Health Care Advocates Call on Voinovich to Support Affordable Health Care for All
Wednesday, health care advocates gathered from around the state concerned that the affordability standards in the U.S.
Senate Finance passed version of health care reform do not go far enough. On the heels of the Senate Finance
Committee's historic vote, advocates delivered their message and hundreds of signatures on postcards to U.S. Sen.
George Voinovich urging his support of affordable health care for all.
At a Statehouse press conference and rally prior to a meeting with Voinovich, Cathy Levine highlighted the historic
importance of the Senate action on health care reform.
"No issue before Congress could be more important than ensuring that cancer survivors, those with chronic conditions,
and those whose wages are stretched to pay for food and shelter have access to the richest health care system in the
world," said Levine, co-chair of Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage (OCHC). "We ask Sen. Voinovich to support health
care reform that gives all Ohioans access to high quality, affordable health care."
Joining the rally and meeting with Voinovich were health care advocates from across the state, many motivated by their
own personal experiences. Anne Creech, a two-time cancer survivor, traveled from Toledo to share her story. After
dropping her employer-based insurance at her employer's request, Creech struggled to find affordable coverage in Ohio's
individual market as a cancer survivor.
"I pay $500 each month for a high deductible insurance plan that excludes coverage for cancer screenings and other tests
I need," said Creech. "I am putting off important preventive screenings because I cannot afford to pay for them out of
pocket."
The issue of affordability is especially important to the age group just below Medicare eligibility, advocates pointed out.
Those aged 50 to 64 often face coverage exclusions or higher premiums because of pre-existing conditions and
age. "That is a key reason why 13 percent of adults age 50-64, or 7.1 million adults, were uninsured in 2007 - a figure
that is growing rapidly in our current difficult economy. Even those with insurance often struggle with high premiums and
cost sharing obligations that can make health care unaffordable."
George Sonnichsen, an AARP volunteer, called for fair treatment for older Americans: "We must prevent insurers from
denying coverage or charging higher rates based on age or health status and subsidies must ensure that coverage -
including both premiums and co-pays and deductibles - is affordable for everyone."
Health care reform is also an important issue to the faith community. The United Methodist Book of Discipline calls health
care "a basic human right," and states that it is a "governmental responsibility to provide all citizens with health care."
Alicia Rivers, a commissioned deacon in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church and a member of the
leadership team of Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage spoke to the faith community's responsibility in the health care
reform debate.
"Health care for all is not an option from a faith perspective, but rather a necessity. We are called to care for persons as
God cares for them, providing out of abundance rather than scarcity. Access to care is not a privilege but a right for all,"
explained Rivers. She continued, "We call on Sen. Voinovich, who is known as a man of faith, to make affordable health
care for all Ohioans - and all Americans - his legacy."
According to OCHC, the Senate Finance passed bill includes the some safeguards for consumers but the coalition wants
the Senate to adopt affordability provisions that go further to protect consumers - such as those which provide premium
credits on a sliding scale basis to individuals and families with incomes up to 400 percent Federal Poverty Level.
Ron
Hello All,
I’m happy to report that service events in support of the community are alive and well.
On Saturday, August 22, several local grass-root organizations collaborated on the service event, “Supplies For Change”. The donation drop-off areas were located at Shaker Square; an immensely popular location for the community. The organizers of the North Union Farmer’s Market generously donated a tent for us to receive donations in the morning. The Coral Company opened the doors of the former Obama Campaign headquarters for us to use this space in the afternoon.
In summary, cash donations exceeded $260. In addition, we collected a vast variety of useful school supplies that filled many bags and boxes. The items were donated to the Adlai Stevenson School, a K-8 school in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and the monetary donations were used by the CMSD to purchase school supplies for Audubon School on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.
The organizers of this event thank everyone for their generosity and support. “Supplies For Change” may become an annual event, and we look forward to your continued interest and support.
All the best,
Maureen
ohio_voter_44120@sbcglobal.net
Community Service Event: Supplies For Change
"Supplies For Change"
The Cuyahoga County Obama Support Groups want your help in gathering school supplies for students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD).
