Archive for the ‘National Politics’ Category
Vice-President-Elect Joe Biden gave up his long-time position as Delaware’s senior Senator, and the Governor of Delaware, Ruth Ann Minner (D), picked an old political crony and senior adviser of Biden’s to replace the new Vice-President. Ted Kaufman has worked with Joe Biden for decades in Washington D.C. as Biden’s Chief of Staff, and Kaufman had already declared that he will not run for re-election.
This actually caused a bit of controversy as it was widely assumed that Kaufman was serving as a “place-holder” for Joe Biden’s son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, who was considered very likely to run for the seat in the 2010 Senate election. At the time of the appointment of Kaufman, the younger Biden was preparing to be deployed to Iraq with his National Guard unit, and took himself out of the running as an appointed replacement for his father’s Senate seat.
Joe Biden has a reputation for speaking his mind, and for being fairly honest with his opinions (for a politician), and had this to say on the speculation surrounding his son and his Senate seat:
“It is no secret that I believe my son, Attorney General Beau Biden would make a great United States Senator—just as I believe he has been a great Attorney General. But Beau has made it clear from the moment he entered public life, that any office he sought, he would earn on his own. If he chooses to run for the Senate in the future, he will have to run and win on his own. He wouldn’t have it any other way.”
With Kaufman taking himself out of the 2010 election, the early betting had a Democratic primary contest between Attorney General Beau Biden and Delaware’s outgoing Lieutenant Governor John Carney. Carney lost the 2008 Governor’s primary by 1,700 votes to Governor-Elect Jack Markell. Carney had been considered as a potential Senate candidate for whenever Biden would have moved on or retired, prior to the ascendency of a potential Biden Dynasty.
In October, 2009, Rep. Mike Castle, who is a former two-term Republican Delaware governor, announced his candidacy for Joe Biden’s old Senate Seat.
In late January, 2010, Beau Biden sent shockwaves through Delaware politics, and struck another body blow to the Democratic Party’s attempts to retain control of the Senate in the 2010 Congressional Elections when he announced that he would not run for his father’s old Senate Seat.
From http://www.historyguy.com/politics/filling_biden_senate_seat.htm
Senator Joe Lieberman and Senator John McCain are very close political allies, but Lieberman is still an economic liberal, and, well, McCain is not. Their differences popped up recently as Lieberman criticized a new McCain radio ad blasting President Obama’s economic policies.
From CNN:
“In a new radio ad released Thursday, McCain takes on the record deficit spending by the Obama administration, which has defended it as an effort to pull the country out of the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression.
“President Obama is leading an extreme, left-wing crusade to bankrupt America,” McCain says in the new ad, I stand in his way every day.”
Asked about McCain’s new ad Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, Sen. Joe Lieberman said “You know, every now and then, John McCain and I disagree.”
Kennedy Denied Communion: Is the Catholic Church Sending Message on Health Care Debate and Abortion?
The Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin has denied Communion to Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island due to the Liberal Democrat’s stand on health care and on abortion. The Catholic Church is opposed to abortion, and is worried about the status of abortion in the recent health care debate.
With the health care debate heating up on Capital Hill, is this very public rebuke of a scion of the nation’s leading political family a not-to-subtle message to other Catholic lawmakers not to vote for a health care bill that includes government funding for abortions? Patrick Kennedy is a leading advocate for major health care reform, as well as a leading voice in favor of abortion rights.
It should also be noted that the news of this dispute between Bishop Tobin and Patrick Kennedy comes on the Nov. 22 anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, who was the uncle of Patrick Kennedy.
Sources and links:
http://www.historyguy.com/biofiles/kennedy_family_dynasty.htm#kennedyfamilydynastypatrickkennedy
President Obama Signs Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu
In keeping with the administration’s proactive approach to H1N1 Flu, President Obama last night signed a proclamation declaring 2009-H1N1 Influenza a national emergency. The proclamation enhances the ability of our Nation’s medical treatment facilities to handle a surge in H1N1 patients by allowing, as needed, the waiver of certain standard federal requirements on a case-by-case basis. A copy of the proclamation and the accompanying message to Congress are attached.
The foundation of our national approach to the H1N1 flu has been preparedness at all levels –- personal, business, and government –- and this proclamation helps that effort by advancing our overall response capability.
