It`s Lamar(Hit Man) Alexander Time in Tennessee/Washington

It`s Hit Man Lamar Alexander(R)Tennessee
By Don Jones...2/28/10

I watched this morning on ABC News, Lamar Alexander(R)Tennessee being interviewed in regard, to the recent summit meeting on health-care. Being a Tennessean I am always interested in what my elected officials from Tennessee are doing on my behalf. I`m sad to report that Senator Alexander has become the mouth piece/hit man for his party ! It seems that the Republican minority leader in the Senate, Senator Mitch McConnell(R) Kentucky has designated Senator Alexander as his/party`s official hit man ! Poor ole Lamar. He is opposed to health care reform ! Just as his Republican party is. He said this morning that he would vote his way on this bill. Not once did he refer to his constituency, and how they wanted him to vote ! Senator Alexander, you need to stay off of television and stop mouthing Mitch McConnell`s words. Senator Alexander, you are now trying to scare us, Social Security-Medicare Retiree`s! It seems that you will say and twist almost anything to get YOUR way on this bill ! I will not call you a liar. However, lets say that you have your own facts, not the true facts. As a Tennessean, I`m ashamed to call you my U.S. Senator ! Stop all of your untruths and scare tactics. Do what is right for Tennessee and our entire Country. Break ranks with McConnell and your party and support your Country! There is no job recovery without reformed health care. Finally, do Tennessee a great service and do not run again, you have stopped representing Tennesseans and now just represent yourself ! I do hope that your Health-Care Insurance that we Tennesseans/Tax-payers provide YOU, is adequate ? I`m going to church now, I will pray for you, and oh yes for me too ! If any of my readers would like to contact Senator Alexander, here`s how Click on the following or the title of this article. > http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/ <

Social Security & Medicare for Seniors ~ Hey That`s Me !

Response to President's Health Care Plan and Summit:

Three Things You Can DoIn order to bridge the differences between the U.S. House and Senate-passed health care bills - and continue to move reform forward - President Obama unveiled his Administration's own health plan on Monday. The plan contains several major steps toward improving the well-being of current and future retirees. "President Obama's plan recognizes the millions of seniors who are struggling to afford to see a doctor or get a prescription filled," "For retirees, continued inaction would be devastating. Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs would soon eat up more than one-third of a retiree's Social Security benefits." For the Alliance's comparison of Obama's health reform bill with those passed by the U.S House and Senate, go to http://bit.ly/aMvKTJ. On Thursday, President Obama led a televised health care reform summit, which focused on discussing ideas and grievances about the proposed health care bill from both parties. White House officials named 21 lawmakers the president wanted to attend the summit: the top leaders in the House and Senate and of the committees with jurisdiction over the health legislation. Obama also invited the top four leaders to invite four more lawmakers each, bringing the total to 37; 20 Democrats and 17 Republicans. For a specific list of the attendees, go to http://bit.ly/bSlCs6. As a follow-up to the summit, concerned senior activists are encouraged to do 3 things:
1.) Contact your U.S. House member and two Senators by calling 202-224-3121. Tell them that President Obama`s proposal would close the "doughnut hole" coverage gap in Medicare Part D; finally end the $3.60 per month every senior pays in higher premiums to subsidize the big insurance corporations that run Medicare Advantage; and make long-term care more affordable for middle-class families.

2.) Write a letter to the editor of your local paper reiterating the need for reform. You may find it helpful to use the language at http://bit.ly/8YMsgI as a guide; and3) Share Alliance materials like the comparison chart above and the fact sheet at http://bit.ly/a1qtC8 with your friends and neighbors.

Further evidence of the need for reform came last Friday, with the release of a study by a major consulting firm showing that spiraling costs are a problem even for seniors with solid insurance. The Avalere Health study found that premiums for private Medicare Advantage plans offering medical and prescription drug coverage jumped 14.2% on average for 2010. Some 8.5 million seniors and disabled Americans who signed up for the private plans will therefore be facing sharp premium increases this year, following an increase of 5.2% last year.

Editorial : Seniors need to get the facts, then act accordingly !

Fed Up with the Filibuster ? I Am !

Help Stop The Insanity of the Super Majority Filibuster

The unprecedented obstructionism in the Senate today forces a rethinking and modernization of the filibuster rule.If you're as fed up with the filibuster as I am, please sign my petition to fix it today. It's time to end the filibuster as we know it.
The American people are sick of process blocking progress. They're fed up with an arbitrary tradition that allows a minority of Senators to prevent popular, much-needed legislation from even coming to a vote. They're exasperated with Republicans' veiled attempts to kill meaningful reform -- pleas for "more time" and "starting from scratch" -- which were on full display at yesterday's White House health care summit. Frankly, so am I.
Sign my petition at FedUpWithTheFilibuster.com today -- and show your support for filibuster reform, such as the Harkin-Shaheen proposal, to eliminate the crippling 60-vote requirement to overcome a filibuster.
From the public option to financial reform, a few dozen Senate Republicans have used the threat of a filibuster dozens and dozens of times, blocking much of the sweeping change voters demanded when they elected President Obama and strong Democratic majorities to Congress. The right-wing obstructionists consistently misuse and abuse the filibuster simply to score political points, at the expense of the American people. The Harkin-Shaheen proposal would continue to provide ample time for a minority of Senators to voice their concerns about legislation and seek changes. But it would eliminate the permanent 60-vote cloture requirement to overcome a filibuster, gradually reducing the necessary vote threshold as debate continues, preventing the minority from using the procedural tactic to obstruct progress indefinitely. Commonsense proposals like this would allow a simple majority of Senators to end an obstructionist filibuster if it has dragged on for several days or weeks. And they would allow Congress to get back into the business of sending popular, much-needed legislation -- like a strong health care reform bill -- to the President's desk.
Sign my online petition today -- and show your support for the Harkin-Shaheen proposal or similar proposals to eliminate the crippling 60-vote requirement to overcome a filibuster.
Changing the filibuster is no pipe dream. In fact, back in the 1970s the Senate successfully amended what was a 67-vote cloture requirement to the current 60-vote requirement. But the unprecedented obstructionism we find in the Senate today forces another rethinking and modernization of the filibuster rule.
By letting your Senators know you're as fed up with the filibuster as I am, we can change it, once more. When our Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution and drafted the initial rules of the Senate, they never intended requiring a super majority to pass any and all legislation. They just wanted to be sure that Senators took time to carefully debate and consider bills before taking votes. That's exactly what reforms like the Harkin-Shaheen proposal will do.
We cannot continue to allow a minority of Senators to paralyze progress. Together we can restore majority rule and make Congress work for the American people again.

