News Roundup - Hour 1
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-01-21/news-roundup-hour-1
President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao of China begin their working dinner in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House, Jan. 18, 2011.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
This week Diane and a panel of journalists discuss the House vote to repeal the health care overhaul law, the Chinese president's visit to the White House, and the legacy of Sargent Shriver. Join us for an analysis of the week's top national news stories.
Guests
Jerry Seib
executive Washington editor, The Wall Street Journal.
Major Garrett
congressional correspondent, National Journal.
Lisa Lerer
politics reporter, Bloomberg News.
Comments
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"Arizona lawmakers back governor on Medicaid waiver", 20_01-2011:
http://www.salon.com/wires/business/2011/01/20/D9KSDE5O0_us_medicaid_wai... :
"The Arizona Legislature on Thursday authorized Gov. Jan Brewer to seek a federal waiver allowing the state to temporarily remove nearly 300,000 people from its Medicaid rolls...
"Brewer wants to suspend the eligibility of 280,000 low-income adults, which would... save $541.5 million.."
"States’ Budget Crises Cut Deeply Into Financing for Mental Health Programs", 20_01-2011:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/us/21mental.html :
"Unlike many of her fellow governors, Jan Brewer of Arizona knows well the inner workings of her state’s mental health system: her son has schizophrenia... After what happened in Tucson, we need to realize that we need these programs,' said Linda Lopez, a Democratic state senator in Arizona who works in community outreach at a Tucson mental health facility.
"... last year, (Arizona's mental health) programs began to shrink. The state cut counseling, case management, voluntary hospitalization, brand-name medication and numerous other services for non-Medicaid patients.
"... 'I've been close to her for years, and she has been a help,' said Charles L. Arnold, a mental health lawyer in Phoenix who once sued the state to force it to provide better services.
"'But she's thrown the human service community under the bus...'"
"Tucson shooting draws attention to Arizona's mental health laws, funding", 20_01-2011:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/20/AR201101...
"... even as legislators prepare bills on the state's mental health system, Arizona... finds itself in a massive budget crisis... the budget problems could result in drastic cuts to existing programs helping the mentally ill... "
CONTINUED
"(Arizona Governor) Jan Brewer's career shaped by son's mental illness" 14_09-2010:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2010/09/14/2... :
"In her nearly three decades of public service, there has been almost no mention in the media, or in the political arena, of her son Ronald's struggles.
"One of her first acts in office was restoring tens of millions in funding for behavioral-health services. Then last year, at the request of the courts, she proposed a sweeping overhaul of Arizona's mental-health system that would have given AHCCCS responsibility for tens of thousands of new patients while creating a pilot program to aid those with serious mental illness...
"The proposal was heard by the Legislature but ultimately went nowhere..."
"Arizona budget: Mentally ill may lose health benefits", 15_01-2011:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/15/20110115arizona-budget... :
"An estimated 5,200 people diagnosed with a serious mental illness and thousands more who qualify for other behavioral-health services would be among 280,000 childless adults losing health-care coverage under the governor's plan.
"They would lose coverage for all other medical care, including prescription drugs for physical ailments, as well as case management, transportation and housing they receive through the state's behavioral-health-care program..."
"Medicaid Funding Key in Mental Health Services During Recession", 11_01-2011:
http://www2.nationaljournal.com/member/daily/medicaid-funding-key-in-men...
Roderick V. Louis,
Vancouver, BC, Canada
PART 4:
"Medicaid Funding Key in Mental Health Services During Recession", 11_01-2011:
http://www2.nationaljournal.com/member/daily/medicaid-funding-key-in-men... :
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer announced budget cuts in 2010 that significantly reduced mental health services in the state...
"(Arizona) passed a statute decades ago ensuring the state would provide community-based treatment for the mentally ill. But according to Charles Arnold, a Phoenix lawyer, the state has never provided the funds necessary to carry out the letter of the law.
"Arnold filed suit against the state in 1981, alleging the administration did not fulfill what the law required. After nearly 30 years of litigation that has reached the Arizona Supreme Court, Brewer reached a temporary agreement with litigants to delay the case due to the recession.
"'There’s a lot of attention on the transplant issue here, because it’s so visible and obvious,' said Arnold of the shooting suspect, Jared Lee Loughner, and Pima Community College’s decision to remove him from classes. 'But there’s an equal failure here to fund public health.'
"'Under the cover of the fiscal crisis, folks here in power sought to essentially emasculate our human services system,' said Arnold..."
Roderick V. Louis,
Vancouver, BC, Canada
The New York Times reported yesterday that Congress is considering a pathway to bankruptcy for states overburdened by rising pension/healthcare obligations and the recession's impact on tax receipts. Who does Jerry believe has more political power in this situation: taxpayers, bondholders or public employee unions?
Symbolic votes are nothing new for the House. Last Congress, weren't there some 200 bills passed by the House that were not even taken up by the Senate?
I hope Issa will investigate CREW's (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) allegations that Department of Education policy is being influenced by hedge fund managers!
Hank
Diane,
Please reign in your right-leaning commentators on this business of “repealing the health care bill.” The health care legislation passed and was signed by the president, so it is no longer a bill but the law. A bill can be amended, tabled, passed, or defeated, but not repealed. It’s just a silly and uninformed way for Republicans to belittle a significant Obama accomplishment.
Thank you for consistently civil and relevant news discussion.
Why do many in the US believe that the Chinese has more influences over the North Koreans than we, the US, have influence over Israelis?
To MrRoderickLouis: Please contribute to the conversation with your own thoughts (links are always welcome) but when you put in such lengthy comments, you defeat the purpose of the dialogue.
Not meant to be harsh, but to provide constructive criticism.
Duplicate
Heard on NPR yesterday...that part of the basis for Congress investigating Lance Armstrong was the donation of over $30 million by the Postal Service to his competitive efforts.
What? The post office is underwriting sports figures? I don't get that. My hope is that NPR will investigate how Fed agencies are spending their hunds... seems an obvious way to reduce the budget.
I truly understand the need to educate the public about various agency offerings/work, but sponsoring sports figures? Or donating to charities? Clearly, IMHO, outside the scope of their missions.