This is a coordinated grassroots effort to help Cleveland school children start the school year with brand new supplies and a smile.
Donation drop-off :
Saturday, August 22, 2009
9:00 - noon
North Union Farmers’ MarketShaker Square
and
1:00 - 4:00 PM
13100 Shaker Square (site of former Obama Headquarters)
Volunteers will accept "Supplies For Change" school supply donations in the morning from 9-12 AM at the North Union Farmers’ Market and at 13100 Shaker Square, site of the former Obama presidential campaign headquarters from 1-4 PM, with parking spaces available and volunteers on hand to accept school supplies. For monetary donations (tax-deductible), checks may be payable to: CMSD.
The ideal donation is a backpack filled with required supplies. Basic supplies like pencils, markers, glue sticks, spiral notebooks, etc. would be appreciated.
Sponsoring groups include ODVAct, Northeast Ohio Neighbors for Action and Change (NEONAC), the Cuyahoga Democratic Women’s Caucus, Buckeyes for Change and Net for Neighborhoods. For more information, and to volunteer, CDWC Chair Cindy Demsey at 216-470-6622 or cynthiademsey@gmail.com
Hello Northeast Ohio Obama Volunteers,
I hope this note finds everyone well. I am reminded of how much I enjoy our Ohio summer days.
Since the First 100 Days Event held in April, many of us have directed our attention to participating in local days of service, volunteering in our communities, and finding other ways to "walk the talk". Health Care reform is on everyone's mind as it the state of the economy and unemployment in Ohio. We still have much work before us to do.
There are two very important items that I want to bring to your attention.
The first is the article written by Margaret Bernstein in the Plain Dealer on Sunday July 19. This is a six-month follow-up to the President's Inauguration with a focus on the activities of the Obama Volunteers.
Here is the link to the Margaret Bernstein article:
http://www.cleveland.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/obamainspired_volunteerism_con.html
The second thing is that President Obama is scheduled to come to Shaker Heights on Thursday, July 23. It is listed on the www.shaker.org website:
The Shaker Heights City School District is delighted to host a Town Hall meeting with President Barack Obama on Thursday afternoon, July 23. Tickets are required and are to be allocated by lottery. Ticket requests may be made by visiting the White House website until 3:00 p.m. on July 21. Due to limited space at the event, the White House will only be able to fulfill a limited number of requests for tickets.
The link to apply for tickets (distributed by lottery) is here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ administration/Shaker-Heights- Town-Hall-7-23-09/
Best wishes,
Evans Politics Liberal Politics, April 12, 2009, by Paul Evans
The powers that were from the Bush administration are keeping their noses firmly in midst of the media limelight. Limbaugh stated that he wants President Obama to fail, and the media is still talking about that. Dick Cheney pugnaciously declared about April 7th that President Obama's policies were making America less safe, setting off major jawboning among the talking heads. It seemed to finally be settling down, only to have Karl Rove call Vice President Biden a "Liar," as you might expect on Fox News, on April 10th. (Watch the discussion of this on Hardball on Evans Politics Videos, here.) Eugene Robinson on that Hardball show made that point that Rove is showing up all over the place, which "doesn't sound like that great an idea to me. ....Whatever he's doing he's doing a lot of it. He seems very determined to be a player, and to try to set some kind of tone and agenda for the Republican talking points machine...."
Over at the Washington Monthly on April 11, Steve Benen is making exactly the point I am making about this:
KEEP ON TALKING, KARL.... Three of the least respected, least admired figures in contemporary American politics are Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, and Karl Rove. If Democratic leaders had their way, these three would be up front and center as much as possible. Especially as far as the White House is concerned, the more three on the attack, the better President Obama and his team look.And wouldn't you know it, in these early months of the Obama presidency, it's working out pretty well.Limbaugh has strengthened his reputation as the de facto leader of the party; Dick Cheney is annoying Republicans by making so many public appearances and taking cheap shots at the nation's leadership; and Karl Rove is arguably an even more rabid attack dog now than he was when he helped run the White House.