Sincerely, Dick Durbin(D)U.S. Senator - Illinois

P.S. After you've signed the petition, please forward this email to everyone you know. It's time to step up, speak out, and fix the filibuster -- once and for all.

Health Care Summit ~ Not Bi-Partisan ! Republicans Want to Kill Bill !

Health Care Summit > Republicans are Obstructionist
by Don Jones

As I watch today's so called Bi-Partisan Health Care Summit on Television, as I began to watch, I was at first hopeful, then Senator Lamar Alexander(R)Tennessee, spoke for all of the Republicans. My hope soon faded, as all he and his party want to do is scrap what we have thus far and start over ! Starting over is not an option ! Starting over is the Republican answer to the bill, which interrupted, is KILL THE BILL ! I felt sorry for our President, as he tried to conduct a disscussion on Health Care and make changes that woud benefit the American people. Republicans want the same ole, same ole > Cross state lines...don`t sue the Dr.`s and give more to private insurance company`s ! Jon Kyl(R) Arizona and John McCain(R) Arizona, merely want to kill the bill ! Our President pointed out that, All Americans want is what our Senate all and Congress have, good health care insurance(Provided by Tax-Payers). John McCain started to campaign for himself, the President said, sorry that is not why we are here ! We are here to help, aid and assist Americans in obtaining good health care, and lowering costs ! McCain did`nt like it ! But, that`s ok ! Republicans don`t care about health care ! Democrats do care about health care. If that's not obvious by now, what planet have you been on ? Being from Tennessee, I was most disappointed in our Senior Senator`s presentation to kill the bill ! This is the same Lamar Alexander(R)Tennessee, who wanted to abolish minimum wage ! Poor ole Lamar, he`s been on the public payroll his entire life ! He has now become a mouth piece for Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky ! I suppose, I should`nt have been surprised. Lamar has great health care insurance.YOU and I PAY for IT ! I will give the President credit for trying to achieve bi-partisanship. Ok, Mr. President you tried ! Now change the rules in the Senate and stop the insanity of 60 votes to pass anything ! We elect a president by 51% how did we arrive at this insanity that the minority can rule everything ? Make it 51 votes to pass a bill in the Senate. If we as Americans do not like the results, we can vote them out next election ! It is time that the American public have a voice in our Government. Change the Senate rules to 51 Votes. That is a majority ! I do find it strange, that not one Republican has or will vote for the health care bill ? Surely there is something in it, one of them likes ? It seems that Republicans came to the summit to kill health care. Republicans have become the lobbyist for big insurance and health care providers. So be it ! However, I think we need to end their health care insurance, that we (Tax-Payers) provide them ! To Tennesseans, I say contact Senator Lamar Alexander(R) Tennessee > http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/ inform him that you only want what he has, good health care insurance, that is affordable. Then contact Senator Bob Corker (R) Tennessee > > >>>>>>>>> >>>

http://www.corker.senate.gov/public/ and tell him the same thing.

P.S. Thank You, President Obama for trying !

____________________________________________________________

Letter from Senator Lamar Alexander(R)Tennessee, I received within minutes of the summit closing !

Today, I delivered opening remarks on behalf of congressional Republicans at the White House’s health care summit. Below you’ll find a copy of my remarks at the White House, as well as a Web link to a video of those remarks.
I thought you might be interested to know that I will be appearing on ABC’s “This Week” with host Elizabeth Vargas on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern (9:00 a.m. Central) to discuss the summit – including Republicans’ challenge to Democrats that they scrap their bill, start over and move step by step in the right direction on reforms that will lower health care costs.
I’ve also attached a letter I sent to the President today explaining why premiums will increase under the Democratic bill.

