Who's awesome?

Morgan Carroll, Jay Leno and Diana DeGette, that's who.

DeGette's stem cell bill will be voted on in the Senate next week, according to the Post. And yesterday I got two press releases from her office. The first reported her urgings that Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt appoint "a new Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Population Affairs who is committed to family planning and women's health." The second read that next Tuesday, DeGette "will host a roundtable discussion on pending federal reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program."

Photo: DeGette speaking at the Point to help launch a new Fannie Mae program to assist minority home ownership in Denver.

Would George W. Bush support HB-1331?

HD36's Morgan Carroll writes about HB-1331 at SquareState:

...I am sponsoring, along with Rep. Debbie Stafford (R-Aurora) and Sen. Lois Tochtrop (D - Thornton) HB 07-1331. Several other states have taken a far more aggressive lead on sharing public information with the public to help make informed decisions when selecting a physician... HB 1331 enhances the information service provided by the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners to the public so that patients can search for professional infractions against a license or findings of medical negligence. Every patient deserves the ability to make an informed choice and provide informed consent when possible.

Even the White House recognizes that an informed patient more likely to make good decisions. The President's healthcare plan includes this sentence:

To get the best quality care for the best price, patients need to know in advance what their medical options are, the quality and expertise of doctors and hospitals in their area, and what their medical procedure will cost. (Ed. - Emphasis added)

So much going on...

...and so little time. In my case, actually, no time at all. Fortunately, there are a lot of good people following the stories of the day.

• The governor announced his plan to keep the State Education Fund from going bankrupt. Read about it: Post, Ritter, SquareState, Media Matters

• Diana DeGette. She's the most powerful member of Colorado's congressional delegation. She's working to provide healthcare for children. And she's asking for voter's opinions on the Iraq War.

• The Colorado legislature debates a nonbinding resolution opposing the Iraq War: Pols, Post

• Interesting stuff: Wash Park Prophet, Wild Again, Democracy In Progress, Ave Cassandra

And as always, someone's always blogging at SquareState. That's it. I'll see you Monday.

Some random March healthcare links

• John Aloysius Farrell: "Health care is a hot topic, but specifics are hard to come by."
• Morgan Carroll: "Injured workers deserve better in Colorado!"
• Colorado Media Matters: "Rosen's guests misled on infant health care."
• And then there's this from the John Edwards campaign:

House to debate new cervical cancer immunization bill

A press release from the House Dems states:

State Representatives Bernie Buescher and Dianne Primavera, a cervical cancer survivor, recently introduced legislation to increase the availability of cervical cancer immunizations, especially to young women and low-income women. House Bill 1301 differs from Senator Williams' bill on the same topic in several significant ways. (HB 1301 will be heard in Committee on Thursday March 8, 2007.)

I discussed Williams' bill on February 1, 2007. It ran into problems and as of March 3 was "stalled in a Senate committee."

Healthcare action items for the day

• The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative asks people to call their representatives to ask them to support funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. [More information and call-in numbers]

• House Speaker Andrew Romanoff asks people to send "ideas about how we can extend health insurance coverage to all Coloradans" to the Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform. [More information]

UPDATE: The Washington Post has a good healthcare story here.

Morgan Carroll takes on workers comp reform

One of the ironies of market-driven healthcare is that it actually limits choice, when compared to a single-payer voucher system. For instance, injured workers in Colorado can't even choose their own doctors. HD36 representative Morgan Carroll is out to change that. A press release states:

Next Monday, March 5, the House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor will hear Rep. Morgan Carroll's HB-1176, which would, for the first time, give workers injured on the job the ability to choose and to change the physician who treats them. Colorado's Workers Compensation Act currently does not permit injured workers any doctor choice or any right of change. Only a small minority of states deny injured workers these rights...

"The free market allows us to choose who fixes our cars, to choose who fixes our homes, and to choose where we buy our groceries, but Colorado's Workers Comp system does not allow workers any choice in who 'fixes' their bodies after they're hurt on the job. That's not 'free' and it certainly isn't fair," said Rep. Carroll.

It looks like Carroll is in for a fight. Currently, the Colorado Secretary of State lists 50 lobbyists working to oppose the bill, with only 10 lobbying for it. Another 51 are listed as either monitoring or amending. [Source]

Cross-posted at SquareState.

APATTW: Nonpartisanship update

The Denver Post reports on bipartisan education reform. And The Grand Junction Sentinel talks about a bipartisan bill that gives "surface-rights owners recourse against mineral extractors who damage the surface of private land."

