Victorious? Yes! Health Care? Yes! Abortion Coverage?___
Posted by Michelle Moquin on November 8th, 2009
Congratulations to everyone – Health care reform passed! Yesterday was the big decision day, and after many days, many weeks and many months of pushing and fighting for reform, all of our hard work and the hard work of our president, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi and so many others, finally paid off. I am delighted, I am relieved, and I am excited about the future. A huge thanks to Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and so much thanks to all of you who made those phone calls and sent those e-mails, and worked hard and diligently to make this change happen. It gave me hope once again, knowing that when we set our minds to do something, we make it happen.
The American people spoke up and we were heard. The system does work. I have learned from this experience that if we really put time into what we believe in, we can make what we desire happen.
Here’s a segment from a Huff Post article:
After months of debate, the House of Representatives passed historic health care reform legislation late on Saturday evening. Read the overview AP coverage HERE, and follow Twitter reaction HERE.
In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.
The 220-215 vote (click here to see how each member voted) cleared the way for the Senate to begin a long-delayed debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.
A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later. “Oh, what a night!” she proclaimed at the beginning of a press conference held after the vote. Obama issued a statement saying, “I look forward to signing it into law by the end of the year.”
“It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it,” said Rep. John Dingell, the 83-year-old Michigan lawmaker who has introduced national health insurance in every Congress since succeeding his father in 1955.
To read the rest of the article click here.
However, it is not perfect. I hate to be negative on a day that one should be celebrating, but once again women’s issues has been put aside and not made a priority. I need to do a bit more reading but from what I have read, a strict abortion ban is included in the health care bill. Abortion is a big issue, and important issue, one that women have not only fought continually for the rights, but now we are fighting for the rights to have coverage in our health care system.
And because this strict ban was included in the bill, should the bill have not been passed? Was there a provision in health care reform to ban Viagra from being covered? That will never happen. I mentioned that I had a bad experience from birth control pills and when I tried to switch from the generic brand, to the brand that I had taken before with no side effects, the prescription was not covered and it cost me $200 instead of $30. Will it be any different now with this new health care bill?
I can’t help but think, why is it that when it comes down to women and women’s issues, we as women, are the ones who are chosen to make sacrifices for others?
Here’s a segment from the Huff Post that I found:
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan House coalition voted Saturday to prohibit coverage of abortions in a new government-run health care plan that Democrats would establish to compete with private insurers.
The 240-194 vote on an amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., was a blow to liberals, who would have allowed the Obama administration and its successors to decide whether abortions would be covered by the government plan. Sixty-four Democrats joined 176 Republicans in favor of the prohibition.
Stupak’s measure also would bar anyone getting federal health subsidies from purchasing private insurance polices that included abortion coverage.
“Let us stand together on principle – no public funding for abortions, no public funding for insurance policies that pay for abortions,” Stupak urged fellow lawmakers before the vote.
The amendment would bar the new government insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or where the life of the mother is in danger. The Democrats’ original legislation would have allowed the government plan to cover abortions, if the Health and Human Services secretary decided it should.
The amendment also would prohibit people who receive new federal health subsidies from buying insurance plans that include abortion coverage.
The Democrats’ original bill would have allowed people getting federal subsidies to pay for abortion coverage with their own money. Abortion opponents dismissed that as an accounting gimmick.
Abortion rights advocates called the measure the biggest setback to women’s reproductive rights in decades. Anti-abortion Democrats forced House leaders to bring it up for a vote by threatening to oppose the underlying bill, and efforts to reach a compromise fell apart Friday night.
You can read the entire article by clicking here. For future reference, click here for the list of Democrats who voted “Aye” on the Stupak-Pitts Amendment.
I just want to end with that I am happy that health care reform passed. I worked hard to ensure this, as many of you did. Many Americans that desperately need to be taken care, that will die should they not have it, will now feel safe and secure that they will have coverage, and a chance to live.
