[lit-ideas] Re: When Unspeakable Evil Just Isn't Enough....

Hi,
Yes, it is true.  SB539 has passed the Missouri House and will be  signed by 
Blunt. (son of prominent Roy Blunt, a US Representative--who was once  a 
Missouri governor, as well.  He adores Bush, I think, because he sees  himself 
as 
part of a MO dynasty...  He is also a Naval Academy graduate (he  is pretty 
young, it is true) and all of his advertisements only stated that he  was the 
son 
of a schoolteacher [his mom]...and so, for a while, people were  unsure 
during his campaign if he was his father's son.  Most of the $ for  his 
campaign 
came from those wanting his father's influence, though.)  
 
Anyway, the bill, with the current budget bills, cuts health  care/Medicaid 
for more than 100,000 Missourians including:
Adults in  poverty - limited to the old 1996 AFDC assistance level - or 
between 18-23% of  the federal poverty level (incomes les than about $300 a 
month 
for a family of  three), impacting more than 70,000 parents; 

Limits assistance for the elderly and permanently disabled to 74% of  the 
poverty level, impacting 30,000 Missourians; 

Eliminates General Relief Medicaid Assistance, impacting 3,000  Missourians 
with disabilities; 

Eliminates the MAWD - Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities,  
impacting 17,000 Missourians; 

Institutes premiums for CHIP/MC+ kids for those with incomes above 150%  of 
the federal poverty level, impacting 23,000 kids; 

Institutes co-payments for every service; 

Diminishes services provided to people who still qualify for Medicaid (with  
the proposition that Medicaid be completely eliminated in three years)

The bill is devastating. 
 
It also creates a Medicaid Commission that will begin meeting this summer  
and is charged with developing a plan to replace Medicaid beginning in 2006.  
That, however, is not mandated so who knows if what happens and is  suggested 
will actually happen.

The bill passed on a close to party  lien vote. Most republicans voted for 
the bill and were under intense pressure  from the Governor and Representative 
Jetton to do so. Only 6 republicans voted  against the bill, all the democrats 
voted against the bill and 2 republicans  
abstained. The republicans who voted against the bill include:

Bean,  Black, Kraus, Schneider, Parker and Nance 

Those abstaining:

Marsh  and Stevenson.

These folks chose to go against their party pressure to  take a position that 
Health Care should not be a Partisan Issue.  I do not  know how that will be 
viewed by those in their party, though.  
 
The info in the LA Times article that Judy posted is definitely what  is 'out 
there' and happening:
 
"The result: Medicaid now covers 53 million Americans. The program pays the  
bills for nearly 60% of all nursing home residents and finances 37% of all  
births. Because most states have added prescription drug benefits, Medicaid  
covers the hefty pharmacy bills for many patients with AIDS, many transplant  
recipients and many senior citizens on dialysis or undergoing  chemotherapy."
 
There will be people dying.  Nursing homes WILL kick people out,  too.  What 
will happen to them?  Where will they go?
 
I thought the question of what a leader really is was relevant to  discussion 
on Lit-Ideas.  What is the function of a community leader?   What is the 
function of our state reps and senators--much less our  government?  
 
This was stated in the LA Times article:
 
**State Rep. Trent Skaggs, a Democrat from Kansas City, considers the new  
rules cruel, especially at a time when more than 45 million Americans lack  
insurance. He worries parents will stop working so their income will drop low  
enough to qualify their family for free care.

Rather than raise costs for  minimum-wage clerks, Skaggs suggests increasing 
insurance premiums for lawmakers  who get health coverage through the state. 
He recently introduced a measure that  would have cost the average politician 
$115 a month â?? the measure failed on a  close vote.

"That made a complete mockery of the idea that leaders  sacrifice first," 
Skaggs said. "Times are tough, but not so tough that we have  to sacrifice?"**
 
It is reflective on not just what is happening in our state government--but  
also in so much of what we are doing.  I don't know if it is primarily  these 
younger men/women who are now in positions of power who have no real grasp  of 
what leadership has been (traditionally) or if it is the 'business culture'  
(not the 'healthy business' culture but the stereotypical one) or what is  
happening.  
 
I see this happening so much in our society--and it has had the effect of  
not creating loyalty amongst individuals within alot of  
organizations/groups/businesses/service organizations, even.  It is very  much 
no longer that we are 
going to help each other--one for all and all for  one.  There is, still, some 
bewilderment in that regard--but if there is  anything trickling down...it is 
that sense that no one cares.  It's like  one is either the victim or the 
victimizer--and thus identifying with either/or  and becoming like either 
one--and no one ever realizes (any more) that there IS  a third alternative...
 
I'm pretty sad today about this.  It's pretty awful.  One in five  
Missourians are going to be critically affected--and the rest of us, I imagine, 
 will 
have to make decisions as to what to do about our neighbors (me/Julie),  
customers (Julie's husband), co-workers, etc.  Some of us will harden our  
hearts and 
become like the vicimizers and others will sacrifice (that word,  again) 
ourselves and our families in order to help our neighbors and friends and  
those 
we meet who are in need.  
 
We need, again, to see the third way...
 
Thinking of the similarities of the new Star Wars movie <g> and how  popular 
culture so often shines a mirror on reality--but not knowing of the  solution 
in spite of that,
Marlena in Missouri

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