Archive for October, 2009

Mired in the most significant economic downturn since the 1930’s, we have an opportunity that can put people to work and create a new era of economic prosperity.

Each time we have had an economic crisis, there has been a development (private and/or governmental) that gave us new life. Examples of this were the New Deal and World War II preparation; building the interstate highway system; and the proliferation of the Internet and the resultant dot com technology boom. The aforementioned developments turned an economic crisis into a new era of prosperity creating jobs.

We hear that 70% of our economy is based upon consumer spending. When people don’t have, or are concerned about having a job, they don’t spend. We have reached a point in our country’s life cycle that calls for a paradigm shift away from the 70% consumer spending model. We need to begin building the foundation of a new model based less on consumer spending and more on consumer conservation.

Every single day, 8,000 people are turning 60 years old – the baby boomers – the largest segment of the population that has shaped our economic profile since the end of World War II. When people enter, what I call the “conservation stage” of their life, they are not spending as in the prime earning years of their life cycle. The children and grand children of the baby boomers do not appreciate the greed and waste exhibited by past generations – the deficits and debt with which they will have to deal.

This new model is about how we consume, conserve and create energy with renewable, clean resources. This is the single most significant development that can lift our economy out of the tank and usher in a new era of prosperity and job growth.

This will take a cooperative effort by government and the private sector to stimulate (economic incentives) an energy strategy based upon the reduction and eventual elimination of fossil fuel based energy. Every individual, business and government entity will economically benefit from a comprehensive strategy of energy conservation and the generation of clean, renewable energy. The added benefit of this strategy is the massive reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide we have been emitting into our environment that may be the cause of the disruption in our climate - I won’t call it “global warming” yet.

Let’s all get on board and together revitalize our economy based upon our new found energy resources, like the sun and the wind.

We received a response form Illinois Senator Dick Durbin. Please see Senator Durbin’s statement below.

Once again, if we let our Representation in Congress - The House and The Senate know how we feel, what we want they will listen and respond.

Thanks again Senator Durbin for your support.

President Obama and his administration have taken steps to rein in the greed and arrogance exhibited by companies, their compensation committees and executives.  They are doling out bonus packages to executives of companies that still owe US taxpayers the money we gave to bail out their bad decisions that tanked our economy.

We agree with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ comments (see below).

We have a suggestion: Let them get their bonus - but as long as their company owes US taxpayers, their bonus is taxed at a rate that will repay what is due US.

Senator Sanders’ Statement on Wall St. Pay   

WASHINGTON, October 22 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today in reaction to reports that the Treasury Department would order seven companies that have not paid back government bailouts to dramatically cut pay packages for top executives:

 “The American people are outraged that the same people on Wall Street who helped cause this major recession are going right back to their greedy and irresponsible ways.  I applaud the Obama administration for taking an important step forward in trying to control the obscene compensation packages of the top executives on Wall Street.”

 Contact: Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist (202) 224-5141

Thanks again Senator Sanders - we’re with you on this one!

The following is a newsletter from our Illinois Senator Roland Burris regarding the Health Care Reform debate that has begun in Congress. The Senate and the House will determine the effectiveness of this legislation and how it will affect every one of us. Here’s Senator Burris’s statement.

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Dear fellow Illinoisan,   As Congress debates contentious issues such as health care reform, climate change, and our continued economic recovery, it is more important than ever to keep in touch so that I can faithfully serve your needs in Washington.   To that end, I will be providing details of my legislative efforts in periodic e-newsletters, such as this one. I will also be launching a new website, where you will find information about specific legislation, services my office can provide, and the issues you care about most. In a few weeks, you’ll be able to visit to explore my redesigned online office.   In this edition of my e-newsletter, I would like to address the ongoing national debate over health care reform.   As many of us know all too well, health care costs are spiraling out of control.   I believe Illinoisans deserve better. That’s why we need a public option as part of our health care plan. It’s time to restore choice and accountability to the insurance market.   A public option would save billions of dollars a year, stop companies from denying coverage to those who need it most, and reduce the burden on American businesses and families. This would improve health outcomes and make quality care more affordable for everyone.   A public option would not result in rationed care or “death panels” of any description. It would not force anyone to change their doctor and would not provide benefits to illegal immigrants. As your Senator, I refuse to vote for any measure that would change our system in this way. But I also refuse to vote for anything less than the real, meaningful reform a public option would provide.    I look forward to hearing from you as we all continue to work towards a brighter future for Illinois. It is an honor to serve as your United States Senator. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas with me. Senator Burris meets with Illinois medical professionals. www.burris.senate.gov Sincerely, Roland W. Burris

Today we received this note from our Illinois Representative Bill Foster. Congressman Foster appears to be proceeding in OUR best interests as the debates begin.