But I will say that I am disappointed that once again, the passing of something good came at a price for, once again, women. I long for and look forward to the day when women are truly revered, respected, and women’s care and health is just as important as men’s care and health. We have lots of work ahead of us.
Readers: I have read some of your comments from yesterday but I am already late in posting so I will respond tomorrow. Comments? As usual….Blog me.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
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November 8th, 2009 at 11:51 am
You Need Higher Credit Scores than Ever
John Ulzheimer
Credit.com
hree years ago, a credit score of 580 was good enough for you to earn approval for a wide range of attractive mortgages and other loans. Today, borrowers need scores well into the 700s (out of 850) to obtain similar terms.
Achieving these top-tier credit scores is tough enough when the system is fair. Often it isn’t. Harmful practices by retailers and credit-reporting agencies can keep you from earning your rightful credit score. How to protect your score…
Decline all offers from stores that say, “No payments until… ”
Reason: Retailers typically team up with third-party finance companies to make these offers. They are the same finance companies that make high-interest-rate loans to high-risk borrowers. If one of these lenders is listed on your credit report, the scoring models that calculate your credit score might lower your score — even if all you did was accept an offer to delay payments on a flat-screen television or a coffee table.
Do not apply for more than two or three credit cards, including store cards, within any 12-month span.
Reason: Each credit card you apply for, including store cards, posts a credit “inquiry” on your credit report. Make more than a few inquiries within a few months — which often happens around the holidays when consumers take advantage of special card offers — and your credit score might fall. These inquiries will continue to affect your credit score for 12 months.
Before you agree to become a customer, ask small lenders, cellular service providers and utilities whether they report on-time payment of bills to credit bureaus. If you have a choice of which company or lender to use, lean toward those that do report, so your responsible use of this credit counts in your favor.
Reason: With many credit card issuers, even when you act responsibly, you are not rewarded — yet when you make even a small mistake, you are punished. Because many utility companies, cell phone service providers and small lenders, such as credit unions, don’t bother to report on-time payments to any of the credit bureaus, they deprive their customers of an opportunity to improve their credit scores. But, if these customers default or their bills are turned over to a collection agency, that is reported, generally through the collection agency assigned to recover the debt.
Check your credit report for mistakes six months before applying for an important loan.
Reason: If you find an error on your credit report that is lowering your score, you can contact the credit bureau and correct the problem in time. If you don’t check, when you apply for the loan, you may discover that your credit score is unfairly low.
No matter the mistake, it takes up to 30 days for credit bureaus to update credit reports. Best: Check your credit report with all three credit-reporting bureaus — free — once every 12 months at http://www.annualcreditreport.com. You can also purchase your credit score for $7.95 when you get your free report.
When a customer service rep agrees that a late or missed payment notice was in error, ask to be sent confirmation to this effect on company letterhead. This statement should note your name, account number and the date of the bill in question. If the erroneous late or missed payment later appears on your credit report, you can send copies of this statement directly to the credit bureaus.
Reason: Even when a lender agrees that it was wrong to accuse you of a late or missed payment, the lender may still report the problem to a credit-reporting agency. The customer service reps who correct the billing mistakes might lack access to the automated system that reports late and missed payments to credit bureaus.
DON’T FORGET THESE BASIC WAYS
TO PROTECT YOUR SCORE
Use only a small amount of your available credit. Your credit score will suffer if you use more than 10% of your available credit on a particular account or among all your accounts.
Vary your credit. It’s important to your score that you have many different types of credit, including several of the following: Credit card, retail store card, gas card, auto loan, home loan, student loan and personal loan.
Do not close old accounts. The older your credit card accounts, the better for your credit score.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:52 am
It’s near impossible to tell what goes on behind closed doors in Washington, but it is clear that the the GOP and 39 Dems like it when the woman (and some Pages) take it up the ass! And it’s true they want to insure their Viagra is there to help them just in case…If we would stop electing old, crusty white men perhaps the Viagra vs abortion issue would become a non-issue.