Sincerely,
Lamar Alexander

For video of my remarks at the White House Summit, please click here.
For a full transcript of my remarks, please click here or see below:
“Mr. President, thank you very much for the invitation. Several of us were a part of the summits that you had a year ago, and so I've been asked to try to express what Republicans believe about where we've gotten since then. As a former governor, I also want to try to represent governors’ views, because they have a big stake in this; I know you met with some governors just in the last few days. We also believe that our views represent the views of a great number of the American people who have tried to say in every way they know how – through town meetings, through surveys, through elections in Virginia and New Jersey and Massachusetts, that they oppose the health care bill that passed the Senate on Christmas Eve.
“And more importantly, we believe we have a better idea. And that's to take many of the examples that you just mentioned about health care costs and make that our goal: reducing health care costs. We need to start over and go step by step toward that goal. And we would like to briefly mention –others will talk more about it as we go along—what those ideas are.
“I would like to begin with a story. When I was elected governor, some of the media went up to the Democratic leaders in the legislature and said, ‘What are you going to do with this new young Republican governor?’ And they said, ‘We’re going help him, because if he succeeds, our state succeeds.’ And they did that—that’s the way we worked for eight years. But often, they had to persuade me to change my direction to get our state where it needed to go. I would like to say the same thing to you. I mean, we want you to succeed. Because if you succeed, our country succeeds. But we would like respectfully to change the direction you're going on health care costs, and that's what I want to mention here the in next few minutes.
“I was trying to think if there were any kind of event that this could be compared with. And I was thinking of the Detroit Auto Show, that if you had invited us out to watch you unveil the latest model that you and your engineers had created, and asked us to help sell it to the American people. When we look at it, it’s the same model we saw last year. We didn't like it, and neither did they, because we don't think it gets us where we need to go, and we can't afford it. As they also say in Detroit, ‘We think we have a better idea.’
“Your stories are a lot like the stories I heard when I went home for Christmas after we had 25 days of consecutive debate and voted on Christmas Eve on health care. A friend of mine from Tullahoma, Tennessee, said, ‘I hope you'll kill that health care bill.’ Then before the words rattled out of his mouth, he said, ‘But, we've got to do something about health care costs. My wife has breast cancer. She got it 11 years ago and our insurance is $2,000 a month. We couldn't afford it if our employer weren't helping us do that. So we've got to do something.’ That's where we are, but to do that, we have to start by taking the current bill and putting it on the shelf and starting from a clean sheet of paper.
“Now, you have presented ideas. There's an 11-page memo—I think it’s important for the people to understand that there's not a presidential bill; there are good suggestions and ideas on the web. It’s a lot like the Senate bill. It has more taxes, more subsidies, more spending. So what that means is, when it's written, it will be 2,700 pages, more or less. It will probably have a lot of surprises in it. It means it will cut Medicare by about half a trillion dollars and spend most of that on new programs, not on Medicare and making it stronger, even though it's going broke in 2015. It means there will be about a half trillion dollars of new taxes in it. It means that for millions of Americans, premiums will go up, because when people pay those new taxes, premiums will go up, and they will also go up because of the government mandates. It means that from a governor's point of view, it’s going to be what our Democratic governor calls the ‘mother of all unfunded mandates.’
“Nothing used to make me madder as a governor than when Washington politicians would get together, pass a bill, take credit for it, and send me the bill to pay. That’s exactly what this does, with the expansion of Medicaid. In addition, it dumps 15 to 18 million low-income Americans into a Medicaid program that none of us want to be a part of, because 50 percent of doctors won't see new patients. So it’s like giving someone a ticket to a bus line where the buses only run half the time.
“When fully implemented, the bill would spend about $2.5 trillion a year, and it still has sweetheart deals in it—one is out, some are still in. What's fair about taxpayers in Louisiana paying less than taxpayers in Tennessee? What's fair about protecting seniors in Florida and not protecting seniors in California and Illinois and Wyoming?
“Our view, with all respect, is that this is a car that can't be recalled and fixed, and that we ought to start over. But we’d like to start over. When I go down to the Senate floor, I’ve been there a lot on this issue, some of my Democratic friends will say, ‘Well, Lamar, where's the Republican comprehensive bill?’ And I say back, ‘Well, if it you're waiting for Mitch McConnell to roll in a wheelbarrow with a 2,700-page Republican comprehensive bill, it's not going to happen because we have come to the conclusion Congress doesn’t do comprehensive well.’ We have watched the comprehensive economy-wide, cap and trade; we have watched the comprehensive immigration bill, we have the best Senators we have got working on that in a bipartisan way; we have watched the comprehensive health care bill. And they fall of their own weight.
“Our country is too big, too complicated, too decentralized for Washington to write a few rules about remaking 17 percent of the economy all at once. That sort of thinking works in a classroom, but it doesn't work very well in our big, complicated country. It doesn't work for most of us and if you look around the table -- and I'm sure it's true on the Democratic side -- we have got shoe store owners and small business people and former county judges and we've got three doctors. We've got people who are used to solving problems, step by step.
“That’s why we said ‘step by step’ 173 times on the Senate floor in the last six months of last year in support of our step-by-step plan for reducing health care costs. I would like to just mention those in a sentence or two:
First, you mentioned Mike Enzi’s work on the small business health care plan. That’s a good start. It came up in the Senate. He will explain why it covers more people, costs less, and helps small businesses offer insurance.
Two, helping Americans buy insurance across state lines. You’ve mentioned that yourself. Most of the governors I've talked to think that would be a good way to increase competition.
Number three, put an end to junk lawsuits against doctors. In our state, half the counties’ pregnant women have to drive to the big city to have prenatal health care or to have their baby, because the medical malpractice suits have driven up the insurance policies so high that doctors leave the rural counties.
Number four, give states incentives to lower costs.
Number five, expanding health savings accounts.
Number six, House Republicans have some ideas about how my friend in Tullahoma can continue to afford insurance for his wife who has had breast cancer; because she has a preexisting condition, it makes it more difficult to buy insurance.
“So there're six ideas—they’re just six steps. Maybe the first six, but combined with six others and six more and six others, they get us in the right direction.
“Now, some say we need to rein in the insurance companies; maybe we do. But I think it's important to note if we took all of the profits of the health insurance companies entirely away, every single penny of it, we could pay for two days of health insurance for Americans. And that would leave 363 days with costs that are too high. So that’s why we continue to insist that as much as we want to expand access and to do other things in health care, that we shouldn't expand a system that's this expensive, that the best way to increase access is to reduce costs.
“Now, in conclusion, I have a suggestion and a request for how to make this a bipartisan and truly productive session. And I hope that those who are here will agree, I’ve got a pretty good record of working across party lines, and of supporting the president when I believe he's right, even though other members of my party might not on that occasion. And my request is this: before we go further today, that the Democratic Congressional leaders and you, Mr. President, renounce this idea of going back to the Congress and jamming your bill through on a partisan vote through a little-used process we call reconciliation.
“You can say that this process has been used before, and that would be right, but it’s never been used for anything like this. It’s not appropriate to use to rewrite the rules for 17 percent of the economy. Senator Byrd, who is the constitutional historian of the Senate, has said that it would be an outrage to run the health care bill through the Senate like a freight train with this process. The Senate is the only place where the rights to the minority are protected, and sometimes, as Senator Byrd has said, the minority can be right.
“I remember reading Alexis de Tocqueville’s book Democracy in America, in which he said that the greatest threat to the American democracy would be the ‘tyranny of the majority.’
“When Republicans were trying to change the rules a few years ago, you and I were both there. Senator McCain was very involved in that – getting a majority vote for judges. Then-Senator Obama said the following, ‘What we worry about is essentially having two chambers, the House and the Senate, who are simply majoritarian, absolute power on either side. That's just not what the founders intended.’ Which is another way to saying that the founders intended the Senate to be a place where the majority didn't rule on big issues.
“Senator Reid in his book, writing about the ‘Gang of 14,’ said that the end of the filibuster requiring 60 votes to pass a bill ‘would be the end of the United States Senate.’ And I think that's why Lyndon Johnson, in the ‘60s, wrote the civil rights bill in Everett Dirksen’s office, the Republican Leader, because he understood that by having a bipartisan bill, not only would pass it, but it would help the country accept it. Senator Pat Moynihan has said before he died that he couldn't remember a big piece of social legislation that passed that wasn't bipartisan.
“And after World War II, in this very house and in the room back over here, Democratic President Truman's Secretary of State, General Marshall, would meet once a week with Senator Vandenberg, the Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and write the Marshall Plan. And General Marshall said that sometimes Van was my right hand, and sometimes he was his right hand.
“And we know how [Congressmen] John Boehner and George Miller did that on No Child Left Behind. [Senators] Mike Enzi and Ted Kennedy wrote 35 bills together; you mentioned that in your opening remarks. You and I and many other others worked together on the America COMPETES Act. We know how to do that – and we can do that on health care as well.
“But to do that, we'll have to renounce jamming it through in a partisan way. And if we don't, then the rest of what we do today will not be relevant. The only thing bipartisan will be the opposition to the bill, and we'll be saying to the American people—who I've tried to say this in every way they know how -- town halls and elections and surveys—that they don't want this bill, that they would like for us to start over. So if we can do that – start over – we can write a health care bill. It means putting aside jamming it through. It means working together the way General Marshall and Senator Vandenberg did. It means reducing health care costs and making that our goal for now, not focusing on the other goals. And it means going step by step together to re-earn the trust of the American people. We would like to do that, and we appreciate the opportunity that you have given us today to say what our ideas are, and to move forward. Thank you very much.”

Editorial : Whew ; Did you read all of it ? It basically says, Kill Health Care ! Pure Crap.