Please check Flu.gov for the most up-to-date news on H1N1, preparedness, and vaccine distribution.
Sources: http://www.flu.gov/professional/federal/h1n1emergency10242009.html and http://www.historyguy.com/obamapresidency/obama_h1n1_swine_flu_emergency_declaration.htm
October 24, 2009 – President Obama Signs Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu
Authority
Section 1135 of the Social Security Act [42 USC §1320b–5] permits the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive certain regulatory requirements for healthcare facilities in response to emergencies. Two conditions must be met for the Secretary to be able to issue such “1135 waivers”: first, the Secretary must have declared a Public Health Emergency; second, the President must have declared a National Emergency either through a Stafford Act Declaration or National Emergencies act Declaration. If these conditions are met, then healthcare facilities may petition for 1135 waivers in response to particular needs, and only within the geographic and temporal limits of the emergency declarations.
Under Section 1135:
The Secretary may tailor authorities granted under Section 1135 waivers to match the specific situational needs, but the requirements that may be waived include those related to Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These requirements provide important protections for patients during normal day-to-day operations, but they may impede the ability of healthcare facilities to fully implement disaster operations plans that enable appropriate care during emergencies. For example, requirements under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) would prohibit hospitals from certain rapid triage or sorting activities and prevent the establishment of off-site, alternate care facilities that could off-load emergency department demand.
- Waivers are permitted only to the extent they ensure that sufficient health care items and services are available to meet the needs of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries in the emergency area during the emergency period. The “emergency area” and the “emergency period” are the geographic area, in which, and the time period, during which, the dual declarations exist.
- Permitted actions include the waiver or modification of conditions of participation, other certification requirements, program participation requirements, pre-approval requirements for health care providers; waiver of sanctions for certain directions or relocations and transfers that otherwise would violate the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA); waiver of sanctions related to Stark self-referral prohibitions; modifications to deadlines and timetables for the performance of required activities; and waiver of sanctions and penalties arising from noncompliance with certain Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy regulations.
Examples of use of waivers:
- Hospitals request to set up an alternative screening location for patients away from the hospital’s main campus (requiring waiver of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act-EMTALA)
- Hospitals request to facilitate transfer of patients between ERs and inpatient wards between hospitals (requiring waiver of both EMTALA and HIPAA regulations)
- Critical Access Hospitals requesting waiver of 42 CFR 485.620, which requires a 25-bed limit and average patient stays less than 96 hours
- Skilled Nursing Facilities requesting a waiver of 42 CFR 483.5, which requires CMS approval prior to increasing the number of certified beds in a distinct part
Past instances where authority to grant Section 1135 waivers was enabled for recent disaster events include
- Hurricane Katrina (2005)
- 56th Presidential Inauguration (2009)
- Hurricanes Ike and Gustav (2008)
- North Dakota flooding (2009)
Q: Why do this now; why can’t we wait until a hospital or region needs these 1135 Waivers?
A: The H1N1 epidemic is moving rapidly. By the time regions or healthcare systems recognize they are becoming overburdened, they need to implement disaster plans quickly. 1135 Waivers still require specific requests be submitted to HHS and processed, and some State laws may need to be addressed as well. Adding a potential delay while waiting for a National Emergency Declaration is not in the best interest of the public, particularly if this step can be done proactively as the President has done today.
Q: Has the authority to grant 1135 waivers been granted before?
A: Yes, there are several instances where 1135 Waiver authority has been granted under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (vice National Emergencies Act) to help healthcare facilities cope with large patient burdens. Recent examples include Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricanes Ike and Gustav (2008), and the North Dakota flooding (2009). In addition, 1135 waiver authority has been granted previously as a precautionary measure, as in the case of the recent 56th Presidential Inauguration (2009).
Q: Specifically, what will this NEA Declaration enable and what will this allow hospitals to do, if a waiver is requested and granted?
A: An NEA Declaration fulfills the second of the two conditions required for the Secretary of HHS to be able to grant 1135 waivers. If requested, and HHS grants an 1135 waiver, healthcare facilities will be able to utilize alternate care sites, modified patient triage protocols, patient transfer procedures, and other actions that occur when they fully implement disaster operations plans.
Q: Is the HIPAA Privacy Rule suspended during a national or public health emergency?