Website | Biography | District | News | Constituent Services | Contact Dear Benjamin, As Congress continues to debate health care reform, I want to let you know where I stand.  The following are 10 principles that I would like to see included in any proposed health care reform.    1. As a businessman, I know we cannot afford to have the cost of health care double like it has in the last 10 years.  Job one is to reduce health care costs for families and businesses. 2. No CUTS IN MEDICARE FOR SENIORS.  Cut the giveaways to insurance and drug companies instead. 3. We must stop insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing medical conditions or capping lifetime benefits. 4. You should not lose your insurance coverage if you change or lose your job. 5. We should put the nation on a path to assuring affordable, quality health coverage for every American citizen and their children. 6. Insurance reforms must preserve existing choices of doctors and health plans. 7. Health insurance reform should not increase the debt burden for our children. 8. I oppose any attempts to tax workers’ health care benefits. 9. Insurance policies must encourage individual responsibility with wellness programs to improve care, cut costs, and reward Americans for their healthy choices. 10. As a scientist, I know we can prevent medical errors and improve quality of care through computerization of patient records and advanced technology. I greatly value the input of my constituents, so please contact any of my offices with your ideas and concerns as we continue to debate health care reform. Sincerely, Bill Foster E-MAIL UPDATES Yes, please periodically send me e-mail updates.* Click Here *By subscribing to my e-mail updates, you are authorizing me to send regular e-mail updates from my office to your e-mail account. Share on Facebook Please Feel Free to Tell a Friend E-mail: E-mail: E-mail: Office Locations Washington, DC 1339 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2976 Batavia, IL 27 North River Street Batavia, IL 60510 (630) 406-1114 Dixon, IL 119 W. First Street Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 288-0680 Geneseo, IL 137 S. State St., Suite 344 Geneseo, IL 61254 (309) 944-3558

Thanks again Bill!

The Health Care Reform Bill has come out of the Senate Finance committee. Now what happens to that bill after Congress, the House & Senate, gets finsished with putting their ”stamp” of amendments representing their “interests”?

This is a start. It’s further than we have ever taken Health Care reform. We now need to  let Congress know we will not allow them to take this away from the best interests of the people.

Here’s Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders take on it.

Sanders Statement on Finance Panel Health Care Bill  

WASHINGTON, October 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders, a member of the Senate health committee, today issued the following statement after the Senate Finance Committee voted for health care legislation:

“Let’s be clear, the Finance Committee health care bill is extremely weak.  It does not include a public option, which the American people overwhelmingly want. It does not make health care as affordable as it must be. It taxes health care benefits that workers fought long and hard for.  As the bill moves forward, we can do much better.”

Contact: Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist (202) 224-5141

WE can do much better. WE have to do much better to really give the people meaningful Health Care. Now is the time to let your House Representative and Senators know what YOU want. Let’s be sure this bill really does something for US when Congress is done with it. 535 individuals will be mapping OUR Health Care future.

Today, The Commonwealth Fund that supports independent research on Health Care issues released its’ 2009 State, Health Care ranking. To say the least, this release should get every one’s attention. There are a few interesting observations we made in reviewing this release:

1. The overall number one ranked State is Vermont. If you have been following our posts, you’ve had the opportunity to view some of the efforts from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on Health Care Reform. Our conclusion: Bernie must be onto something that actually works!

2. Most of the States with the overall lowest rankings are States that have the most vocal opponents to sweeping Health Care Reform. Our conclusion: They must not have a very effective Health Care model - why the dissent? One would think they would want to improve their Health Care models.

3. There is a lot of conversation centering around changing tort reform to substantially effect Health care costs. We agree that frivolous medical law suits force Health Care practitioners to “cover their butts” by performing sometimes unnecessary procedures.  Texas, who many tout as having enacted major tort reform has an overall ranking of 46 out of the 50 States. In terms of affordable hospital use and costs, Texas ranks 42 out of the 50 States. Our conclusion: Tort Reform while needed, does not substantially lead to lower health care costs or improve the quality of health care.

4. Many of the States that have little or no competition in the Health Care providing arena are ranked in the bottom 12 States with their overall ranking. Our conclusion: When one or few companies control a market, the quality of the products, the service and the costs are not in the best interest of the consumers.

Please find out for yourself and visit:  http://www.commonwealthfund.org. >Publications >Recent Publications>Aiming Higher: Results for a State Scorecard on Health System Performance, 2009.

If you just want to see how your State is doing visit: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Charts-and-Maps/State-Scorecard-2009.aspx. This is an interactive map that will give you a number of different views on how your State is handling your Health Care.

Thanks to The Commonwealth Fund organization for their excellent work!

Illinois Senator Roland Burris was kind enough to send us the links below to view what is going on with the Health Care Reform bills. Once again if we let Congress, the Senate and the House,  know what we want they will respond.

Thanks again Roland Burris on behalf of WE The People. WE especially like the last paragraph indicating that Senator Burris wants to remove the paralysis that is so entrenched in our Federal Governmental process.

Dear Bob:

Thank you for contacting me about posting the health insurance reform bills online. I appreciate the benefit of your views.

Per your request, below you will find links to the major health insurance reform bills that have been put forward in the United States Congress this year:

HR 3200 (House of Representatives):
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.txt.pdf

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:s1679pcs.txt.pdf

Senate Finance Committee:
http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/091609%20Americas_Healthy_Future_Act.pdf

I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Illinoisans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Illinois and the nation. My job is not about merely supporting or opposing legislation; it is also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation’s politics.
Sincerely,

Roland W. Burris
United States Senator