Send a letter to your Senator: AAMDS.org; Donate to AAMDS.
In addition to revocation of collective bargaining rights, Governor Walker also encapsulated another hidden agenda in his bill, and has plans for a final death hand. The hidden agenda is to reform Medical Assistance; the death hand is two-fold; first, he intends to spin off UW-Madison hospital and clinics who are a national leader in life-saving research and treatment, and second, he intends to reform medical services at the state level.
The bill directs the department of public health services to 'assess' the medical assistance program and propose means by which it can be made more effective. As the spokesperson from the National Bone Marrow Donation Association put it, "That's not a bad thing. Despite how much you may like or dislike Governor Walker, to assess programs for effeciency is a good thing." Yes, it is; however, it goes on to say that the PHS can make law by means of medical emergency legislative paths. As well, what is written there in invisible ink is the call for reform and exclusions. One exclusion that other states have made during their assessments is of waiver programs; these are special programs to provide life-saving services such as bone marrow transplants. Without bone marrow transplants, people with Aplastic Anemia, as well as many other diseases (Leukemia, PNH, MDS, EB, and the list goes on and on and on) will die. That, Governor Walker, is a sentence to death by legislative pen.
Add to that legislative pen the stroke of deaths of millions with the spinning off of UW-Madison to make it act as a business on its own two feet. UW-Madison is a national leader in stem cell research. Those stem cells aren't fetuses, but rather blood stem cells donated from the marrow of people just like you and me, from the cords of babies donated by their parents to save a life, and form donors who are dying. They are on the brink of finding a solution for Alzheimer's. Do these Senators not realize how many millions of dollars could be saved by the Medicare and Medicaid programs by simply not confining an Alzheimer's patient to a nursing home? Multiples of millions in Wisconsin, to the billions of dollars nationwide, would be saved.
It's not only a Wisconsin problem. Senator John McCain is sponsoring a bill that will terminate funding to bone marrow research. That research is housed under the same arena as is the defense funding. Obviously, pro-war Senator McCain is seeking to stop dollars from going to save lives to put dollars towards the effort to take lives. We expect this given his history. McCain: there is no honor in killing Americans through a silent holocost on the medical assistance and research funding to fight for their freedom. We strongly disagree, and encourage everyone to write to Senator McCain to tell him not to kill the funding to bone marrow research.
PLEAS:
Whoever you are, you don't know that you won't one day need a bone marrow transplant. If the research is ended, where will you go? The US is the leader in medical research. Write to your Senator and to Senator John McCain to "Oppose any Amendment to Eliminate CDMRP Funding". You might also want to write to Doris O. Matsui (D-CA) to tell her that you support her and the “Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research and Treatment Act” (H.R. 640). This legislation would bring together the resources of several federal agencies to advance our understanding of, and treatments for aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and ParoPNH. We need your support now! It is simple to send that letter, just go to AA & MDS and fill in your name and submit the letter.
TO THOSE PROTESTING IN WISCONSIN: Please keep the reform appeals in Walker's bill in your minds and hearts as you fight for civil rights; this fight is for life.
Lent: One of my lenten sacrafices is to give two hours of my off time every day to helping further the fight of those who are fighting for their lives recovering from a bone marrow transplant.
Showing posts with label Governor Walker Bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Governor Walker Bill. Show all posts
Saturday, March 12, 2011
URGENT - WRITE TO SEN JOHN MCCAIN BEFORE HE KILLS SOMEONE YOU LOVE
Here, we are reposting with permission a letter from a woman inflicted with Aplastic Anemia, PNH and Leukemia cells. If you haven't written to Senator John McCain, please take a moment to do so; the life that your letter may save may be yours or that of someone you love. If you cannot write a letter due to your medical or economic situation, please send us a message through this BLOG so that we can help you to do so.
Senator McCain,
My name is Exie Williams and I am a survivor of 2 forms of bone marrow failure. I am in remission, but I am not cured. The treatment options for people with bone marrow failure is minimal. By eliminating funding for the Congressionally-Directed Medical Research Programs at the Department of Defense for Bone Marrow Failure research, is without a doubt devestating to myself and many others. This is the world’s largest research program dedicated to finding a cure for bone marrow failure diseases like aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and PNH.
