see the Animated explanation of Single Payer

http://www.grahamazon.com/sp/whatissinglepayer.php

Pres Bush to veto Child health insurance bill

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070715/ap_on_he_me/children_s_insurance
Child health insurance bill faces veto ..

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 15 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration said Saturday that senior advisers would recommend the president veto Senate legislation that would substantially increase funds for children's health insurance.

The legislation calls for a 61-cent increase in the federal excise tax on a pack of cigarettes. The revenue would be used to subsidize health insurance for children and some adults with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford insurance on their own. Members of the Senate Finance Committee brokered a bipartisan agreement Friday that would add $35 billion to the program over the next five years. The Bush administration had instead recommend $5 billion.

The Senate legislation expands the State Children's Health Insurance Program beyond the original intent of the program, said White House Spokesman Tony Fratto.

"It's clear that it will have the effect of encouraging many to drop private coverage — purchased either through their employer or with their own resources — to go on the government-subsidized program," Fratto said. "Tax increases are neither necessary nor advisable to appropriately fund SCHIP."
Congress is considering renewing the program before it expires Sept. 30. When Congress approved the program in 1997, it provided $40 billion over 10 years. States use the money, along with their own dollars, to subsidize the cost of health insurance. The federal government covers about 70 percent of the cost.
"Congress needs to deliver a bill the president can sign or they need to send him an extension so that people don't worry about losing their current coverage," Fratto said. "It's important that Congress understands the serious consequences of delaying this or sending the president legislation that he clearly cannot sign."
Fratto also called on the Senate Finance Committee to consider the president's recommendation to tax employees on the health insurance premiums paid by their employers. The president would offset the increased taxes by giving taxpayers a deduction or credit. The result would be a tax cut for most families, but not for those with the highest-priced insurance plans.

"We believe that these proposals would mean that as many as 20 million others who have no health insurance would purchase basic coverage," Fratto said.
Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, had called on the president Thursday to step back from veto threats of legislation that had not been finalized yet.

Grassley and Hatch said they would like to consider the president's proposals to change how tax law treats health insurance. Such changes could make insurance more affordable for many families, but now is not the time, they said.
"Not taking that (tax proposal) on is a missed opportunity, but it's not realistic given the lack of bipartisan support," the senators said.

Grassley and Hatch were among the lawmakers that backed the agreement reached late Friday with key Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the committee's chairman, said the proposal would lead to more than 3 million uninsured children obtaining health coverage. But others said that estimate is high because they believe some families that would sign up for the program would have already been getting their coverage through the private sector.

Sicko in OKC update

Last night at the Harkins, after the movie, I had an incredible conversation with some of the viewers. The majority of them were health care professionals.

They requested we meet again, after they bring their friends and continue our conversation on health care.

Stay tuned. I will post when we are going to view the film again and where we will gather to chat so others can join.

Sicko in OKC

Sicko opens tonight in OKC at the Bricktown Harkins. I have been invited to meet the audience and make myself available for questions and answers after the film.

I will write more tomorrow about tonight.

For those unable to make it there, don't hesistate to ask me your questions here.

Stalker phone calls

Stalker phone calls

My internet stalker has recently started calling people from my past. Yes, my ex called me for a chat and a laugh about some woman calling him, wanting to ask questions about me.

He had no idea I had been involved in Sicko. He had no idea that I had a stalker. Even better, he can't understand why? Why would anyone want to know about my past, threaten me? and worse, why would anyone want to disturb his peace to ask questions about me?

It was a great chat which of course had to include tons of behind the scenes stories. After all, he has been a big Michael Moore fan for a long time. He was totally jealous that I had not let him know sooner but he admits, he does become inaccessible from life becuase of his demanding life style.

With his education, background and in his "profession", the stalker needs to worry about what will happen now, that she opened pandora's box and annoyed him.

So, now my next question is, who is next on my internet stalker's call list?
Walking down memory lane was fun! THANKS, I guess I should thank my stalker for having my ex call me and email me, before my birthday!

My stalker's last message sent to me via email which contained a very specific threat:

"I knew Karen Silkwood very well as did Wendell, she was anactivist that brought no harm to family or friends, though she couldhave as you are trying to do. Look up Karen Silkwood, the movie abouther attempt to bring down Kerr McGee and what happen. I have thepictures of her car as it sat in my sons fathers garage after thewreck."

Now I hope she can move on to getting my college roommate, my HS lunch partners to call, email or write me because the trip down memory lane would be so much fun. Oh, dont forget my Haitian, German, Polish, Irish, Mexican, French, Italian, Cuban, "college fun dinner buddies". I miss hearing from them also more often.

I have an internet stalker

This person has sent me over 20 hateful, angry email messages.

She has made many demands and threats for the past 3 weeks.

These colors dont run! Not from fire, disaster or humans.

You are sick and in need to return to taking your medications: lithium etc.
Using the internet in an attempt to intimidate, harrass, because you are off your medication will eventually get you confined to a mental hospital.

I am NOT afraid!

I will not be intimidated!

There are laws against this type of harrassment. Mental Health Laws will confine anyone who is ill and does not take their medication and seems to pose a threat to another human being.

Law enforcement uses restraints to confine people like this while the judicial system and local Health Dept evaluate the confined person.

SO STOP, find your lithium and get on with your life.

If you lack access to mental health treatment, go to the OK Dept of Public Health for a referral to a free mental health clinic.

Also, stop claiming to be related to me because you and I are not blood relatives. If you had my DNA, you would have some sense of personal integrity!