What happens when the government falls down entirely? Since 2003, the amount of funding the National Institute of Health, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has cut funding for Down syndrome research from $23 million to $14 million a year. The Post has an inspiring story about a Colorado woman's efforts to "make Colorado the best place for people with Down syndrome to live."

Healthcare Day of Action on Monday

Progress Now, Healthcare For All Colorado, the Colorado Consumer Healthcare Initiative, Nathan J. Wilkes and other healthcare activists are planning a Healthcare Day of Action on Monday at the state capitol.

Single-payer healthcare would deliver better outcomes cheaper and more effectively than the free market alternative. That's why insurance and pharmaceutical companies have had to spend so much trying to stop it. The healthcare industry has contributed $655 million to political campaigns since 1990. And pharmaceutical companies alone spent $800 million on lobbyists between 1998 and 2005.

Maybe that's why Americans are stuck spending "$477 billion a year more on healthcare than would be expected if the United States fit the spending pattern of 13 other advanced countries." And why "we're paying more than $50 billion so insurers can convince us we need care and then figure out how to deny those of us who'll actually use it."

Who's going to stick up for the truth? You are.

Use this link to tell the Colorado legislature how the current system has failed you. And if you can make it to the capitol on Monday, here's the schedule.

Cross-posted to SquareState.

Colorado Consumer Health Initiative video

Link:

Healthcare hot topic of Presidential primaries

And it should be.

John Edwards on healthcare

Read Edwards' plan on johnedwards.com. And while I'm at it, here's a link to Colorado healthcare blog Ave Cassandra's analysis.

(More: Hillary, Obama, Richardson)

Bill Ritter and the power of the veto

I'd like to say I didn't see it coming. But I did. Today, Governor Bill Ritter vetoed HB-1072, setting off a firestorm of criticism and second-guessing.

Moderate changes the Colorado Labor Peace Act are a fine idea. But in this case, labor groups and the Republican Party both over-reacted, attempting to make political statements early in Ritter's term.

Ritter's response was unexpectedly savvy. First he restated his commitment to bipartisanship:

...I promised the people of Colorado over the last two years, that I would work tirelessly to bridge traditional divides, to bring together groups that often find themselves at odds: Republicans and Democrats, business and labor, developers and environmentalists. I vowed to listen to a wide range of views, to unite and to build consensus around a public policy agenda that speaks to the common good.

Then he chastised those who put him in this unwinnable situation:

From the beginning, this was a bitter, divisive and partisan battle. Opposite sides dug in, refusing to consider reasonable compromises. It demonstrated precisely why so many people have grown so cynical about American politics. The bill's proponents made no effort to open a dialogue with the opponents. At times, the opponents were neither respectful nor civil. It was over-heated politics at its worst.

Ritter made sure to leave the door open for the bill to come up again:

I am persuaded by their argument that changing long-time Colorado law relating to business and labor negotiations in this manner, in the atmosphere with which it was debated, is not now in the best interests of our state. (Ed. - Emphasisis added)

And Ritter finished by reminding all involved that his priorities as governor remain unchanged:

Creating the New Energy Economy, reforming health care, funding education, and building a 21st century transportation system requires that kind of [bipartisan] spirit and commitment.

Ritter's veto leaves him with the ability to re-open negotiations with labor, while building up IOU's from business groups. But it also leaves him with a heavy responsibility. Because those of us who supported him won't forget those elements of the Colorado Promise that Ritter held most dear. The voters are owed substantive proposals for guaranteed healthcare, a 21st Century transportation system, and major steps towards the implementation of a New Energy Economy that greatly reduces pollutants while providing a livlihood for thousands of workers.

The clock is ticking.

John Edwards, universal healthcare and the lazy, lazy media

Chris Cillizza's blog at The Washington Post is usually a must-read. But today, he's giving blogxygyn to the idea that presidential candidate John Edwards' universal healthcare plan could cost us the White House in 2008. The truth is that at the local and national levels, Americans favor raising taxes in order to fund a single-payer healthcare system.

Ritter signs bill creating Colorado Cares Rx Program

A Monday morning press release from the office of the guv states, in part:

[Bill Ritter stated,] "I pledged not only to seek long-term solutions to a health-care crisis that has 17% of our population without insurance, but also to take immediate action to lower costs. We took a step last week when I signed my first executive order and established a Preferred Drug List. We take another big step today by signing Senate Bill 1 and creating the Colorado Cares Rx Program."