I ask that you take a moment and view a support group page and see the faces of the men, women, and children that this admendment will effect.
http://www.facebook.com/AplasticAnemia
I was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, PNH, and leukemia cells when I was 31 years old. I fought the fight of my life. There was a moment during my fight that it looked as if I was not responding to treatment and my father had to ask me what my wishes were for burial and for my young children. My 70 year old father had to face the fact that he may have to bury his daughter because we were running out of options. Through much prayer and faith, I pulled through and I won my fight and claimed remission. Everyday through the support group I created I see families who are losing their faith and their hope. Young children are dying or suffering, mothers and fathers are dying or suffering because there are no options left for them.
When I received this news today, I was heart broken for those who are not responding to treatment and who can not find suitable bone marrow donors.
I ask and pray that you will reconsider eliminating this last bit of hope that so many are holding on to. We need this research program to continue so that we can one day possibly have a cure.
I thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. This is so very important to so many who are suffering from bone marrow failure diseases.
Best Regards,
Exie Williams
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Another letter to Senator John McCain:
Mr. McCain, I am the father of a 5 year old girl who has been diagnosed with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) This is a rare condition in which the body stops making blood or starts making malformed cells. This, as well as Aplastic Anemia, wh...ich she was originally diagnosed with, is a disease about which very little is known. 4 years ago, nothing was known, and they just supported the kids as best they could until they died. Leaps and bounds have been made though, and treatment options have become available, due in part to the DoD Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research program, which will be defunded as part of of an amendment you are adding to the Defense Appropriations Act for 2011. I understand that our deficit is out of control and spending must be cut, but when you cut medical research funding, you dont just cut the future of medical advancement, which is already under attack from the socialized medicine crowd. You also cut off the lives of people like my little girl, whose lives may depend on advances that have been and could be made on the strength of this research. There is so much waste in government as you pointed out in your campaign that could be cut or at least pursued before taking the knife to life saving research. I beg you for the sake of my daughter, Maelee Grace Sheehan, and on the behalf of so many others we have come to know as we fight this disease, please reconsider this portion of your cuts.
Senator McCain,
My name is Exie Williams and I am a survivor of 2 forms of bone marrow failure. I am in remission, but I am not cured. The treatment options for people with bone marrow failure is minimal. By eliminating funding for the Congressionally-Directed Medical Research Programs at the Department of Defense for Bone Marrow Failure research, is without a doubt devestating to myself and many others. This is the world’s largest research program dedicated to finding a cure for bone marrow failure diseases like aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and PNH.
I ask that you take a moment and view a support group page and see the faces of the men, women, and children that this admendment will effect.
http://www.facebook.com/AplasticAnemia
I was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, PNH, and leukemia cells when I was 31 years old. I fought the fight of my life. There was a moment during my fight that it looked as if I was not responding to treatment and my father had to ask me what my wishes were for burial and for my young children. My 70 year old father had to face the fact that he may have to bury his daughter because we were running out of options. Through much prayer and faith, I pulled through and I won my fight and claimed remission. Everyday through the support group I created I see families who are losing their faith and their hope. Young children are dying or suffering, mothers and fathers are dying or suffering because there are no options left for them.
When I received this news today, I was heart broken for those who are not responding to treatment and who can not find suitable bone marrow donors.
I ask and pray that you will reconsider eliminating this last bit of hope that so many are holding on to. We need this research program to continue so that we can one day possibly have a cure.
I thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. This is so very important to so many who are suffering from bone marrow failure diseases.
Best Regards,
Exie Williams
----------------------------------------------------------------
Another letter to Senator John McCain:
Mr. McCain, I am the father of a 5 year old girl who has been diagnosed with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) This is a rare condition in which the body stops making blood or starts making malformed cells. This, as well as Aplastic Anemia, wh...ich she was originally diagnosed with, is a disease about which very little is known. 4 years ago, nothing was known, and they just supported the kids as best they could until they died. Leaps and bounds have been made though, and treatment options have become available, due in part to the DoD Bone Marrow Failure Disease Research program, which will be defunded as part of of an amendment you are adding to the Defense Appropriations Act for 2011. I understand that our deficit is out of control and spending must be cut, but when you cut medical research funding, you dont just cut the future of medical advancement, which is already under attack from the socialized medicine crowd. You also cut off the lives of people like my little girl, whose lives may depend on advances that have been and could be made on the strength of this research. There is so much waste in government as you pointed out in your campaign that could be cut or at least pursued before taking the knife to life saving research. I beg you for the sake of my daughter, Maelee Grace Sheehan, and on the behalf of so many others we have come to know as we fight this disease, please reconsider this portion of your cuts.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Wisconsin Bill Passes
Wisconsin passes the bill to remove collective bargaining rights AND DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES TO REVIEW AND REFORM MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN WISCONSIN.
