I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange
Comments
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Pip...you brought back to mind our wonderful Woody. He was a big black and white cat. such a sweetheart of a guy....so gentle and sweet. Three different times we thought he was ready for the Rainbow Bridge. We would get another kitten.....and lo and behold, he would perk right up and start to teach/mother the kitty. Recall little Tutti. Woody would let her play in the yard, but the minute one paw touched pavement he was right in her face pushing her back on the grass. He was amazing.
All your suggestions are great.
Jackie
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Wisc. lawmaker blocks cancer treatment bill after insurance lobbyist brother opposes it
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/17/wisc-lawmake...
C4C asked that someone post this on BCO. Well I tried to copy but couldn't so at least I have put up the link.
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Thanks Alyson! I just cannot understand how any lawmaker(s) would try to forbid those who cannot afford it, life-saving treatment. I guess it's a matter of "your house or your life - you choose", given that healthcare costs are the number #1 reason for bankruptcy in the U.S.
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Here is the story posted above, copied into text.
Wisc. lawmaker blocks cancer treatment bill after insurance lobbyist brother opposes it
By David Edwards
Monday, March 17, 2014 11:09 EDT
Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) — whose brother works as a lobbyist — last week blocked a bill that would have required health plans to cover chemotherapy drugs equally.Last year, lawmakers in Wisconsin moved to join 29 other states and pass the Cancer Treatment Fairness Act, which would treat chemotherapy pills taken orally the same as intravenous medications.
“Historically, cancer was always treated by intravenous medications, which are administered in the hospital or in the doctor’s office,” oncologist Dr. Parameswaran Hari told WITI. “So newer medications, which we call targeted medications are available only in oral form — so they just got coverage as if they would cover a diabetic medication or hypertension medication under the prescription benefit.”
This left many cancer patients paying tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket or unable to afford medication at all.
The bill before Wisconsin’s Senate would “prohibit higher co-payments regardless of the benefit category.”
While Fitzgerald has admitted that the bill has enough support to pass a bipartisan vote, he has refused to let it come before the Senate, saying a majority of Republicans do not support it.
On Wednesday, the Majority Leader called a phantom committee meeting to prevent votes from being taken on the bill, but he insisted that his lobbyist brother, who opposes the measure on behalf of insurance companies, had nothing to do with the move. If the legislation is not brought up for a vote by Tuesday, it will most likely be considered dead for this session.
In a Sunday editorial, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted that the connection between Fitzgerald and his brother’s insurance lobbying “looks suspicious and smacks of special interest politics.”
“This is a matter of fairness for people facing grave illness,” the editorial added. “Whatever his motivations, Fitzgerald is singlehandedly blocking a bill that most of his colleagues support and that could help people — probably some of his own constituents. He should allow the bill to come to the floor.”
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So, the "compassionate" Republicans are at it again. Not content with wrecking Wisconsin's economy (the state ranks 34th in job creation), the Fitzgerald bully-boys are now making sure that the insurance companies profit at the expense of cancer patients. And the Rethuglican administration of Snott Walker and his partners in crime in the Wisconsin legislature continue to desperately try to pass voter suppression bills. The latest is one that ends early voting on weekends - the very time that the working people in blue-collar jobs have time to go vote. Most of the early voting ballots in Milwaukee, for example, were cast on weekends. You know, if you have to disenfranchise people in order to win elections, your ideas suck, people hate you, and you are stealing elections because you can't win any other way.
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Morning Gals,
I read that article earlier this morning. Makes no sense why the WI state senate leader would veto this bill. He obviously does not have any family members struggling with cancer and paying for their treatment. I remember a dear friend of mine who was Stage IV lost her house to foreclosure because she couldn't afford the mortgage and the treatment for her cancer. And she had insurance through her work! I think of my Stage IV friends who are taking an oral chemo and pray this does not happen to them.
Weather sucks again today. There is now a huge sheet of ice covering an inch of snow. Poor dogs were slipping and sliding when they went out to pee this morning. I won't be able to walk them today .. not going to risk breaking my neck or hip on the paths. I was supposed to go up to Roanoke today as well, but will wait until tomorrow when it's not so icy out.
