February 9, 2012

Grassley says panel has dumped "end of life" counseling

Senator Chuck Grassley says colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee have dumped a provision in their health care reform plan that has sparked controversy.

Earlier this week Grassley said Americans had "every right to fear" the idea of letting Medicare pay for the elderly to have counseling sessions with their doctors about "end of life" issues, like a living will.

Early Thursday afternoon, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about Grassley’s statements on Wednesday. Gibbs quoted another senator who suggested such claims about a so-called "death panel" were meant to "gin up fear."

Grassley, in a prepared statement released later Thursday afternoon, said the Senate Finance Committee had "dropped end-of-life provisions from consideration entirely because of the way they coud be misinterpreted and implemented incorrectly." According to Grassley, the provisions were "poorly cobbled together" in one of the three bills developed by committees in the U.S. House.

Grassley is among a bipartisan "Gang of Six" from the Senate Finance Committee who are meeting behind closed doors to try to find a compromise on health care reform.

Read Grassley’s statement, as well as the remarks from White House press secretary Robert Gibbs .

Boswell may not vote for health care reform

Congressman Boswell talks at town hall meeting. Congressman Leonard Boswell, a Democrat from Des Moines, says there’s a chance he may not vote for health care reform.

Boswell held a town hall meeting in Sigourney this afternoon and a man from Norwalk asked him whether he would vote “yes” or “no” on the health care reform plans which have cleared three House committees.

“I can’t answer that because we don’t have a bill,” Boswell said.

Some in the audience expressed their disbelief and Boswell said: “No, no, no, no, no, no, no” to quiet the crowd. Then, Boswell continued: “We’ve got three drafts and they’ve got to be melded together…and when that’s done, then you ask me a question and I’ll give you your answer.”

The man in the crowd then asked Boswell: “Will you read it?” Boswell replied: “Absolutely, well, I’ve been working on it since the 14th of July.”

Boswell is considered part of the conservative “Blue Dog Democrats” who hold sway in this debate, as their support is key if health care reform is to pass the House.

A big crowd turned out for Congressman Boswell's town meeting. And it hasn’t happened yet and we haven’t seen the final (bill) and you know it’s very likely, it’s very possible — I’m not going to say ‘likely’ because I want this to move forward — it’s very possible it could be something I can’t vote for,” Boswell told the crowd in Sigourney.

“But we have got several places, miles to go yet and the process is going on. I think it’s something we ought to do because if you want coverage that you can’t afford or see people what is happening to our economy, if we do nothing and stay where we’re at, it’s just simply not working.”

A woman told Boswell she works in a small business that can’t afford to provide her the benefit of health care coverage and she hasn’t been able to buy insurance herself for four years because of a preexisting condition.

“I am absolutely the poster child for why we need a public option and I’d encourage you, congressman, and all your compatriots to support this ’cause I need health care,” she said.

About half the audience applauded, then Boswell told the crowd: “I think we’re going to have to have a public option.” At this point, the room erupted in both applause and shouts of “No!” Boswell told the crowd such outbursts reduced the amount of time for questions and answers. The noise quickly subsided and he moved on to the next question.

A man from Toledo told Boswell there is no constitutional right to health care, and the government is overstepping its bounds.

“We cannot talk about health care until we talk about the role of the federal government. Any politician in D.C., it seems like there’s no failed government program, just underfunded,” the man said. “But you guys are out of our money.”

Boswell’s staff initially tried to limit the number of people at the event, but over 120 people eventually crowded into a small, air conditioned meeting room in Sigourney’s library and spilled out into the hall outside. Boswell asked the crowd to “be respectful” and at a few other points in the hour-long forum Boswell interrupted, telling the crowd he wanted a “dialogue.” Boswell promised he’d go back to Washington and seek “adjustments” in the health care plan.

“So I think it’s appropriate that we go through the exercise we’re going through and see what we can do and I don’t know what’s going to come out at the end. I really don’t. I know it’s a serious matter because of your presence here; I knew it without your presence here, so let’s work at it and work at it very hard and see what we can come up with,” Boswell said. “That’s what the process is all about, so thank you for your comments very much.”

You can listen to the entire hour by clicking on the audio link below.

AUDIO: Signourney meeting…MP3 60 min.

Iowa Public Policy group says not all uninsured are poor

An Iowa-based public policy group says it’s essential that steps are taken to insure that Iowans have access to affordable health-care options. The Iowa Policy Project says some 300,000 Iowans lack health insurance, and the number is likely to rise as the state continues to feel the effects of the recession.

I-P-P research associate, Andrew Cannon, says contrary to popular belief, not all uninsured in Iowa are poor. Cannon says it’s not a case of poverty for the uninsured, as he says five percent of the uninsured make 400-percent of the federal poverty level or more, which is about $88,000 for a family of four.

Cannon says studies show while insurance premiums in Iowa rose by almost 78 percent from 2000 to 2006, Iowan’s wages only rose by 20 percent over the same period. The I-P-P’ s executive director, David Osterberg, says small businesses in particular are finding it very difficult to provide insurance coverage for employees.

Osterberg says if you increase health benefits and they keep going up so fast, business owners wonder if they can every give anyone a raise again. Osterberg says the debate which says we have a good system already is wrong, as he says we don’t have a good system for businesses or individuals. The Iowa Policy Project also says the current debate must include the role of mandates in health care reform. Health care proposals in Congress build on the employer-based insurance system.