A (from the HHS Office of Civil Rights website): No; however, the Secretary of HHS may waive certain provisions of the Rule under the Project Bioshield Act of 2004 (PL 108-276) and section 1135(b)(7) of the Social Security Act.
What provisions may be waived
If the President declares an emergency or disaster and the Secretary declares a public health emergency, the Secretary may waive sanctions and penalties against a covered hospital that does not comply with certain provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule:
- the requirements to obtain a patient’s agreement to speak with family members or friends involved in the patient’s care (45 CFR 164.510(b))
- the requirement to honor a request to opt out of the facility directory (45 CFR 164.510(a))
- the requirement to distribute a notice of privacy practices (45 CFR 164.520)
- the patient’s right to request privacy restrictions (45 CFR 164.522(a))
- the patient’s right to request confidential communications (45 CFR 164.522(b))
When and to what entities does the waiver apply
If the Secretary issues such a waiver, it only applies:
1. In the emergency area and for the emergency period identified in the public health emergency declaration.
2. To hospitals that have instituted a disaster protocol. The waiver would apply to all patients at such hospitals.
3. For up to 72 hours from the time the hospital implements its disaster protocol.
When the Presidential or Secretarial declaration terminates, a hospital must then comply with all the requirements of the Privacy Rule for any patient still under its care, even if 72 hours has not elapsed since implementation of its disaster protocol.
Regardless of the activation of an emergency waiver, the HIPAA Privacy Rule permits disclosures for treatment purposes and certain disclosures to disaster relief organizations. For instance, the Privacy Rule allows covered entities to share patient information with the American Red Cross so it can notify family members of the patient’s location. See 45 CFR 164.510(b)(4).
Learn More: * See http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/special/emergency/katrinanhipaa.pdf for information on sharing information in emergency situations.
White House Claims That Stimulus Money is Saving Jobs in Education
The Obama administration claimed on Monday, October 19, 2009, that the economic stimulus had saved or created 250,000 education jobs. Republicans in Congress say that the stimulus package is wasteful and has not actually saved or created as many jobs as Obama claims. Many school districts around the country complain that the stimulus money targeted for education comes with too many strings attached, and that hiring people is problematic since the stimulus money will dry up, and leave districts with employees they can no longer afford to pay.
The White House released this on the official White House blog:
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19TH, 2009 AT 10:06 AM
Recovery in Focus: Saving and Hiring 250,000 Teachers
Posted by Jesse Lee
The Recovery Act, which the President signed in February, is having positive impacts on almost every conceivable sector of our economy, both in the short term and in terms of creating a new foundation for the future. But one of the areas that might be felt even more directly by families than most – again, in both the short and the long terms — is in education. A new report out today from the Domestic Policy Council documents just how broad the impact has been.
Read the Report: Educational Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” (pdf)
From the introduction:
Immediately after President Obama signed ARRA into law on February 17th, the Department acted swiftly to move the first phase of these funds to states in response to drastic budget shortfalls. Over $67 billion in formula grants have been disbursed as of September 30th. As part of the unprecedented transparency requirements of ARRA, the first quarterly public accounting of all expenditures to date will be posted by the Recovery, Accountability, and Transparency Board on October 30th. Initial reporting from states find that the October 30 release will show at least 250,000 education jobs created or saved across the nation that are supporting our students and fueling our economy.
The report meticulously looks at the impact the Recovery Act had on state budgets, which had legislators facing awful choices on how to close massive shortfalls. And as it goes on to explain, the benefits of the Recovery Act ended up going to virtually every student in the schools that were affected, since teacher layoffs effect virtually every student:
Saving and generating jobs for teachers has had clear effects in the classroom. As local school districts are faced with budget shortfalls in a slowing economy, the number of teachers employed may decline.
However, the need to educate students does not decrease. Fewer teacher jobs, without fewer students, may lead to larger and often unacceptable class sizes.
Faced with these circumstances, some school districts have chosen to use ARRA funds to avert such class size expansion. For example, reports indicate that Peoria, IL used ARRA funding to focus on increasing the number of teaching positions and reducing class sizes in kindergarten, and at the first- and second-grade levels. At the Rothschild Middle School in Columbus, GA, the principal was able use ARRA funds to hire more math teachers to deliver individualized attention to students through smaller classes.