Goodyear Has New CEO ? Maybe !

Kramer Elected to Succeed Keegan as CEO of Goodyear
Associated Press, 02.24.10
AKRON, Ohio --

Goodyear says chief operating officer Richard J. Kramer has been elected as chief executive and president effective April 13. Kramer will succeed Robert J. Keegan, who will remain Executive Chairman of the Board. Akron-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced the moves Wednesday. The 46-year-old Kramer became COO last June. He spent the previous three years leading the company's North American tire business. The 62-year-old Keegan joined Goodyear in 2000 as chief operating officer. He became president and CEO in 2003 and chairman of the board later that year. Goodyear has about 69,000 employees and has production facilities in 23 countries. Its shares rose 22 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $12.96 in morning trading.

Editorial : This move can be good or it can be bad ! Remember, Keegan hired Kramer ~ Keegan is going to keep his hand in the Company, as Executive Chairman of the Board ! It remains to be seen, how much power he has retained.

President Obama Unveils Health Care Plan

President Obama Unveils Health Plan

Proposal lowers Cadillac tax, boosts regulation.
President Obama has laid out his plan on health care ahead of Thursday's bipartisan summit.The proposal, posted to the White House Web site Monday morning, closely follows the Senate version of the bill (HR 3590) with some changes to appease House Democrats. It is designed to serve as a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Here are some highlights:

Cadillac tax change. Under the Obama plan, the tax on expensive health insurance plans won't kick in until 2018 and would affect fewer people.

Payroll tax expansion. To make up for the lost revenue from the Cadillac tax, the President has proposed increasing the payroll tax employers pay for Medicare.

Higher cost. The plan would cost $950 billion over 10 years, slightly more than the $900 billion limit President Obama had proposed. White House officials said it would reduce the federal budget deficit by $100 billion over that time.

Expanded coverage. The officials added that 31 million more Americans will be insured under the plan, which expands federal subsidies for low-income Americans.

State subsidies. The plan offers full federal support for four years to expand Medicaid in all 50 states, not just Nebraska as proposed in the Senate plan.

Denials and mandate. Insurance companies would no longer be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. To balance the cost of this, the President's plan penalizes people without insurance to encourage them to buy a plan.

Premium hike controls. Federal regulators would have more power to stop insurance companies from increasing health insurance premiums, traditionally the realm of state governments.

Editorial : If you like his health care plan, please click here and inform your elected representatives ! > Pass Obama's Health Plan <>

Goodyear Doing Better ?

Fitch ups Goodyear Rating Outlook on Debt Cut

Associated Press, 02.22.10,
NEW YORK --

Credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings said Monday it upgraded its ratings outlook on Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and a European joint venture, citing a debt reduction in the fourth quarter. Fitch raised its outlook to "stable" from "negative" on Goodyear and on Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe BV. It also affirmed its "B+" issuer default rating on Goodyear. The rating is non-investment, or junk, grade.The ratings cover roughly $4.5 billion in debt as of Dec. 31, Fitch said. Fitch said the outlook upgrade reflects Goodyear's $1.4 billion debt reduction in the fourth quarter. The agency also said the company's markets are "moderating" and profitability will improve in 2010. However, Fitch cited other credit concerns, including weak free cash flow, an underfunded pension, high leverage and rising raw material costs. Last week, Goodyear reported a quarterly profit of $107 million, or 44 cents per share, on sales of $4.4 billion. The results beat most expectations. Shares of Goodyear fell 10 cents to $13.36 in afternoon trading.

Health Care <> Republicans Obstruct

HHS Report Slams Insurers Premium Hikes While Pocketing Record Profits
by Mike Hall, Feb 19, 2010

Profits for the nation’s 10 largest health insurance companies increased 250 percent between 2000 and 2009—10 times faster than inflation—but that hasn’t stopped the private insurance industry from trying to reach even deeper into consumers’ pocketbooks with huge premium increases. According to a new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the nation’s five largest insurance companies took in combined profits of $12.2 billion last year, up 56 percent over 2008.But companies such as Anthem Blue Cross of California, owned by WellPoint, which enjoyed a $4.7 billion profit in 2009, want more. Anthem announced this month it would raise premiums on 800,000 Californians by as much as 39 percent. Insurers in several other states are seeking similar hikes. Says HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius: Over the last year, America’s largest insurance companies have requested premium increases of 56 percent in Michigan, 24 percent in Connecticut, 23 percent in Maine, 20 percent in Oregon, and 16 percent in Rhode Island, to name just a few states. Premium increases have left thousands of families that are already struggling during the economic downturn with an unpleasant choice between fewer benefits, higher premiums, or having no insurance at all. Hard-working families deserve better.The HHS report says the increases are five to 10 times larger than the growth rate in national health expenditures and are “disturbing examples of the problems that make reforming our health insurance system more important than ever.” In California, after a huge public outcry and criticism from the Obama administration and Congress, Anthem delayed its rate increases and WellPoint CEO Angela Braly will soon appear before the U.S. House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee to answer questions about the premium hikes. Click here for the full HHS report.
In a related health care development, 8.5 million seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in the private for-profit Medicare Advantage programs are seeing their premiums jump by about 14 percent this year, but some may see rate increases as high as 31 percent, according to a report released today.
Leslie Spindle, vice president of Avalere Health, a data analysis firm that issued the report, told the Associated Press: These premium increases fit within a broader trend of increased financial pressure on the insured. We see very large premium increases and a continued upward creep in how much out-of-pocket expenses beneficiaries are expected to pay, such as co-payments. Medicare Advantage was designed as a pilot program to privatize Medicare during the Bush administration. It allows seniors to receive their benefits through private insurers who, in turn, are reimbursed by the federal government. But currently, the government pays private insurance companies, on average, 13 percent more for providing coverage to Medicare Advantage clients than it would pay for the same care under traditional Medicare. Says Medicare spokesman Peter Ashkenaz: The plans need to explain why these increases are necessary. Meanwhile, the health care reform debate reignites next week with a televised White House bipartisan health care reform summit. Prior to the Thursday event, the Obama administration is expected to unveil a new health care reform plan that combines elements of the House- and Senate-passed bills. News reports say Republicans also will present a plan. The details of the proposals are not known. But as AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said: The Massachusetts post-election polling made one thing clear: The country will not accept a tax on working families’ health care benefits.

Editorial : The republican Health-Care Reform, will be the same, Lets start over ! Interpreted = Kill Health Care Reform, Sink Obama ! Meamwhile you and I, do without ! If the republicans kill health care, I say, lets end their health care plan (The Best) that you and I pay for.

Organizing for America ! Health Care NOW !