We do need to step up and call all the Senators once again and make sure that when the House bill goes back to the Senate for final approval it will pass. At least then we have some foundation to work with. We need a place to start and we can add provisions for abortion issues and RU486, etc.
Let’s also campaign to get rid of Lieberman. I’m getting so tired of this guy! He needs to disappear and write a book that I can choose not to read…
November 8th, 2009 at 11:59 am
It seems Like everyone on Guam knows someone in some stage of diabetes. What is Happening? Here is a possible answe.
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Diabetes on the rise in Guam
BY LAURA MATTHEWS • PACIFIC DAILY NEWS • NOVEMBER 9, 2009
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Dr. Iris Theile Isip-Tan, an internist and endocrinologist from the Philippine General Hospital, said Guam and the Pacific region can continue to see rising incidences of diabetes in its population.
She said this is so because residents have turned from the traditional foods to a more westernized eating habit.
“Diabetes is a very serious disease and it is actually on the rise …That is because we have gone away from the local tradition foods and moved on to a western diet that has led to obesity and overweight and this drives the prevalence of obesity,” said Isip-Tan.
She was speaking on the topic “Practical Dietary Preparation in the Type 2 Diabetes” at the free 10th Annual Guam Diabetes Conference yesterday at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa.
This year’s theme was “Diabetes: Control Your Sugar, Control Your Life.” The conference is coordinated by the Guam Diabetes Association.
Diabetes is a chronic disease where the blood sugar level is above normal. Isip-Tan said many of the foods that are consumed are turned into sugar. It is estimated that at least 40,000 people on Guam are diabetic, according to Pacific Daily News files. Diabetes is listed as one of the Top 10 leading causes of death on Guam since 1985, according to the Guam Diabetes Association.
Modify Lifestyle
Isip-Tan said in order for residents to counter the level of diabetes on the island they must first modify their lifestyles. She said there are three basic questions a person with Type 2 diabetes must ask. They are: What is a healthy diet? What is portion control? What is on the food label?
“This is one of the skills a diabetic must learn,” she said.
Isip-Tan recommends the people consume more fiber, adding dried fruits to cereal, the use of wheat germ or flax seed, more whole grains and lentils.
“Remove the salt from the table. The dinner has already been prepared with it. Use your herbs to add flavor,” Isip-Tan said.
Dr. Edgar Magcalas, an internist, said six to seven out of every 10 patient he sees are diabetic. He said he would usually see 50 to 75 patients a week.
Magcalas said the hard part of educating diabetics on Guam is asking them to limit their rice intake.
“The main food we have is rice and you cannot easily get rid of rice. That is what we grew up with,” Magcalas said. “It will take a lot of effort to educate people about changing their lifestyles.”
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Let’s hope that we can get a handle on this problem.
Hafa adai
Anna
November 8th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Thanks Doug. nice to hear a man stand up and speak the truth.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I know it is not your fault Michelle, but I was kept out all day yesterday. Anyway here is an entry I hope to share with your blog.
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Inside the latest stomach sensation
Dear Friend,
You might say there are two kinds of bacteria: beneficial ones… and lawyers!
All kidding aside, the latest headlines on probiotics seem to be coming from courtrooms rather than research labs — which is a shame, because it only distracts us from the real discussion we should be having over the importance of these friendly bacteria.
Dannon recently paid $35 million in an out-of-court settlement over probiotic claims made in relation to its Activia and DanActive yogurts. Dannon is also changing some of its marketing language about these products.
And now, the same group that went after them is going after General Mills, makers of Yo-Plus yogurt.
So are there problems with probiotics? Hardly! Don’t let class-action lawsuits and threats of legal action scare you away from them. Instead, consider this a lesson in the importance of being a smart consumer, especially when it comes to your supplements.
The benefits of probiotics are in many cases well established. The problem has more to do with which ones are put into products, and how those products are then marketed.
Most people don’t realize that probiotics represent an entire class of bacteria — there are many kinds, and each one has a different benefit. Some do nothing at all.