UW-Madison, a leader in stem cell research, is being spun off from the UW System.
What does it mean to people with bone marrow failure diseases?
Death.
My dad used to say, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." Befitting, I think, for Governor Scott Walker.
Pass the recall sheet, I'll sign it, because when we said we wanted you to be conservative, Governor Walker, we did not mean by killing people. UW is one of the leaders in stem cell research. Walker, do you have any idea of how many billions of dollars would be saved by not putting people in nursing homes who have Alzheimer's? Mind you, billions of dollars are paid by medicare and medicaid to Canadian owned nursing homes.
UW-Madison, a leader in stem cell research, is being spun off from the UW System.
What does it mean to people with bone marrow failure diseases?
Death.
My dad used to say, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." Befitting, I think, for Governor Scott Walker.
Pass the recall sheet, I'll sign it, because when we said we wanted you to be conservative, Governor Walker, we did not mean by killing people. UW is one of the leaders in stem cell research. Walker, do you have any idea of how many billions of dollars would be saved by not putting people in nursing homes who have Alzheimer's? Mind you, billions of dollars are paid by medicare and medicaid to Canadian owned nursing homes.
Friday, February 25, 2011
$597 Per Voter Balances The Budget
Someone suggested that we just split the cost of balancing the budget, and move on with life.
Wisconsin reported a population of 5.6 million in 2009. Approximately 82% of Wisconsin are over the age of 18 years.
With a $2.7 billion deficit, a contribution of $588 would balance the budget.
Reduce the deficit by the $165 million that the reduction in benefits would amount to according to Walker's statements regarding the funding behind those benefits, and that makes the contribution $552 per voter to balance the budget.
Ah, but not everybody is working. While the reports show one thing, an estimated 270,000 people are out of work.
That puts it back to $586 PER VOTER, or $1173 per household, given that most households have two voters (and hopefully two workers).
Wisconsin reported a population of 5.6 million in 2009. Approximately 82% of Wisconsin are over the age of 18 years.
With a $2.7 billion deficit, a contribution of $588 would balance the budget.
Reduce the deficit by the $165 million that the reduction in benefits would amount to according to Walker's statements regarding the funding behind those benefits, and that makes the contribution $552 per voter to balance the budget.
Ah, but not everybody is working. While the reports show one thing, an estimated 270,000 people are out of work.
That puts it back to $586 PER VOTER, or $1173 per household, given that most households have two voters (and hopefully two workers).
A State Doesn't Live on Fed Aid Alone
Wisconsin had long been a thriving industrial state and the home to some of the top manufacturing companies in the nation.
Wisconsin's flip from a state that had excess funds from taxation to one which is in deep debt could be seen back in 2002 when manufacturers closed their doors to go out of business or move to another state where labor and taxes were cheaper.
I recall visiting West Bend, Wisconsin in 2000 to find three thriving manufacturers supplying the majority of employment for the local and closely surrounding area. In 2001, one of those, a major manufacturer of pots and pans, had closed its doors. The next year, another closed. And the next year, there was only one farming equipment manufacturer left, and he was running part time.
When the gross domestic product loses ground, people move from middle income earners to low income earners, and while taxes decrease, the burden on the government increases by way of aid to people. Wisconsin eliminated welfare some years ago, and all that is left to help people are a few payments of electricity, food pantries, food stamps and health care. Under special programs, local businesses in Wisconsin have created low-income services, such as dental care, albiet with the assistance of funding. But other funding, such as housing assistance is gone.
Wisconsin's flip from a state that had excess funds from taxation to one which is in deep debt could be seen back in 2002 when manufacturers closed their doors to go out of business or move to another state where labor and taxes were cheaper.