You Are Invited to Attend an Organizing for America Event:

Topic: Health Care Reform
Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010
Time: 7:00pm.
Address: 215 Tower Rd., McKenzie, TN 38201
Phone: 731-431-0948

We are closer than ever to historic health insurance reform – reform that will extend coverage to more than 30 million Americans, provide security and stability to those who have health insurance, and shift power from insurance companies to consumers. Both the House and Senate versions of health insurance reform rest upon the following building blocks:

· Insurance reforms to protect consumers from insurance company worst-practices – like denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, capping total coverage, and dropping or watering down coverage when you get sick and need it most

· Consumer protections that will restrict how much of your premium dollars insurance companies can spend on marketing, profits, and salaries

· Creation of a health exchange to increase consumer choice and guarantee coverage

· Affordable health options, with subsidies for working families and a hardship waiver
· Tax credits to help small businesses afford coverage

· Making preventive care completely free – with no co-payments or deductibles

· Lowering the cost of health care for our seniors

· Improving the quality and extending the life of Medicare

· Ensuring that reform is not only fully paid for, but actually significantly reduces the federal deficit

Come help push it over the finish line!

Cris

Social Security Debt Commission ? Don`t Mess With Social Security !

President Establishes Debt Commission to Look at Social Security and Medicare

Yesterday, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order establishing a commission to tackle the federal debt. The commission’s purpose is to reduce the federal budget deficit from 10% to 3% by 2015 and to propose ways to contain costs related to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. As co-chairs of the commission, the president named former Bill Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former Republican Senator Alan Simpson. Bowles, president of the University of North Carolina, worked to pass the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 with Republicans in Congress when he was White House Chief of Staff. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2002 and 2004. Simpson served as a Wyoming senator from 1979 to 1997 and as Senate GOP Whip from 1985 to 1995. Retirees fully support President Obama on the critical need to reduce our nation’s budget deficit. Older Americans have always been uncomfortable with large debt, both in government and in their own families. We are, however, wary of the objectivity that Commission Co-Chair Alan K. Simpson will bring to this important assignment. As a Senator, Simpson referred to older Americans as ‘greedy geezers’ and launched bitter and protracted assaults against advocacy groups for seniors. Social Security benefits would have been cut under his plan to change the statistical formula used to calculate Cost-of-Living Adjustments.” We believe that if the Commission takes a thorough and honest look at Social Security and Medicare, it will conclude that these vital programs should be strengthened, not weakened. Social Security and Medicare are two of our nation’s greatest success stories, helping generations of seniors stay healthy and out of poverty.”

Editorial : The best way to keep Social Security solvent is to stop our President`s from acting, as if it were their own personal account and drawing money out of it, and never paying it back ! It started with President Eisenhower who borrowed from it to balance the budget and has continued to today ! President Bush II financed the Iraq war out of it. They Do not Pay It Back !

Keep It Made In America

Keep it Made in America

Dear Don,

The Whirlpool Corp. is closing a refrigerator manufacturing plant in Evansville, Ind., putting more than 1,100 people out of work. Even worse, Whirlpool will continue to produce these refrigerators, but not in Evansville and not anywhere else in America. They are planning to manufacture them in Mexico, where weaker labor and environmental laws make them "cheaper" for Whirlpool to produce.This is outrageous and unacceptable, especially in light of Whirlpool's profitability and the $19 million dollars in economic recovery money Whirlpool recently received from the federal government as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Those are OUR economic recovery funds, not Mexico's.To protest Whirlpool's decisions and demand good jobs in America, I'm heading to Evansville next Friday to rally and march with local workers and labor leaders--and I'd like you to join me. No, I'm not asking you to join me in person, but I Would like you to sign a petition in solidarity with the Evansville workers for me to deliver to Whirlpool's management.Click here to sign our petition to Whirlpool: Keep It Made in America: Save Our Jobs:http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/evansville/wxews8b447dmjbi6?Too many people have lost their jobs. Too many jobs have been sent overseas. Enough is enough. Whirlpool's management can't take our money, shut down our factories and lay off our workers.It's not acceptable--and together we're going to deliver a loud and clear message to Whirlpool: Keep It Made in America and Save Our Jobs. Sign our petition today:http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/evansville/wxews8b447dmjbi6 ?Tell your friends to sign the petition in solidarity :http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/evansville/forward/wxews8b447dmjbi6?Together we will fight against corporate greed and for good jobs. Together we will rebuild the American economy, because everyone deserves a good job NOW!

In solidarity,

Richard L. Trumka AFL-CIO President

P.S. Please sign the petition today:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/evansville/wxews8b447dmjbi6?. Our power is in our numbers. Together we can make a difference.--------------------------------------------------

District#9~Tennessee, Memphis & Shelby County - Stimulous Report...

Transparent Stimulous Report From Cong. Steve Cohen

On the anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, I released the following report on how ARRA funding is making a difference in the 9th District. To date, more than $350 million in federal funding has already been awarded, and millions more will be awarded in the coming months. Like President Obama, I believe that constituents deserve to know how ARRA funding is being spent. Over the last year, I’ve posted the funding awards, along with grant awards and Congressional-directed spending projects, on my website. I was proud to vote for the ARRA. In the last year it has made a difference in the 9th District -- from creating and saving jobs, promoting economic development, investing in our transportation infrastructure, modernizing our schools and public housing, making our streets safer, or providing unemployment assistance or tax cuts to families. I’ve been working closely with state and local officials to make sure that Recovery Act funding gets to the people and businesses that need it the most during these tough economic times. I’m not going to leave any dollar on the table that would help the 9th District, and am determined to make sure that our district gets every penny of every dollar it is entitled to under the ARRA. Leading national economists agree that the ARRA is making a difference and pulled our national economy back from the brink of recession. However, even before the national economy went into recession, too many families were struggling in the 9th District. While I believe that ARRA has helped, I also believe that there is still much more work to be done. As a member of the Congressional JOBS Now! Caucus, job creation for the 9th District is a top priority of mine. Moving forward, I urge the Senate to pass the Main Street for Jobs Act, which I voted for in December, to jump start these efforts.

As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen, Member of Congress~District#9-Tennessee
___________________________________________________________________
KEY HIGHLIGHTSA Full List of Funding and Projects Follows:


• 98,000 Social Security, Veterans and Railroad Retirees received a one time $250 payment.
• 227,000 constituents received the Making Work Pay Tax Credit which increased the amount of their pay check by $400 to $800 a year.
•$107,754,825 for education investments, including saving or creating teaching jobs in the Memphis City and Shelby County Schools.
•$98,369,000 in Recovery Zone Bonds to help jump-start construction projects, invest in job training programs, and promote economic recovery.
•$45,261,323 for housing investments to renovate public housing units, expand low-income housing opportunities, provide assistance to persons with HIV/AIDS, homelessness assistance programs, and community development initiatives.
•$34,737,437 in transportation funding to extend Memphis’s prominence as America’s Distribution Hub by investing in roads, rivers, runways and railroads and to improve public transportation.
•$6,335,093 in COPS grants to hire 37 new Memphis Police Officers for the next three years.
•$5,100,000 to fund MLGW Smart Grid upgrade to lower consumer utility bills.
•$4.9 million to create additional summer youth job opportunities in Memphis.• $2,163,973 to renovate Memphis VA Medical center and purchase new CAT scanner, ultrasound equipment and repair medical gas system.