KEEP ON TALKING, KARL.... Three of the least respected, least admired figures in contemporary American politics are Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, and Karl Rove. If Democratic leaders had their way, these three would be up front and center as much as possible. Especially as far as the White House is concerned, the more three on the attack, the better President Obama and his team look.
And wouldn't you know it, in these early months of the Obama presidency, it's working out pretty well.
Limbaugh has strengthened his reputation as the de facto leader of the party; Dick Cheney is annoying Republicans by making so many public appearances and taking cheap shots at the nation's leadership; and Karl Rove is arguably an even more rabid attack dog now than he was when he helped run the White House.
And the polling numbers support the idea that having Rove, Cheney and Limbaugh lead the charge for the GOP is something Democrats can feel pretty satisfied about. At MSNBC's First Read on April 10, here, Mark Murray wrote a piece titled "GOP Deperately Seeking Mr. Popular":
We can tell you one thing about the current Karl Rove-vs.-Joe Biden spat: Democrats are loving every second of it.Why? Because -- as with Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh before him -- the public has a very sour opinion of Rove. "We're not too worried that Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, and Dick Cheney are battling it out to remain the face of the Republican Party," a Dem strategist emails First Read. "Every time Rove pops up, it just serves to remind people what they wanted to change."...snip...An August 2007 Gallup poll showed Rove's standing at 26% favorable, 44% unfavorable. Another Gallup poll early this year had Limbaugh's at 28%-45%. Per the December 2008 NBC/WSJ poll, Cheney's was 21%-58%.
We can tell you one thing about the current Karl Rove-vs.-Joe Biden spat: Democrats are loving every second of it.
Why? Because -- as with Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh before him -- the public has a very sour opinion of Rove. "We're not too worried that Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, and Dick Cheney are battling it out to remain the face of the Republican Party," a Dem strategist emails First Read. "Every time Rove pops up, it just serves to remind people what they wanted to change."
...snip...
An August 2007 Gallup poll showed Rove's standing at 26% favorable, 44% unfavorable. Another Gallup poll early this year had Limbaugh's at 28%-45%. Per the December 2008 NBC/WSJ poll, Cheney's was 21%-58%.
I did a little more digging on the approval ratings of the Repugnant Three to see if I could find more current data. Gallop did a poll between March 27 - 29 of 2009 on favorable/unfavorable percentages. At that time Karl Rove was 21% favorable, 44% unfavorable and 35% "never heard of/no opinion" (How anyone could either not have heard of these guys or have no opinion about them is beyond me, but I guess a lot of Americans are just not that into politics.) Cheney had a 30% favorable result (and our former fearless leader, George W. Bush had advanced into the stratospheric realm at 35%, from an all-time low of 28% on at least one poll). Pollster.com for November 4-5, 2008, among likely voters, had Rush Limbaugh at 23% favorable, 51% unfavorable and 26% "neutral/no opinion." Also for Rush Limbaugh, Gallop had a poll from February 5th of 2009:
Gallop Poll - February 5, 2009Rush Limbaugh Popularity
Republican: 60% Favorable; 23% Unfavorable; 17% Other*Independent: 25% Favorable; 45% Unfavorable; 30% Other*Democrat: 6% Favorable; 63% Unfavorable; 31% Other*
Republican: 60% Favorable; 23% Unfavorable; 17% Other*
Independent: 25% Favorable; 45% Unfavorable; 30% Other*
Democrat: 6% Favorable; 63% Unfavorable; 31% Other*
* Other = "Never heard of/No opinion"
So long as no clear popular leader of the GOP emerges, Democrats are perfectly comfortable with letting Rove, Cheney and Limbaugh thrust their immense egos into the spotlight. We don't even really have a preference: let the three of them vie for face time, it's all good. The Repugnant Three, hated as they were during the painful eight years of George W. Bush, are good news these days for the Obama administration.