I recall visiting West Bend, Wisconsin in 2000 to find three thriving manufacturers supplying the majority of employment for the local and closely surrounding area. In 2001, one of those, a major manufacturer of pots and pans, had closed its doors. The next year, another closed. And the next year, there was only one farming equipment manufacturer left, and he was running part time.
When the gross domestic product loses ground, people move from middle income earners to low income earners, and while taxes decrease, the burden on the government increases by way of aid to people. Wisconsin eliminated welfare some years ago, and all that is left to help people are a few payments of electricity, food pantries, food stamps and health care. Under special programs, local businesses in Wisconsin have created low-income services, such as dental care, albiet with the assistance of funding. But other funding, such as housing assistance is gone.
Peaceful, But Tense
At 10 East Doty Street, an office building just 'off of the square' and a stone throw from the capitol building, protestors marched on Koch Industries, Inc., who has an office on the 7th floor.
At 3:45 PM, the protestors marched from the capitol square down Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. towards the Doty entrance to 10 East Doty Street with drums beating loudly and chats heard over them, "Ho, ho, the bill must go." The core of the protest only lasted an hour, but protestors remained long after the close of business when I was escorted to my vehicle. Well into the evening hours, they could be seen standing in front of the Doty Street entrance shouting to cars as people were leaving the capital and local offices. Doty Street is one of the streets in the second square around the capitol, and a main drag for people on their ways home.
From early morning hours until at least 6 PM, building security personnel stood in groups at each ingress point and along hallways throughout the building. All of the elevators were locked down requiring people to have a security pass card to access any floor, but even those with a pass couldn't access the upper floors. Guards stood at the stairway doors. When I left at 6 PM, there were people standing near the doors trying to gain access to the building.
According to reports from several tenants of the building, there had been some incidences on the 7th floor where the Koch Industries office is located. Police were called to remove protestors.
Regardless of a person's stand on the issues, the current experience of Madison is one to behold. The protests are 'peaceful' as far as protests go for those we've witnessed on TV in other countries, but that doesn't eliminate the sense of fear, perhaps due to the mere gathering together of hundreds of people chanting, beating drugs and showing emotions in their faces if not with their fists and emphasis added to their messages by throwing their arm in the air. But there also is a sense of excitement. Several people commented on the protests remarking that they were pleased to see people standing up for their rights.
At 3:45 PM, the protestors marched from the capitol square down Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. towards the Doty entrance to 10 East Doty Street with drums beating loudly and chats heard over them, "Ho, ho, the bill must go." The core of the protest only lasted an hour, but protestors remained long after the close of business when I was escorted to my vehicle. Well into the evening hours, they could be seen standing in front of the Doty Street entrance shouting to cars as people were leaving the capital and local offices. Doty Street is one of the streets in the second square around the capitol, and a main drag for people on their ways home.
From early morning hours until at least 6 PM, building security personnel stood in groups at each ingress point and along hallways throughout the building. All of the elevators were locked down requiring people to have a security pass card to access any floor, but even those with a pass couldn't access the upper floors. Guards stood at the stairway doors. When I left at 6 PM, there were people standing near the doors trying to gain access to the building.
According to reports from several tenants of the building, there had been some incidences on the 7th floor where the Koch Industries office is located. Police were called to remove protestors.
Regardless of a person's stand on the issues, the current experience of Madison is one to behold. The protests are 'peaceful' as far as protests go for those we've witnessed on TV in other countries, but that doesn't eliminate the sense of fear, perhaps due to the mere gathering together of hundreds of people chanting, beating drugs and showing emotions in their faces if not with their fists and emphasis added to their messages by throwing their arm in the air. But there also is a sense of excitement. Several people commented on the protests remarking that they were pleased to see people standing up for their rights.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Announcement of Recall Effort Ineffective, or Not?
Americans Against Immigrant Amnesty has filed electronic registration under the name American Recall Coalition in an effort to recall the eight Democractic Senators.
State law requires recalls to be filed by qualified electors from the legislator's district. A Utah based organization, person or company CANNOT legally file a petition for recall of a Senator in Wisconsin.