I am really looking forward to my trip to San Diego next month. Only 3 1/2 weeks and I'll be where the sun is always shining! I am so fortunate to be able to see my grandsons twice in one year. Yay!
Kam .. Hope all is going well with your new kitty. I like the idea of putting him in a crate and taking him from room to room with you so everyone can get a look at him and get used to seeing him around.
hugs to everyone
Bren
PS .. Has anyone heard any more about Chickadee? Is she still in the hospital? I did see on her Stage IV thread that she had posted when she gets home she has all the cards we sent her to open!!
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oooooohhh....wouldn't wanna have that wisc lawmaker's karma
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Heh - now the other Republicans in the legislature are rebelling. Can you say "election year?"
Senate Republicans ready to force vote on chemotherapy bill
Associated Press
By Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel
Madison — In a turnaround, some state Senate Republicans are preparing to turn against their leader if necessary Tuesday to force a vote on a a bill to help cancer patients that has been stalled all session long.
Bob Delaporte, an aide to Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), said Darling or another Republican would call the vote to the floor Tuesday, almost certainly assuring its passage. He made the announcement just before Democrats were to hold a news conference describing their plans to attempt to force the bill to the floor.
Forcing a vote on the bill also has strong support from Senate President Mike Ellis (R-Neenah).
"I want to get this bill to the floor and voted on," Ellis said.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) has bottled up the bill despite overwhelming support from Republicans and Democrats.
He told The Associated Press on Tuesday the Senate may vote on the measure, but he did not definitively address the matter and his aides did not respond immediately to questions from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He spoke to the AP just before Senate Republicans were to head into a closed meeting to discuss the bill and other legislation.
Meanwhile, Sen. Paul Farrow (R-Pewaukee), a chief opponent of the bill, said Tuesday he widely expects the bill to be voted on Tuesday and is working on an alternative version of it he hopes he can get his colleagues to sign onto.
And Senate Democrats said they would do everything they could to force a vote on the bill if Republicans do not address the issue.
The proposal would require health plans to provide the same coverage for expensive chemotherapy drugs taken as pills as they do for the expensive chemotherapy administered through IVs. The pill form can be taken at home.
Even if passed the Senate on Tuesday, as now seems likely, the bill would continue to face hurdles in the Assembly. In that house, 31 of the 60 majority Republicans, have refused to say where they stand on the measure. Two Assembly Republicans say they are undecided.
At least 22 Assembly Republicans support the measure, as do all 39 Democrats, meaning the bill has at least 61 votes in the 99-member chamber.
The developments come as the Legislature nears the end of its session. Both houses are in session Tuesday, and after that each chamber plans to be in session on just one day — The Assembly on Thursday and the Senate on April 1.
Farrow said he would present to his caucus before Tuesday's session an alternative that would use about $3 million in taxpayer money over two years to help patients pay for oral chemotherapy. Under his proposal, those who have more than $4,200 in costs for chemotherapy pills could ask the state to cover their additional costs.
The bill would also require the state to conduct a study of the costs of oral chemotherapy.
"We have to look at reducing the costs," Farrow said.
Ellis said he had little interest in alternatives to a bill that has broad support.
Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) said Democrats would also be pushing for the bill. If Republicans don't allow a vote on the bill, Erpenbach said, he would try to attach an amendment to every other bill up for debate Tuesday that would address oral chemotherapy costs.
He dismissed Farrow's alternative.
"It's an insurance company bailout when they've been cutting education and everything else under the sun," Erpenbach said of Republicans. "We don't need a compromise because we have a bill that's supported by 29 (or so) members of the Senate."
There are 33 senators and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has determined at least 28 of them back the bill. Besides Fitzgerald and Farrow, the only known Senate opponent of the measure is Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa).
Two senators — Neal Kedzie (R-Elkhorn) and Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) — have declined to say where they stand on the bill.
Gov. Scott Walker won't say if he supports the bill. His opponent, Democrat Mary Burke, backs it.
Legislative leaders have gone to extreme measures to block the bill.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) moved the bill to another committee on Tuesday, triggering a legislative rule that makes it harder for supporters to force the bill to the floor for a vote.