But the number of people receiving insurance through their employer has steadily declined from 2000 to 2008, while insurance premiums continued to rise. The I-P-P says Congress should examine the Massachusetts model for health reform.  

St. Ambrose the preseason favorite in Mid-States league

Conference titles and playoff appearances have become an annual occurence for the St. Ambrose football program and big things are expected, again, this season. The Fighting Bees are the pre-season favorite in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League and are rated 13th in the N.A.I.A. pre-season poll.

St. Ambrose coach Mike Magistrelli says it’s a great honor to be picked to win, but he says it’s based on what you did a year ago. He led the program to league titles in his first two seasons as coach. A key this year will be on defense where three linemen from last year need to be replaced, but he says they do have some good young kids who can fill the spots.

On offense the line is experienced with the entire five starters back who will be the nucleus of the offense. They will start a new quarterback. Quarterback Will Ducey must be replaced after throwing for nearly three thousand yards and 21 touchdowns in 2008. Magistrelli will turn to a familiar face to take the helm.

Magistrelli says Michael Hayward started at wide receiver last year and will switch back to quarterback this year. St. Ambrose will open the season at home against Trinity International.

Cyclones change offensive scheme

Iowa State’s new offensive scheme is designed to control tempo and take advantage of matchups. That according to offensive coordinator Tom Herman who was hired by Cyclone coach Paul Rhoads after a two-year run at Rice. Herman says the Cyclone’s new spread offense will go without a huddle but that does not mean it will be a "hurry-up" offense.

Herman says there are different philosophies, such as Missouri and Tulsa want to run as many plays as possible. Herman says ISU will change the tempo based on the situation. Herman says going without a huddle will allow the Cyclones to get the matchups they want. He says going without a huddle always leaves the threat that they will come up and snap the ball, which makes it tough to make defensive substitutions.

Herman says an experienced offensive line has been a big plus. He says the line was the biggest surprise as they learned the new system the fastest. The new offense debuts on September third when the Cyclones host North Dakota State.

Health Department gives Iowa State Fair tips

People walk along grand concourse of the Iowa State Fair. Folks who’re heading to the Iowa State Fair are being reminded to practice good hygiene.

The big event typically draws about a million people and many thousands of animals during its 11-day run, presenting an untold number of opportunities for passing infections.

Dr. Ann Garvey, a public health veterinarian at the state health department, says wise state fairgoers will remember a few key lessons. "Not only for the safety and health of the animals but also for other visitors," Garvey says. "We’re asking people to make sure you’re washing your hands often, you’re covering your coughs and sneezes and if you’re ill, please don’t go to the fair."

Garvey says the H1N1 influenza still a concern, too. "People have passed novel influenza A H1N1 to pigs in other countries but that has not occurred in the U.S. and we haven’t found the virus in any of our pigs in the U.S.," Garvey says.

"There have not been any reports of pigs passing it back to people. We’ve gone from people to pigs, but not vice versa." As for eating those popular pork chops on a stick while strolling down the midway, Garvey says to dig in.

"You cannot get novel influenza A H1N1 from eating pork or pork products," Garvey says. "Eating properly handled or cooked pork products is very safe." For more information, visit the Iowa Department of Public Health website .

 

Shawn Johnson ushers in the Iowa State Fair

Mark Ballas and Shawn Johnson answer questions at the Iowa State Fair. Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson was on hand for the opening of the Iowa State Fair this morning.

Johnson was the grand marshal of the state fair parade Wednesday, and this morning brought along her "Dancing with the Stars" partner Mark Ballas.

"This event is really special to me, it’s the Iowa State Fair, and I’ve come here every year since I was pretty much, born, except the last four years I haven’t been able to because I’ve been competing, so it’s really cool to be back," Johnson says.

She says it was "really cool" to be the grand marshal of the parade and she even got a brick of her own at the agricultural building. "It’s crazy," Johnson says.

Ballas sang and he and Johnson appeared this morning at the grandstand. Johnson says she’s proud to bring Ballas to Iowa. She says she moved to Los Angeles for four months while doing the dancing show and got to get a sense of what the L.A. lifestyle was like and now Ballas can see the Iowa lifestyle and the hometown support she’s gotten. Johnson and Ballas were asked if they had a dance schedule.

Ballas says there isn’t a dance scheduled, but he says they talked about doing a dance on the stage. Johnson said this morning on the stage they thought about doing the cha-cha. "It’ be fun," Johnson added and said they could just dance down the street of the fair. Ballas will sing at the fair later. He says he’s been impressed with the reception Johnson has gotten.

"Just everyone is just so supportive of Shawn, it’s really beautiful to see, just to see a town who is really supportive of someone, you know who was….amazing at the Olympics and amazing at Dances with the Stars, " Ballas says. Ballas says he’s know about Iowa for a long time because one of his favorite bands, Slipknot, is from Iowa. Johnson says she has some old favorite things she wants to do at the fair.

Johnson says she’s a kid and loves the rides, especially the maze ride where you can walk through it and the floors move. Johnson says the food at the fair is also unbelievable with "fried everything." People were let into the fair for free today from 5 to 7 A.M. if they brought a donation of two cans of food for the Food Bank of Iowa.