The concept known as "Health has some rather strange travels. From early recognition as the motivating factor to efective living to the 1986 World Health Organization's "resourse for everyday life". It has been used to describe the chief ingrediant to beneficial life.
It has not, however, included the use of 1/3 of mans ability to exist. In the january 2006 issue of The American Journal of Public Health, an article by Lester Breslow MD of UCLA medical school ask for definitions of what "health" is that takes in our present understanding of mans nature and the scientific understanding of the nature of life.
He briefly mentions that all prior scientific study has concentrated on the characteristics of disease and has taken the view that disease is to be measured by its effects on the body and mind wwhile giving only passing mention to the character of a portion of man delineated as the spirit or soul.
Though composing one of three parts of what most consider to be the totality of humanity, (body, mind, and spirit), it is only tangiently viewed as it relates to his 'health". Dr. Breslow argues rightly that todays medicine is concerned with and measures only chemicals and markers of disease states. It has no measures to evaluate "health" only illness. Is there anyone in all of creation who believes a human being can be healthy without a healthy spirit?
I am not refering to the religious definitions that speak of a eternal piece of humanity that will eventually leave his body and mind behind but the envisioning, creative portion of mankind that is responsible for communicating with worlds of possibilities that can find their expression in the here and now. All inventions of man first saw their birth in an image of possibilities in the spirit that was transfered to the mind for cretion in this reality.
Without exploring and utilizing the faculties of this vital portion of humanity how can "health" be defined let alone realized. I have written to Congressman Conway (D-Michigan) in detail, at his request, regarding these subjects and The Trivalent Understanding pioneered by Prometheus of Ohio Inc. (a Health education Company).
I only hope that the next century of America's growth will include not only a meaninful definition but a sicere search for "Health", thank you.
Show Introduction
Americans across the country are demanding comprehensive health reform and cannot afford to wait any longer for Washington to act. Businesses and families are struggling as costs continue to skyrocket. More and more Americans find themselves uninsured. Those Americans fortunate enough to have health insurance often don't get the quality care they need and deserve. The Costs of Inaction highlights the flaws in the health care system and demonstrates the cost of maintaining the status quo. Organized into three sections - Escalating Health Care Costs, Diminishing Access to Care and Persistent Gaps in Quality - the report shows how the current system has failed millions of Americans and why we must enact comprehensive health reform this year.
Millions of Americans do not have health coverage, or have inadequate coverage. As our economic challenges multiply, the problem of health care access grows.
From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%.15
An estimated 87 million people - one in every three Americans under the age of 65 - were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008.16
More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families.17,18
Children without insurance have decreased access to well-child care, immunizations, basic dental services, and prescription medication. Uninsured adults similarly have less access to needed preventive care, and when sick, they are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes.19
This in turn leads to lost workplace productivity and greater risk of illness and death, at a cost of $65 to $135 billion per year.20,21,22
However, when the uninsured do obtain health care coverage, access to effective clinical services and health outcomes improve.23
In the current economic crisis, even people with insurance are forgoing needed medical care, including prescription medications and doctor visits, because of inability to pay copayments and deductibles.24
In the past 4 years, the number of people above 200% of the poverty line who spend more than 10% of their income on health care has more than tripled. About half of them report difficulty paying bills.25
People with insurance also report difficulty accessing care when they live in areas with high uninsurance rates, and physicians in these regions believe that they cannot make medical decisions in the best interest of their patients.26
Social Inclusion
In an attempt to stabilize our Ohio economy we must first check our house to see what we have to offer, as the greatest system of business is the barterring system. Secondly we must eradicate the superficial, detrimental mentallities of ignorance, arrogance, and misinformation.
There are an unumerable amount of small commodities(from appliances to emaculate used cars) that a multitude of countries could utilize that we take for granted. Recognizing that many countries that have the resources to barter, because of existing problematic friction, we the people are forbidden by our goverment to do any business; when that same goverment does its own business behind the backs of its' constituents. We need the POWER to control our own community economy. A goverment for the people, of the people, and by the people will support sentient citizens trying to pursue better lives for their family, community, and country.