American Reinvestment and Recovery Act:
Criminal Justice: $12,457,133 Crime Prevention
•$6,122,040 to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system. Distribution will be through Operation Safe Community.
Recovery Funds to Hire 37 New Police Officers.
•$6,335,093 to provide increased funding for COPS grants to provide 100 percent of the approved salary and benefits for entry level officer positions over a three year period. Police departments receiving the grants will then be required to retain the grant funded positions for a fourth year.

Education: $107,754,825 Memphis City Schools:

•$91,722,565 for emergency education funding released for Memphis City Schools (MCS) to help save education-related jobs and maintain programs for low-income students and students with disabilities.
•$59,472,565 in Title I funds; and,
•$32,250,000 in funding for disabled students (IDEA funds). Shelby County Schools• $13,854,621 for emergency education funding released for Memphis City Schools (MCS) to help save education-related jobs and maintain programs for low-income students and students with disabilities.
•$4,327,621 in Title I funds; and, • $9,527,000 in IDEA funding. Porter-Leath Children Center
•$70,236 for Head Start, a program that promotes school readiness and provides a comprehensive array of health, nutritional and social services for preschoolers.
Shelby County Government:
•$1,611,951 for early head start expansion. Early Head Start is a federally funded community-based program for low-income families with infants, toddlers and pregnant women. Its mission is to promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, to enhance the development of very young children, and to promote healthy family functioning.
University of Memphis:
•$495,452 for the Math Dept. at the University of Memphis to advance "graph theory"- a new branch of mathematics used by the intelligence community - and to create better traffic patterns.
Arts:
$125,000 Beale Street Caravan, Inc.
•$25,000 to help preserve non-profit jobs that promote the arts and humanities that could be lost due to a decrease in fundraising contributions from the National Endowment of the Arts. Memphis Orchestral Society:
•$50,000 to help preserve non-profit jobs that promote the arts and humanities that could be lost due to a decrease in fundraising contributions from the National Endowment of the Arts. Center for Southern Folklore:
•$50,000 to help preserve non-profit jobs that promote the arts and humanities that could be lost due to a decrease in fundraising contributions, the National Endowment of the Arts.
Energy:
$10,120,103 Energy Efficiency
•$7,189,000 to fund projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency nationwide.
•$2,931,103 for the Memphis Bioworks Foundation to leverage existing curricula and expertise coupled with input from employer partners to produce new or modified training programs for solar installation, agricultural production for biomass crops, sustainable design and construction, chemical processing and plant process operations.
General Welfare:
$4,191,166 Emergency Food and Shelter
•$320,202 to help our most vulnerable citizens weather this storm by providing emergency food and shelter to those in need.Women's Shelters
•$301,414 to support communities in their efforts to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement, prosecution strategies and victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women.
Emergency Shelter Grants:
•$3,569,550 to provide annual grants to state, local, and private entities to improve the quality and number of emergency homeless shelters.
Housing:
$45,261,323 Memphis Housing Authority
•$13,574,402 to substantially modernize tens of thousands of public housing units. Funds give priority to projects that are ready to begin construction rapidly. Will also be used to prioritize construction that will increase energy efficiency and lower the long term costs of operating public housing. Funding can be expected to result in providing employment for thousands of construction workers.
•$13,259,030 for 2009 Recovery Act Capital Fund Formula Program:
provide funds for capital and management activities, including modernization and development of public housing.
HOME Program:
•$4,950,415 to help expand the supply of decent, affordable housing to low and very low income families by providing grants to states and local governments to fund housing programs that meet local needs and priorities. Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program
•$2,019,277 to provide housing assistance and related supportive services to local units of government, states, and non-profit organizations for projects that benefit low income persons medically diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Help Improve Homelessness:
•$3,329,685 will be used to help re-house families who fall into homelessness or prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place.Community Development Block Grants
•$8,128,514 to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment.
Healthcare:
$1,115,468UT Health Science Center and University of Memphis Math Department
•$1,115,468 to spur health care and math research.
Economic Development: $98,369,000Recovery Zone Bonds.
•$98,369,000 to help jump-start construction projects, invest in job training programs, and promote economic recovery in the Ninth District.
Small Business:
$500,000Small Business Loans
•$35,000 per business allows small firms to take out loans of $35,000 to pay down existing business debts.Borrowers pay no interest on the ARC loans and repayment does not begin for one year.
Memphis Incubator Systems Inc.
• $500,000 to support renovation of an existing business incubator for expansion to attract and grow more local small businesses.
Social Security:
$24,550,000SS and SSI Checks
•One time $250 checks went to over 98,000 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries in the 9th District.
Transportation:
$34,737,437 Memphis Transit Authority
•$17,772,564 to replace 35 buses and install advanced transportation technology on transit vehicles and trolleys.
TN Department for "Shovel Ready" road projects:
•$1,132,123 for pavement improvements between Isabelle Street to White Station Rd. • $4,163,630 for pavement improvements from Madison Ave. to I-55 and on I-55 from Nonconnah Creek to I-240.
•$133,550 for pavement improvements from the Loosahatchie River Bridge to the Millington City Limits.
•$31,650 for pavement improvements from the CSX Railroad to I-40 in Arlington.
•$7,193 for pavement improvements from Griffin Road to Milton Wilson Rd in Arlington.
•$115,891 for pavement improvements from Hgwy 51 to Navy Rd in Millington.
•$6,240 for repairs to the bridge at Big Creek in Millington.
•$17,760 for pavement improvements from Highway 51 to Raleigh-Millington Rd.
•$33,000 for pavement improvements from US-51 to East of Veterans Parkway in Millington.
•$61,000 for pavement improvements from Ellendale Road to Springtree Dr. and from Rockyford Road to West of Gailyn Manor in Bartlett.
•$108,700 for pavement improvements from Summer Avenue to Yale Rd.
•$130,000 for pavement improvements from Allenby Road to Wolf River Blvd in Germantown.
•$500,000 for Emerge Memphis to Promote Economic Development.
•$44,380 for Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities in Lakeland. ASRC Management Services
•$2,000 for GNAS Battery Replacement.GSA
•$3,234,416 for the Memphis Clifford Davis-Odell Horton Federal. Bldg.Jacobs Engineering
•$550,000 for elevator replacement.
Army Corps:
•$300,000 for mapping.
•$650,000 for Memphis Harbor, McKellar Lake.
•$5,000,840 for J Percy Priest Dam and Reservoir.
•$653,000 for Wolf River Harbor.AMTRAK
•$11,000 for 1 Kiosk at Memphis, TN station.
•$30,000 for Mobility First:
New wheelchair lift and enclosure.
•$41,000 to install new signage and wheel chair ramp at the station.FAA
•$7,500 for UIS- Remove & Replace HVAC at unmanned Nav Facilities.
Veteran’s Affairs:
$2,265,973 Department of Veterans Affairs
•$969,973 to renovate CAT scanner and Ultrasound equipment.
•$668,000 to repair and Upgrade Medical Gas System.
•$280,000 to construct Intensive Care Unit Family Waiting Rooms.
•$246,000 to replace the Water Cooled Condensers.
National Cemetery Administration:
•$40,000 to repair the State of Illinois Memorial
•$25,000 to repair the Minnesota Monument
•$10,000 to administer and maintain buildings
•$27,000 to purchase a utility vehicle

