's mistletoe has developed "bunions".
-
Struggling to
create a "Goldilocks" economy with three "Bears" constantly
underfoot, Ben Bernanke turns to Santa to get it "just right".
While we wait for
that to happen please accept my best wishes for a "Happy Holiday" to
all and a "Good Night".
Saturday, Dec 15, 2007
Lieberman’s “Nothing” Endorsement of John McCain
by Stephen Crockett, co-host of
Democratic Talk Radio
The media filled the
airwaves and wasted tons of paper reporting on the endorsement of
independent Senator Joseph Lieberman of Republican Senator John
McCain. While Lieberman does have a stronger base in the Republican
Party than he has among independents or Democrats, he has very little
support anywhere.
Lieberman is, like
McCain, a fanatic hawk on Iraq. Both men are leaders in the eternal
war movement. They are frankly dangerous extremists when it comes to
foreign policy, military adventurism and establishing police state
powers in our federal government. In my opinion, they are two of the
biggest threats to the Bill of Rights that exist in the U.S. Senate.
Read more...
comment on this news item...
Friday, Dec 14, 2007
Congressman Launches Online Push for Cheney
Impeachment Hearings
 Following
the release of an online op-ed advocating for Cheney impeachment
hearings by Representatives Robert Wexler (D-FL), Luis Gutierrez
(D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), all Members of the House Judiciary
Committee, Congressman Wexler has launched an ambitious online effort
to mobilize support for immediate impeachment hearings for Vice
President Dick Cheney.
Wexler, a senior member of
the House Judiciary Committee, has launched
www.WexlerWantsHearings.com to mobilize grass roots and netroots
support from across the nation in order to increase pressure on
Congress to hold hearings.
Read more...
 Wednesday,
Dec 12, 2007
Penn Ag Democrats Honoring Judy Schwank
Penn Ag Democrats are
honoring Judy Schwank (former Berks County Commissioner now CEO of
10,000 Friends) with the Jefferson-Jackson
award at their luncheon Jan 5, noon, at the Farm Show VIP Room. To
attend the Awards and luncheon, call (814) 364-1042 or
email
for more information.
The cost of the luncheon is $25 per ticket.
The Penn Ag Democrats is a
political action committee dedicated to working for the advancement of
agriculture through the Democratic Party and its candidates.
Wednesday, Dec 5, 2007
HOMEAID FOR AFRICA
HOMEAID for Africa is a NGO
based in Chester County that raises funds for selected projects in
Malawi that benefit women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Some of
the projects initiate women's empowerment activities ( i.e., chicken
farming) and others provide for orphan nutrition, care, and schooling.
Scholarships for nursing students is part of the latter.
HOMEAID for Africa is
sponsoring an Open House and Craft Show featuring Chester County
artists on Sunday, December 9th from 1:00 to 5:00 PM in West Chester.
Location: 512 Susan Drive,
West Chester, PA 19380. Contact:
Arlene Rengert
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