We are in a time that if we do not seek out the assistance of other humanbeings across the earth, our unemployment, crime rate, and depression rate will increase exponentially.
Help the common people to break down the financial and social impediments to establishing ourselves as business men and women with integrity,and not just total consumers. Consumers will only consume.
An international small commodities export business targeting countries with resources(gold,capital, diamonds, oil, etc...) that our communal economys could utilize for its' stabilization and continued unprecedented growth is where our success lies.
We are not communists, waiting for our goverment to tend to us, as if we are unsentient, infantile consumers. It is the old or orthodox way of doing things that has gotten us into the situation we are in now. We need change, or we will perish as the greatest consumers that ever lived.
OBAMA TALK RADIO ! Hi Fellow Warriors....When you get a chance we invite you to listen to this week's Obama web radio show (Nothing But The Truth with Greg Jones). Some interesting topics...Please listen....share the show....and stay fired up ! Airs LIVE every Sunday at 8pm (est) and we invite you to Listen/Call-In....and SPEAK OUT ! Or you can listen to previous shows in our archives.
Click To Listen:
Obama Talk Radio with Greg Jones
I have been watching ALL night. I am truly upset by the MSM.
All MSM have targeted in on the fact that Obama is our first BLACK President. Yes he is, but he did not run on his color he ran on the fact he's American. Race has not been a factor of this presidential race -- this race was on Change.
His race will be forefront in the news today, it should be on the issues and how he can start affecting Change.
God Bless Obama and, as Lee Greenwood sings, "God Bless the USA!"
Obama Wins!
*President-Elect Obama*
Wednesday, 3:15 a.m. Popular Vote
Barack Obama 52.0% 59,508,943
John McCain 46.8% 53,533,145source: Politico
Electoral College (270 needed)
Barack Obama 349 John McCain 165
Obama wins Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Florida, Virginia, Colorado & Indiana (49.9% to 49.0%).
Obama leads in N. Carolina, 49.8% to 49.6%, with 100% in. (12,160 vote Obama lead)
McCain with 5,000 vote lead in Missouri, 99.94% reporting.
Montana just called for McCain.
If Missouri and N. Carolina go respectively for McCain and Obama, this gives Obama 364 electoral votes, a huge landslide in every sense of the word.
All others decided.
Democrats make gains in Senate, House, but no bloodbath:
Senate: 56 Democrat, 40 Republican, + 5 Dem
House: 249 Democrat, 169 Republican, Democrats projected to gain about 20, 17 uncalled.
GOP's Liddy Dole loses North Carolina Senate seat to Dem Kay Hagan; 4 Senate seats still to be called.
*****
From today's article in The Huffington Post, by Gary Hart (November 5, 2008): Stating the various interpretations of what this election means, he says: "there is something here for everyone. This was a cyclical referendum with the pendulum bound to swing back to Democrats. The president-elect represents a new, post-Clinton, beyond centrism, post-racial, new politics, internet-driven phenomenon. The nation is fed up with neoconservative imperialists, radical fundamentalists, and failed supply-siders. And so on."
One thing is certain. Something has changed in American politics. These are a NEW POLITICS of UNITY, not division, as was partly shown in McCain's own gracious concession speech. America has shown, not only that it is ready to put racial identity behind it as any important sort of cultural factor, but that it is hungry to leave the failed past behind it, and move on, in the hopes of a more just, fair, progressive and happier future.
May God Bless and guide Barack Obama as he leads these United States of America.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aLrMAMEn0e_I&refer=home
Great sign
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a5XvwdXHVOuM&refer=home
Hey that is a good sign of things to come
I just got back from a day starting at 5:30am in New Albany, OH (Columbus, OH subs). It was a long day but it was SOOOOO worth it
We delivered OH to OBAMA!
Thank you everyone
Now I am tired
This is a good resource for those in Ohio who might actually like to know a little something about their Judicial candidates.
http://www.judge4yourself.com/ratings_08general.html
