First, it helps to understand the Cadillac healthcare coverage members of Congress receive. They pay no deductibles, no co-pays, and only a $35 monthly fee is taken from an annual salary of $158k. Oh, and they're covered until they die, no matter when their congressional tenure came to an end.

Second, their premiums have remained stable while their coverage has expanded.

Now, consider this recent quote from Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and how it stands in contrast to the messages coming from the presidential contenders:

“Healthcare I feel strongly about, but I am not sure that we’re ready for a major national healthcare plan,” Schumer said.

Ah, yes, taxpayers fund your benefits and get nothing in return. If you want to let your Wisconsin reps in Congress know what you think about this, here's how to get in touch with them.

The Hill has more.

From the London Independent comes word of a breakthrough in treating Parkinson's disease. The Catholic Church, predictably, does not like such fare.

Reports Steve Connor:

A potential cure for Parkinson's disease has come a significant step closer today with a study showing that it is possible to treat the degenerative brain disorder with cells derived from cloned embryos – a development condemned by the Roman Catholic Church.

After passing through both branches of the state government, the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle.  This law will require emergency room personnel to give information about emergency contraception to all victims of sexual assault, and dispense it if desired.  Emergency contraception greatly reduces the risk of unintended pregnancy, thereby reducing the need for abortion.  It is legal, safe, and available for over the counter purchase for women over 18. However, in a survey from 2002, it was found that less than 1/3 of Wisconsin hospitals had this contraception stocked. 

     In 2002, a survey found that 300,000 women were raped each year, resulting in 25,000 unwanted pregnancies.  16,000 of these unintended pregnancies ended in abortion. With the effectiveness of emergency contraception, 22,000 (88%) of the pregnancies and the resulting abortions could be prevented if all sexual assault survivors used emergency contraception.

Well....it looks as though the FDA should do a stint working as a "casual" at the post office before they venture further than their front door.  It appears that it has finally dawned upon the FDA to bring someone fluent in Chinese to China when they inspect manufacturers of components of pharmaceuticals.

And guess what...?  It looks as though some of those components have made it here to Wisconsin.  Article quote:

"To probe the incident, the agency will also inspect a Baxter facility in Cherry Hill, NJ and at a company supplier Scientific Protein Laboratories of Waunakee, Wisconsin." (Article Link)

A Chicago Tribune article probed a little deeper.  Sounds to me like Scientific Protein owns that "China factory" that the FDA "couldn't find". 

Pax Christi showing of Sicko.

St. Joseph's Parish

910 Wilson St. in Menomonie - Parish Center Conference room in the school building.

Discussion afterward. 

Location(s)

In today's edition of his syndicated column, David Sirota talks about change, and the fact that it is much more likely to come from state legislatures than from a new president.

Though in general I agree with this, the example he uses in his article is health care reform, and in particular Healthy Wisconsin.  I'd find this all a lot more convincing if the Wisconsin legislature had actually managed to pass Healthy Wisconsin through both houses.  Though I'm hopeful that this (or something close to it) will happen in Wisconsin, so far odds seem stacked against any truly meaningful reform, and as I mentioned yesterday, the state assembly seems determined not to even bring it up.

So - if we really want change in government, we're going to have to work to throw the rascals out in our state government as well as the federal.

"After 27 years, Led Zeppelin is back on tour. And drugs are still being delivered backstage. The only difference now, is there’s a $30 co-pay." -- Will Durst.

Update II: Minneapolis to open temporary VA clinic in Rice Lake

Update: Veterans Administration clinics in Hayward and Rice Lake may re-open Monday

Another exhibit demonstrating that health care ought not be a commodity to be sold for profit, especially for our veterans.

The VA contracted out health care services for veterans to Corporate Health & Wellness, Inc and the company subsequently closed down two VA clinics in Northern Wisconsin, complaining that they were not making a profit.

The VA and Corporate Health & Wellness, Inc's CEO Mary Cheek have a hell of a lot of explaining to do.

I wonder how they received this VA contract.

Did Mary Cheek contribute money to Republicans? Readers who have a minute ought to look into this.

From Business Week, Dinesh Ramde reports:

Update: Stem Cells Eyed to Cure Crohn's Disease in Europe-wide Trial

The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Some two million Americans suffer from this intestinal disorder of an unknown cause.

An aggressive but small group of Americans are dedicated to finding a cure and new treatments, (such as Irwin M. and Suzanne Rosenthal, William D. and Shelby Modell, and Henry D. Janowitz, M.D.).

Informational event about the Healthy Wisconsin Health Care Plan that is proposed in the current state budget.

Location(s)