Last week, Fitzgerald took the unusual step of setting up a phantom hearing in the Senate Committee on Organization, which he chairs. That committee exists to schedule bills and does not hold hearings, but Fitzgerald scheduled one because a Senate rule prevents pulling bills to the floor if they have a pending hearing. Once the Senate completed its work last week, Fitzgerald canceled the hearing, acknowledging he never intended to actually hold it.
Fitzgerald's brother Jeff, a former Assembly speaker, is lobbying against the bill for the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans, a trade group of health maintenance organizations. Scott Fitzgerald has said his brother's lobbying has not played a role in his work to thwart the bill.
Insurers are major donors to GOP legislators.
In just the first six months of 2013, HMOs gave $20,625 to the campaigns of GOP lawmakers, more than twice as much as they gave to Democrats, according to an analysis done for the Journal Sentinel by elections tracker Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. The majority of that money went to the umbrella campaign committees for Senate and Assembly Republicans that are controlled by Vos and Fitzgerald, with the Senate leader also receiving $1,200 directly.
Details of donations by industry groups made since July 2013 aren't available yet. In the first half of 2013, the HMOs also gave $9,350 to Democrats who support the chemotherapy proposal and $1,400 to the proposal's lead sponsor in the Senate, Alberta Darling (R-River Hills).
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When these Repub stooges get around to studying the costs of oral chemo, the fact that it actually SAVES money will slap them silly. After all, sending patients home with pills to take is at least 10 times cheaper than having nursing or tech staff administer injectable chemo in a hospital or clinic setting. Think about it!
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Oh, but C4C - THEY DON'T CARE! They are sitting up and barking at the behest of their financial masters, the insurance company donors, who WANT people to pay more for their chemo! If they pay more for their chemo, the insurance company doesn't have to pay as much. It's all about the money, honey - money flowing into the coffers of the donors and thence into the pockets of the legislators. Of course, it doesn't matter that the "little people" go bankrupt from medical costs.
Single payer - NOW!
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I am not the least bit objective about this, I ADORE my docs at DF. And all the good work they do. For others interested in being active,
http://www.dana-farber.org/How-to-Help/Leadership-and-Advocacy/Legislative-Action-Network.aspx
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What RL said! When, oh when will the U.S. enter into the civilized world regarding health care?????
Speaking of health, we just got back from follow-up visit to the Neurologist. DH's tremor is completely gone, although his tingling, burning and numbness are still there. Doctor definitely thinks he has early Parkinson's, although DH is still clinging to hope that it is not. Anyway, the doctor upped the dosage and we will meet back in a month.
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Yorkie .. Glad to see your note .. as I was just thinking about you and DH. I'm glad the tremor is gone. Does that mean the medication is working? I'm sorry to hear about the neuropathy signs. Is he taking the same medication that Blue takes for her Parkinson's? My FIL has Parkinson's too and he takes the same stuff as Blue.
Just wanted you to know you were in my thoughts.
hugs,
Bren
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Bren, I think he is taking the same medicine. Maybe it wasn't enough to stop all symptoms. Plus, he's been on it less than 2 weeks. I think it takes awhile to demonstrate its working.
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I saw this on another forum. Had me rolling so just wanted to share the laugh!
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I want to do unicorn things!
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E - how are you???? We've missed you!!!
(((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))
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Sunny - I'd love to be a patient at DF. They do good things for brca women.
E - so nice to see you. I'm so confused about your geography these days. Not sure why I can't keep track as well as others.
I hope you are feeling ok and your shoulder has healed.Our politicians suck at the teat of corporations. The GOP are just better suckers and there are a few idealistic Dems left, but not many. As long as there is money in politics, we won't have Single Payer.
Yorkie - how fast did your DH's symptoms come on? Except for the tremor, sounds like my neuropathy.
Ok - on the kitty front. The 3 of us live in one room now under my supervision. Emma insists on the 2 feet rule (whether she is breaching it or Kitty Quinn is). Quinn just stops dead in his tracks at the hisses and growls; he is cautious, but not fearful. My friends and the Vet think he's about the cutest kitten they've ever seen (well, that's because they've never seen a Devon Rex before!). I know others will disagree, but I happen to be a fan of wavy fur, big ears and a pixie face. He is a wonderfully balanced kitty. Ok, trying to post pics, but this is BCO and I have a Mac:
Crap - I'll go pat my head and rub my belly a few times.