The program will provide up to 264,000 eligible Coloradans with access to discounted medications.

HPV vaccine faces campaigns against profits, sex

Every year about 4,000 women die from cervical cancer. Yesterday Colorado's Democratic legislature took action. A Senate committee approved a bill requiring girls to be vaccinated against HPV, an STD that causes the disease.

The Rocky's story on the situation at the Capitol reported that some oppose the bill on the grounds that the company that makes the vaccine will profit from its sale:

Opponents accused Merck & Co., manufacturer of Gardasil vaccine, of pushing similar legislation across the nation to boost its bottom line.

People are absolutely right to be suspicious of the ties between the doctors that dispense new medicines, the legislatures that mandate their use, and the companies that profit from their sale. But the Rocky's article doesn't give enough emphasis to the fact that social conservatives have been been campaigning against the vaccine for years as part of the movement's ongoing war on sex.

Time Magazine's article "Defusing the War Over the Promiscuity Vaccine" states:

The New Scientist in Britain quoted the Family Research Council's Bridget Maher warning that "giving the HPV vaccine to young women could be potentially harmful, because they may see it as a licence to engage in premarital sex."

Similarly, About.com states one reason the vaccine is controversial is that "[m]any groups feel that the HPV vaccine will encourage promiscuity among young people."

Last year The New Republic reported that the social conservative movement had begun to couch its opposition to the vaccine in the language of choice:

Instead of campaigning aggressively against the vaccine, Christian groups have adopted a subtler rhetorical strategy: saying simply that they favor "choice"--that is, allowing parents to decide whether the vaccine or abstinence is right for their children. This strategy is no less pernicious for being polite. And it could go a long way towards undermining the vaccine's potential benefits.

The point is that the war against the vaccine stems not just from the reported concerns about choice and profits, but from a deep-seated opposition to premarital sex.

Cross-posted at SquareState.

UPDATE: A telling quote from The Denver Post:

[O]pponents said it crosses a new line of government mandates and could encourage sexual promiscuity in teenagers. "This will create the perception of immunity, and sex outside of marriage will actually increase," said Ed Hanks of Colorado Right to Life.

Democrats take action on prescription drugs

The Colorado House and Governor Bill Ritter are both taking action to lower the cost of prescription drugs. A press release from the House reads, in part:

House leaders fast-tracked a bill that would provide more than 260,000 people in Colorado with huge discounts on prescription drugs. "I'm thrilled that this historic bill is one of the first bills that Governor Ritter will sign," said Rep. [Alice] Madden. "We're not going to wait any longer to provide affordable prescription drugs to the people who really need them."

The bill would create the Colorado Cares Rx program, which allows the state to negotiate a fixed price for generic and non-patented drugs with manufacturers. Pharmacies that voluntarily participate in the program would then be able to sell the drugs to needy citizens who are eligible to participate in the program.

Meanwhile, Ritter today signed an executive order directing the state to "establish a Preferred Drug List for the purchase of prescription pharmaceuticals for Medicaid clients." The move is expected to save the state at least $1.6 million.

Colorado voters have "schizophrenia" on healthcare

I stared at this article in the Rocky forever yesterday, without really knowing what to say about it. Some subjects are too important for snark.

Recent polling shows that Colorado voters consider healthcare a top priority, and many are willing to pay higher taxes for a universal system. But voters are confused by the misinformation that's been spread by the free market faithful.

Universal healthcare delivers better outcomes at lower costs. And a voucher system (such as the one you can read about here) preserves many of the benefits associated with competition.

America's healthcare system is costly and ineffective. And the solution is right in front of us.

The many, many people who are not Diana DeGette

At some point during Democratic CD1 representative Diana DeGette's media luncheon, I realized that many people are not Diana DeGette. Like me. And you. And all the people discussed below.

The 106th Congress was not Diana DeGette.

DeGette started by running down the early accomplishments of the 110th Congress. In just the first 100 hours, Congress passed bills to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, increase the minimum wage, improve America's energy situation, and more.

Then DeGette talked about global climate change and Iraq War escalation. And she listed the leadership posts she'll hold in the House.

One goal she won't pursue: The impeachment of George Bush. She said it would be a distraction from issues like healthcare and global warming.