"The Government Accountability Board says that the group will need to find a 'sponsor' in each district, but that the 60-day clock started ticking with this group's filing of the paperwork." according to Fox 11.
The Democract Senators are:
Senators Fred Risser (D-Madison)
Mark Miller (D-Monona)
Jim Holperin (D-Conover)
Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee)
Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee)
Robert Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie)
Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and
Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay).
State law requires recalls to be filed by qualified electors from the legislator's district. A Utah based organization, person or company CANNOT legally file a petition for recall of a Senator in Wisconsin.
"The Government Accountability Board says that the group will need to find a 'sponsor' in each district, but that the 60-day clock started ticking with this group's filing of the paperwork." according to Fox 11.
The Democract Senators are:
Senators Fred Risser (D-Madison)
Mark Miller (D-Monona)
Jim Holperin (D-Conover)
Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee)
Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee)
Robert Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie)
Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and
Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay).
Contact Walker - Serve Wisconsin
Walker's contact information is:
Office of Governor Scott Walker
115 East Capitol
Madison WI 53702
Email: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 266-1212
The Boards and Commissions for which the state of Wisconsin is seeking applicants is located at: Wisconsin Boards and Commissions. One of those commissions is the Emergency Medical Services Board, which is key to future changes to the Medical Assistance and Badger Care programs. Under Walker's bill, the Department of Health Services will have full control over the Medical Assistance program, and will be able to freely and carelessly create and pass laws under the Emergency Medical Services Board that effect benefits, including those needed for bone marrow transplants. If you can serve on that board, please apply right away.
Doctors, PA's, Nurses: your help is needed on that board; please consider serving it.
At minimum, everyone, please write Walker and voice your concerns over his Medical Assistance reform; tell him that we don't want Wisconsin playing God; we don't want any person in our state sentenced to death for lack of budgetary funds.
Office of Governor Scott Walker
115 East Capitol
Madison WI 53702
Email: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov
Phone: (608) 266-1212
The Boards and Commissions for which the state of Wisconsin is seeking applicants is located at: Wisconsin Boards and Commissions. One of those commissions is the Emergency Medical Services Board, which is key to future changes to the Medical Assistance and Badger Care programs. Under Walker's bill, the Department of Health Services will have full control over the Medical Assistance program, and will be able to freely and carelessly create and pass laws under the Emergency Medical Services Board that effect benefits, including those needed for bone marrow transplants. If you can serve on that board, please apply right away.
Doctors, PA's, Nurses: your help is needed on that board; please consider serving it.
At minimum, everyone, please write Walker and voice your concerns over his Medical Assistance reform; tell him that we don't want Wisconsin playing God; we don't want any person in our state sentenced to death for lack of budgetary funds.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Walker Blocks Solidarity Website
Walker is accused of blocking a website that was being used to organize protestors.
Walker says, "I didn't block the website."
Let's keep the facts straight, folks!
Amid reports that the site -- defendwisconsin.org - was inaccessible on Monday and Tuesday morning, Wisconsin Democratic Party press secretary Graeme Zielinski pointed the finger at Walker and other Republicans, accusing them of a "direct assault on the First Amendment." A liberal blogger at the website ThinkProgress accused Walker of "taking a page from former Egyptian Dictator Hosni Mubarak and cutting off internet access to key protest organizers within the state Capitol building."
If a website is new, there is a chance that the Wisconsin administrative office responsible for Internet access may block it. If a site has viruses, or publishes threats, if it uses such a large amount of band width, it may cause its own issues with people accessing it.
Walker says, "I didn't block the website."
Let's keep the facts straight, folks!
Amid reports that the site -- defendwisconsin.org - was inaccessible on Monday and Tuesday morning, Wisconsin Democratic Party press secretary Graeme Zielinski pointed the finger at Walker and other Republicans, accusing them of a "direct assault on the First Amendment." A liberal blogger at the website ThinkProgress accused Walker of "taking a page from former Egyptian Dictator Hosni Mubarak and cutting off internet access to key protest organizers within the state Capitol building."
If a website is new, there is a chance that the Wisconsin administrative office responsible for Internet access may block it. If a site has viruses, or publishes threats, if it uses such a large amount of band width, it may cause its own issues with people accessing it.
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