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Had to photoshop out my neighbors junky yard!
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Kam, Quinn is adorable!
Regarding DH's symptoms, he's had them for about a year and a half. Came out of nowhere. The medicine has fixed the tremor. New higher dosage may help the other symptoms. Hurry up and wait.
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Wow!!! What an absolute cutie-pie! So, so glad that Quinn and Emma are "tolerating" each other! I'm betting that the little Prince will waste no time in winning her over, and she'll be licking him all over (and vice versa) before you know it!
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What a cute-heart is Quinn. Always makes me want to say I'll take four, thanks. Well, not around here. We are up to our eyeballs in cats here and have been for a long time. I must say though Quinn looks to be personality plus and I do think a little while longer and they will be checking each other out a whole lot better.
Listened this afternoon to the non-platform the Repugs have.........REALLY. Slow learners for sure. Still, the plan seems to be that lots of non-voting will take place and so lack of any reasonable platform will not make a difference. A more tiresome group ( except for T.P.'ers does not exist.
Jackie
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Kam - he's just precious!
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just had a slightly bad event. Quinn approached Emma and she stood her ground (hissed) and pulled a Zimmerman. Didn't get to Quinn, but this new aggression is surprising. When she was on the other end, she was so submissive and no hissing.
Funny stuff, right after I put Quinn in his sanctuary, Emma wanted to play with the mice like Quinn had ( me throwing and her running after). She never does that! I then brought Quinn out (she was good for 3 throws), she went to the back room in disgust.
Time to separate again? Oy vay
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Cats are so fascinating! Quinn isn't afraid of Emma, and he's been so accustomed to playing with his littermates that he just wants to play with her. She, OTOH, thinks she has to protect her turf and isn't at all sure about this little intruder. Plus, she's a female, and my experience with lady cats is that they generally have "attitude", more so than males.
Kam, they WILL work it out, and frankly I think little Quinn will soon wear down any resistance she feels. All will be well!
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I am not a cat person (because of allergies) but I think Quinn is adorable!!
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Kam - he is cute - sounds like slowly, slowly will work
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Kam, he's adorable. What C4C said.
I'm back in Jersey where the temperature is in the 30ies instead of the negative teens. It seems so warm now. Off for a day trip to New York with a friend - being photographed for a projected on breast cancer survivors - the Grace project.
Have a good day, all.
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It is just part of the I'm the Alpha here dance that needs to take place. Once Emma knows that QUINN knows the pecking order properly, she will have a new best friend and it will soon be almost hard to think of them with the behaviors that are going on now. They are being predictably normal.
Still....I know.....nice to have this part over and fast becoming just a memory. Kam, since you only have two....it is a lot more wearing and tedious for you and makes you anxious for normalcy. It will come. Emma is just asserting her right to be the dominant feline in the household.
Jackie
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I sure hope you are all correct and I continue to look for your guidance and feedback.
When I presented Emma to Ms Boo, she was picked on and picked on for years, but she never hissed or showed any signs of aggression. It's weird to see my submissive puppy kitty yowl, present fighting ears and lurch toward this respectful baby. From my read, her feelings have gone from I could care less to this is annoying. I've gone back to separation mode again and hopefully I can undo the negative imprinting. Emma was always, is, a cuddly lover cat, but it seems her fear profile (she is a fearful cat) makes this kitten a worriesome entity for her. ( I also wonder how she might of changed under the tyrannical rule of Ms Boo. ). When I first brought her home, she would have slept on top of boo and licked her to death, but boo would have none of that! Did six years of that tutelage make her a bitter old feline?
This is my first kitten ever, and while I was fully warned Devon's love their humans and pick one human in particular, this boy is glue on me! Unless he is playing or eating, he is on me or directly under foot! He will climb things to get closer to my head, including me (though so far he has been gentle about it). While I think this is probably an extreme case of dependency, do all kittens do some of this clinging to their humans? Will he get more independent as he gets older??? For now I have to let him sleep in his own room and it is torture on both of us for him to be alone. Especially coming from a breeders house full of adult Devon's, siblings, parents, kids, and dogs. He cries and cries and scratches the door.
Oh my...I can't do another 2 years of what I did with the last 2 cats!
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