ARRA has also provided significant funding for low-income students ($10 billion Title I ARRA appropriation) and for students with disabilities ($12.2 billion under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). These funds have all been disbursed by the Department and are currently supporting essential special education professionals and programs throughout the nation and bolstering schools in many of our poorest communities.
Along the lines of the aforementioned “new foundation,” the Recovery Act funds have also helped our schools move towards the kind of reform that the President has spoken about, and which has been embraced across the political spectrum:
The overall goals for education in the ARRA are to stimulate the economy in the short term and to invest in education advancements to ensure the long-term economic health and success of our nation.
- Currently ARRA is, in fact, providing urgent fiscal relief to states and restoring education budgets in school districts, while also advancing the Administration’s four reform priorities:
- Rigorous college- and career-ready standards and high-quality assessments that are valid and reliable for all students;
- Pre-K-to college and career data systems that track progress and foster continuous improvement;
- Improvements in teacher effectiveness and in the equitable distribution of qualified teachers for all students; and
- Intensive support and effective interventions for the lowest-performing schools.
Media and direct accounts from districts across the country provide examples of local initiatives that are focusing ARRA funds towards one or more of these reform priorities.
It’s always hard to step back and gauge the entire impact of the Recovery Act, but this is one area where the benefits to the country and our children are beyond dispute.
Critics of President Obama decry his miscalculation on trusting the media to keep a traditionally off-the-record chat time actually off-the-record. While preparing to tape an interview, Obama made conversation with the reporter and, accurately, it can be said, called Kanye West a “jackass” for his rude behavior at the MTV Music Awards.
The question is: If Obama miscalculates on a comment like this, and cannot control his mouth, what happens when he comments on something serious, like his opinion of friendly foreign leader or some other notable? Remember his comments about the Yale professor and the police officer? That caused at best a major distraction for him, at worst, it showed that he does not always think well on his feet. A criticism he faced in the presidential campaign was that he was an excellent speaker with a prepared speech, but not as good at off-the-cuff remarks.
Addison Graves “Joe” Wilson (b. July 31, 1947)
Joe Wilson serves as a Republican Congressman representing South Carolina’s 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Wilson’s district extends from the state capital of Columbia, and goes down to the Carolina coast to the resort towns of Beaufort and Hilton Head Island. Representative Wilson is a member of the Republican Party’s conservative wing, and is best known nationally for his outburst against President Obama on September 9, 2009, in which Wilson called Obama a liar in regard to the President’s health-care reforms.
Rep. Wilson is a conservative Republican, who, until his shouted “You Lie” comment to President Obama, was perhaps best known as one of only seven Republican State Senators to vote to continue flying the Confederate battle flag over the state capitol, stating that, “The Southern heritage, the Confederate heritage is very honorable.” The South Carolina Senate voted 36-7 to remove the Confederate flag. Joe Wilson’s affiliations include membership in the organization Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Since his outburst on national television during the President’s speech, Congressman Wilson’s campaign has registered over a million dollars in donations from conservatives around the nation.
Given all the heat regarding President Obama’s upcoming speech to the Nation’s students, it is a good time to reflect on how past presidents have communicated to American Youth. Take the first President Bush for example; he spoke to students at Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington City back in October of 1991. Did Democrats raise a fuss? And this right before the ‘92 election season. For the video and full transcript of President George H. W. Bush’s talk to students, kindly go to: http://www.historyguy.com/biofiles/president_bush_speech_to_school_kids_1991.htm
Sources:
Bush Public Papers-1991-October–From the Bush
Presidential Library and Museum
On eve of 1992 campaign, Bush 41 pitches education plan in televised classroom speech–DailykosTV
Barack Obama is not the first president to address school children –PolitiFact.com
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/3/776393/-Another-wingnut-meme-goes-down-the-drain
Van Jones Resigns Due To Controversy
President Obama’s Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Van Jones, resigned September 5, 2009 due to the cascade of criticism about his public comments and about his apparant belief that the Bush Administration orchestrated the 9/11 attacks in order to create conditions conducive to invading Afghanistan and Iraq.
Van Jones’ public comment in February, 2009 that Republicans were fecal exit orifices (he used the more common and much more cruder term than used here), as well as the fact that in 2004, Van Jones was one of “100 notable Americans” who signed a petition called the ”911 Truth Statement” from 911Truth.org. Republicans and other conservatives called for his resignation over these two incidents.