The contrast between the Democrats of the year 2007 and their Republican counterparts from eight years ago couldn't have been clearer. Imagine how much better off America would have been if the Republican-controlled 106th Congress had put aside its petty and nasty partisan games and focused on moving America forward.

George Bush is not Diana DeGette.

DeGette is an advocate of increased protection for children on the Internet. She is drafting legislation that would require ISPs to keep records for one year, making it possible for police to trace crimes back to the perpetrators. Privacy advocates worry that the bill could infringe on the rights of Internet users. But DeGette, herself an ACLU member, envisions safeguards to protect the innocent. Law enforcement officials would have demonstrate probable cause and obtain a subpoena before accessing records. And Internet providers would be asked to retain identifying data only, not communications.

The President has his war on terror. DeGette has her war on online predators. But DeGette has the skill and vision to wage her war without trampling the Constitution. Bush does not.

Tom Tancredo is not Diana DeGette.

I often tell the story of the elderly African-America woman who stopped me on a Denver sidewalk to tell me how much she loved Diana DeGette. I was doing a lit drop for Bill Ritter. And I asked the lady if she would be voting for him in November.

"I will if he's in the same party as Diana DeGette," she answered.

I asked DeGette how she'd managed to engender this sort of loyalty while leading a national campaign to legalize federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. She talked about her roots in Denver and her passion for seeing the West prosper.

Like DeGette, Congressman Tom Tancredo is a national player with a signature issue. But Tancredo's issue has consumed him to the point where he has lost touch with his district. DeGette's has not.

Joe Lieberman is not Diana DeGette.

DeGette represents a district that's sure to re-elect her as many times as she cares to run. Yet she still listens to her constituents. And makes time to reach out to party leaders, liberal activists and the media.

Joe Liberman lost the 2006 Democratic primary not just because of his opinion on Iraq or his fondness for Bush. He was shown the door because he looked the party faithful in the eye and told them he did not care about their opinions. He thought he was above the democratic process.

Despite the relative safety of her CD1 seat, DeGette is still taking risks and earning and re-earning her election. I don't know how much longer she'll serve. But it's hard to imagine a better representative for Denver.

More at SquareState, Daily Kos and Colorado Confidential.

Edwards, Obama or Clinton: We can't lose

Our three 2008 frontrunners all commit to universal healthcare in this Chicago Tribune article.

I'm so gullible

The President says he wants to make it easier for Americans to buy health insurance and I'm like, "Hm, sounds good." And then I read Kirsten Hannum's post, which explains that Bush's proposal will essentially force poor, old, sick people to pay more while rich, young, healthy people receive a tax windfall. And I feel dumb for ever believing anything the POTUS says.

Ideology hampers the Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform

Ave Cassandra's post on healthcare, ideology and Colorado's Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform deserves your time.

Jon Caldera, John Hickenlooper, and the wisdom of investment

On Fridays, I try to make time to watch Independent Thinking, the show where "hard-pressing conservative host" Jon Caldera hosts "lively - and sometimes heated - debates among elected officials, journalists, activists, concerned citizens." The show is typically littered with distortions and falsehoods. But Caldera is interesting. And it's always good to expose yourself to different points of view.

But I've just about had it with Caldera's insistence that tax dollars spent on transportation, education and healthcare should not be considered investments. This is hogwash. For instance:

1. For every dollar invested in education through the G.I. Bill, "it is estimated that nearly seven dollars was returned to the American public."

2. Money invested in public transportation provides "an economic stimulus far exceeding the original investment - as much as six dollars for every dollar invested."

3. Democratic Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's plan to reduce homelessness may save the city $1.5 million.

The investment meme scares Republicans for the same reason that the Fighting Dems and Western Pragmatists do. They all disprove the assertion that the Democratic Party is made up of dewey-eyed idealists, raising taxes to fund half-baked schemes.

The Democratic Party of the year 2007 is about results. And the GOP can't deny it any longer.

Cross-posted at SquareState.

Ritter seeks to expand healthcare commission

Today's newsletter from the Bell Policy Center reports:

Gov.-elect Bill Ritter said he wants to appoint three new members to the recently launched Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform. His comments came during the commission's meeting on Monday in Denver.

Ritter said he will ask for legislation allowing him to make the additional appointments. While acknowledging the commission is already representative of the state's citizens, Ritter said he believed the group would benefit from the expertise and perspectives of new members from the business and labor sectors and from rural Colorado.

Ritter made some bold promises about healthcare on the campaign trail, and it would be totally appropriate for the legislature to give him some latitude.