Editorial : Now This is Transparency ! Thanks Cong. Cohen !

Goodyear 4th. Quarter Profit

Associated Press

Goodyear Global Sales Offset Rattled US Automakers

By THOMAS J. SHEERAN , 02.18.10

CLEVELAND --

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., helped by growing sales in emerging markets, reported a fourth-quarter profit Thursday that easily beat most expectations. Even though sales remain weak in North America and Europe, the tire company based in Akron, Ohio, reported an 8 percent increase in volume due to growing global demand. In Asia, Goodyear reported the volume of new equipment rose 36 percent, while North America recorded a decline of 7 percent.The company said it earned $107 million, or 44 cents per share, on sales of $4.4 billion in the three-month period that ended Dec. 31. Goodyear lost $330 million, or $1.37 per share, on fourth-quarter 2008 sales of $4.1 billion. After one-time charges, Goodyear earned 14 cents per share. Analysts expected, on average, a loss of 9 cents and Goodyear shares rose 2 percent in early trading. Sales have been dragged down for most of the year by the recession and the company reported losses in two of three earlier quarters. For the year, Goodyear lost $375 million, or $1.55 per share, on sales of $16.3 billion, compared with a 2008 loss of $77 million, or 32 cents per share, on sales of $19.5 billion. Quarterly results also were helped by improved margins, lower raw material expenses and cost-cutting. Goodyear reduced its work force by about 5,700 in 2009 to about 70,000. Goodyear sales increased 7 percent over the fourth quarter of 2008 and the number of tires sold increased 8 percent. Chairman and CEO Robert J. Keegan said there are signs of recovering demand."The degree of recovery, however, varies considerably by geography and product segment."The key North American market improved with losses of $27 million, compared with a fourth-quarter 2008 loss of $193 million. North American sales fell from $1.9 billion to $1.8 billion but the number of tires sold was unchanged. Company shares rose 25 cents to $14.15 Thursday.
Goodyear has nearly 70,000 employees and has production facilities in 24 countries.

District#8~Tennessee - Recent Votes !

Tennessee Senators Part of Problem, Not Part of the Solution !

Recent Senate Votes:

Cloture Motion, Nomination of Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board - Vote Rejected (52-33, 15 Not Voting)The Senate rejected this motion to move forward on the nomination of Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board. Sen. Lamar Alexander voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Bob Corker voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Our Politicians Gone Amuck ? You Bet`Cha !

Our Politicians Gone Amuck !

Nancy has aroused the emotions of one individual from CNN--NOT from Fox. I love a good political observation based on TRUTH !

Watch this short CNN news report and listen carefully to what the reporter says at the end of the report. You would expect to maybe hear his comment made on FOX but not CNN ! Although he specifically Names Nancy Pelosi, Folks they all do it ! They can spend our money like wild fire, but they can`t get Health-Care passed. If this doesn't get your blood boiling, nothing will ! Click on the link below or the title of this article.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=A6_xgKWzhRw

Editorial : The above, Thanks to my good friend (Linda B.) in Alabama !

Filibuster`s and Deals ~ You Bet`Cha ! Democrats Defect and Get Sweet Deals !

No Republicans Whined When Bush Made 171 Recess Appointments
by Mike Hall, Feb 12, 2010

Earlier this week, Republicans proved the lesson we all learned in school, “the majority rules,” doesn’t apply to the U.S. Senate. With every single Republican vote and two from defecting Democrats (see below), Republicans sustained a filibuster against Craig Becker’s nomination to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). After the vote, President Obama cited the filibuster against Becker and Republican holds on more than 60 of his nominees and said he would consider using recess appointment strategy to break the stranglehold the Republican minority has put on the nominees.When Congress is in recess, as it will be next week, a president may appoint someone to a post without congressional action. The recess appointment lasts through the current session of Congress. If Obama follows through and appoints Becker or other blocked nominees, get ready for another dose of Republican hypocrisy as they undoubtedly will join with their corporate allies to whine about how the unfairness of recess appointments. Of course they would be suffering from a convenient group memory loss. President George W. Bush not only made 171 recess appointments—Obama has not made any—Bush’s very first recess appointment was to the NLRB. On Aug. 31, 2001, he appointed Peter J. Hurtgen to be chairman of the NLRB. That was just the start of his attempt to pack the board. He named seven other nominees to the NLRB via recess appointments. No one seems to recall any Republican hue and cry over those recess appointments. The major difference is Bush’s picks were demonstrably pro-corporate and Chamber of Commerce approved. Becker scares Republicans and their big business buddies because of his background as labor lawyer and advocate for workers. But as he told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee during his confirmation hearing: I fully understand that, if confirmed, I will occupy a position far different from the positions I have occupied as a scholar, teacher, and advocate…if confirmed I will have a duty to implement the intent of Congress as expressed in the law, to consider impartially all views appropriately expressed to the Board. Following the vote, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said: We support President Obama’s expressed willingness to make recess appointments of critical posts in the federal government if that’s what it takes to get around minority delay and obstruction. The Republican-led filibuster has put political interests over the needs of America’s working families. For more than two years, the NLRB has had only two of its five members. Without a fully staffed NLRB, working families face a major disadvantage in winning justice in the workplace. Those two defecting Democrats who supported the filibuster were Ben Nelson(D) (Neb.) and Blanche Lincoln(D) (Ark.). Give them a call and tell them how disappointed you are that they turned their backs back on working families. Nelson’s office phone is 202-224-6551 and Lincoln’s is 202-224-4843.