That leaves it to you to figure out not only which one you want, but the best way to get it in the right amounts — and I’ll tell you more about that in a moment (it’s easy, I promise).
But first, let’s take a look at why you might want to make sure you get some probiotics in your life, and in your belly.
Most people who take probiotics do so to help with a stomach problem — many of these bacteria help promote digestive health, and control conditions like diarrhea, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.
They’re especially good for kids and toddlers. Most common anti-diarrhea products — even the pink over-the-counter stuff — aren’t recommended for the little ones. But probiotics such as lactobacillus acidophilus can help give kids the relief they need.
And probiotics can do so much more than keep your tummy ticking. They may help keep your immune system in good working order, fight yeast infections and control allergies.
One study even found that they could help burn victims avoid complications, and with so much research still under way I’m sure we’ll be hearing about even more benefits soon (I’ll keep you posted).
So here’s the deal with probiotics: If you’re interested in them and think their benefits could help you, don’t think twice about adding them to your routine. But don’t buy overpriced yogurts or any other supermarket food simply because of claims made on the package.
First, do a little research — and your own doctor might be a great place to start. You’d be surprised at how many mainstream docs are starting to recognize and recommend probiotics, and your physician might be one of them.
Then, head to your local health food store or vitamin shop and look for a probiotic supplement there. The most potent ones will be in the refrigerated section — these bacteria love to keep cool almost as much as they love your stomach.
Obviously, once you get them home keep them in your own fridge — and then give those friendly bacteria a nice new home in your stomach, where they can start to work their magic.
On a mission for your health,
Ed Martin
Editor, House Calls
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Evelynb
November 8th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Michelle
I, too am happy about the health care bill, But you are so right why do we women have to get the pay for men to benefit from legislation. Doug is right on it, white men dominate both Houses of Congress and they never sacrifice anything for others.
I received this from Obama’s web site.
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This evening, at 11:15 p.m., the House of Representatives voted to pass their health insurance reform bill. Despite countless attempts over nearly a century, no chamber of Congress has ever before passed comprehensive health reform. This is history.
But you and millions of your fellow Organizing for America supporters didn’t just witness history tonight — you helped make it. Each “yes” vote was a brave stand, backed up by countless hours of knocking on doors, outreach in town halls and town squares, millions of signatures, and hundreds of thousands of calls. You stood up. You spoke up. And you were heard.
So this is a night to celebrate — but not to rest. Those who voted for reform deserve our thanks, and the next phase of this fight has already begun.
The final Senate bill hasn’t even been released yet, but the insurance companies are already pressing hard for a filibuster to bury it. OFA has built a massive neighborhood-by-neighborhood operation to bring people’s voices to Congress, and tonight we saw the results. But the coming days will put our efforts to the ultimate test. Winning will require each of us to give everything we can, starting right now.
Can you donate $25 or whatever you can afford so we can finish this fight?
Tonight’s vote brought every American closer to the secure, affordable care we need. But it was also a watershed moment in how change is made.
Even after last year’s election, many insider lobbyists and partisan operatives really thought that the old formula of scare tactics, D.C. back-scratching and special-interest money would still be enough to block any idea they didn’t like. Now, they’re desperate. Because, tonight, you made it crystal clear: the old rules are changing — and the people will not be ignored.
In the final phases of last year’s election, I often reminded folks, “Don’t think for a minute that power concedes without a fight,” and it’s especially true today. But that’s okay — we’re not afraid of a fight. And as you continue to prove, when all of us work together, we have what it takes to win.
Please donate to OFA’s campaign to win this fight and ensure that real health reform reaches my desk by the end of this year:
https://donate.barackobama.com/History
Let’s keep making history,
President Barack Obama
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I personally think that we should donate money geared only for defeating those democracts that voted with the republicans. If we concentrate on getting them out during the democratic primaries, we can elect democrats that support true democratic issues.
Eunice