Editorial : Senator Ben Nelson(D) and Senator Blanche Lincoln(D) need another deal for their States. They side with Republicans and get sweet deals. Nebraska and Arkansas voters need to remember these two Senators ! VOTE THEM OUT ! Pictures above.

Senate Filibuster ~ What is It ?

What is a Senate Filibuster ?

A filibuster is a tactic used by the Senate's minority to delay or defeat a bill or amendment. Under Senate rules, a final up-or-down vote on a bill cannot be taken until Senators agree to end debate on it. A filibuster takes advantage of this rule to prolong debate indefinitely. The vote to end debate is known as cloture, from the French word for "ending." Although most votes in the Senate are decided by a simple majority of 51 votes, it takes three-fifths of the "duly chosen and sworn" senators to pass cloture. In practice, that usually means 60 out of 100 senators, regardless of whether they are present for the vote. The only time it would take fewer than 60 votes is if a Senate seat were vacant due to death or a disputed election, for example. In today's political climate, the threat of a filibuster usually causes the Senate majority leader to count cloture votes. If there are not 60 votes, a bill will probably not make it to the floor since that would clog up the calendar, hurting the chances of other legislation.

Editorial : And we wonder why nothing gets done in Washington D.C. ? Politics as usual !

How Tennessee Legislator`s Vote...Looky Here !

Wanna Know How your Tennessee Legislator Votes ?
By Don Jones= Underdog

It seems that most of us are so busy, we do not have time to know how those in Nashville, who represent us ? VOTE ! On issues that directly affect you/us. However, a friend of mine sent me this site > http://www.tennesseevotes.org/ <

For those of you who wish to follow what your legislators are doing, well, looky here:http://www.tennesseevotes.org/This will be extremely helpful, especially for those of us outside of Nashville. You can send messages and phone your representative by going to the following site >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

> http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/government/elected.html <> http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/government/elected.html <

The Picture on the left is my State Senator Roy Herron 24th. District, the one on the right is my State Representative Mark Maddox 76th. District. You can look yours up by going to the above web-site ! I hope this helps, and that you will get in touch with your elected representatives ! Tennessee for Tennesseans !

Congressional District#9~Memphis Shelby County Tennessee

District#9~Tennessee~Memphis Tennessee
Congressman Steve Cohen

Headlines : 9th District Issues Meeting
Constituent Meetings
Investing in Trails
Media Appearances
NFL Award

This week votes in the House of Representatives were postponed because of the historic snowstorm that hit the nation’s capital. In the midst of the storm, my colleagues and I received word that Congressman Jack Murtha (D-PA) had passed away. Congressman Murtha was the first Vietnam veteran elected to serve in Congress and was a friend to me and the military men and women of the 9th District. I will be attending his funeral next week in Johnstown, PA.9th District Issues MeetingToday, I held my annual 9th District Issues Meeting in my Memphis office. More than 200 constituents stopped by to share their views with me on a number of issues including health care, jobs, education, crime, and to learn more about the federal grants and appropriations process. Many constituents also came to meet with my District Office staff and seek help in resolving Medicare, veterans benefits, and Social Security issues. Constituent MeetingsWhile votes were postponed in Washington, I maintained a full schedule this week in Memphis meeting with constituents and participating in a number of community events. Last Friday, I spoke to 50 students at Colonial Middle School who are enrolled in the National Efficacious Leaders and Professionals Club (NELP). The Club emphasizes seven core pillars: citizenship, efficacy, integrity, leadership, professionalism, scholarship and service. It was a pleasure meeting these young leaders. On Monday, I met with the Chairman of the The MED to discuss ongoing efforts to get the hospital the funding it needs. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I’ve been meeting with a number of people in Washington, including the White House, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Speaker Pelosi and my colleagues in the Congress to resolve funding problems facing the hospital, especially the lack of a disproportionate share funding solution. On Wednesday, I met with students at LeMoyne-Owen who are enrolled in the college’s TRIO program – a federally-funded college opportunity that encourages disadvantaged students to pursue a college education. I commend the staff of LeMoyne-Owen’s Student Support Services program for all their hard work.On Thursday, I attended Shelby County’s Office of Early Childhood and Youth’s special screening of the infant mortality movie, “Crisis in the Crib” that was produced by Tonya Lee, wife of Spike Lee, as part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services “A Healthy Baby Begins With You Campaign.” I am the author of the NEWBORN Act which would create 15-pilot programs across the country, including Memphis, which would reduce the rate of infant mortality in our nation. I am pleased that this bill was included in the health care reform bill that passed the House last year. I also attended a crime forum hosted by the Hadassah’s Citizen Safety Coalition at the Memphis Jewish Community Center on Thursday evening. The event was well attended and included Mayors Wharton and Ford, Sheriff Mark Luttrell, Police Director Larry Godwin, and District Attorney General Bill Gibbons. Investing in Trails I joined Mayor AC Wharton, Memphis Park Services Director Cyndy Buchanan, Lauren Taylor of the Hyde Foundation and Hugh Fraser president of Wolf River Conservancy for the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony of the Wolf River Greenway Trail on Wednesday. When the trail is completed, it will span 22-miles and connect parks and neighborhoods from Collierville to the Mississippi River. On Thursday, I participated in the groundbreaking for the Shelby Farms Greenline – a seven mile trail that will connect Midtown to Shelby Farms Park. As a State Senator, I passed the bill to create and name the Lucius Burch Natural Area. During the groundbreaking ceremony, I recalled the work of Mr. Burch and John Vergos both of whom 37 years ago worked to preserve Shelby Farms for public use. I also recalled the work of Pitt Hyde and his promotion of public-private partnerships that have made a difference in our community from support of the arts to education to conservation to the Memphis Grizzlies and FedEx Forum. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am working to promote more projects like these that will provide additional recreation, transportation, and economic development opportunities in the 9th District. In December, I authored legislation to create an Office of Livability at the U.S. Department of Transportation that will help in this effort and I’m pleased to report that President Obama has included the creation of this agency in his FY 2011 budget. Media Appearances I appeared on Fox News and Fox Business News to discuss President Obama’s commitment to signing a health care reform bill into law this year. I agree with the President that we’ve come too far to start over or walk away from the process.

As always, I remain,
Most sincerely,
Steve Cohen Member of Congress~ District#9~Tennessee~Memphis, Shelby County

Editorial : Wonder why I`m writing about a Congressman from Memphis ? You ever go to Memphis for medical reasons ? Better think about it ! We Tennesseans from outside of Memphis, must go to these medical facilities for treatment in Memphis Tennessee !