Democrats struggling to enact President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul may take a seldom-used Senate shortcut. That prospect has infuriated Republicans who, it turns out, have used the process far more than Democrats.

That’s just one hint of the pressures, emotions and uncertainty that Democrats’ use of the so-called reconciliation process would unleash for both sides.

It would put an obscure, appointed Senate staffer — its parliamentarian — in a political crucible for one of the year’s most momentous legislative and political showdowns. It would raise questions about how extensive the legislation would be, due to limitations on the process. And in the end, it may boil down to a physical endurance test as GOP senators try stopping the measure with an endless parade of votes.

After a year that has seen nothing go easily in his health care drive, Obama began building a case Thursday for using reconciliation, sometimes called the “nuclear option.” The process would let Senate Democrats derail a GOP filibuster — delays that take 60 votes to end — and muscle a bill through with a simple majority. Republicans have had 41 Senate seats since their surprise win in last month’s Massachusetts special election.

“I think most Americans think that a majority vote makes sense,” Obama told Republicans Thursday at his daylong health care summit with top lawmakers.

Republicans say reconciliation was never meant for legislation as sweeping as reshaping the country’s health care system. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Obama’s presidential opponent in 2008, told Obama it would harm the nation’s future, while Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., asked him to “renounce this idea of going back to the Congress and jamming through” a reconciliation bill.

History shows that with the tables turned, Republicans have embraced the process. Of the 22 reconciliation bills Congress has sent a president since the procedure was first used in 1980, 16 were approved by a Republican-controlled Senate, including for President George W. Bush’s big 2001 tax cut.

Democrats have resisted using the process until now, in part because they know it could prompt retaliation.

“It would poison the water for any kind of bipartisanship at all on subsequent legislation this year,” said G. William Hoagland, a former top Republican Senate aide. “On things they might want to do on financial reforms or energy or cap and trade, anything. I just think Republicans will say, ‘OK, you can shut this place down and we’ll come back in November’” after congressional elections.

At a time when some think the Massachusetts Senate race and other recent elections show a distaste for an expensive health overhaul and how Washington works, Democrats worry that using reconciliation could turn off some voters.

“If Democrats rely on reconciliation, there will be those who ask, ‘What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand?’” said Robert Reischauer, former chief of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Under Democrats’ current plans, the House would approve the huge health overhaul bill the Senate passed Christmas Eve. A separate reconciliation bill would make changes in that measure to reflect compromises Democrats reached among themselves in January.

Reconciliation bills are supposed to reduce the deficit and may not include provisions “extraneous” to taxing and spending.

But What About Voters? What has voters questioning the bill as it now stands has more to do with costs than anything else.  A Denver criminal attorney wants to ensure his benefits for his family aren’t going to force him to pay large out of pocket expenses for certain services as part of a pay off for a public portion of a new universal health care program.  Meanwhile, a personal injury attorney Denver CO for example, is also grappling with state budgets and what potential new taxes will mean.

Analysts say that means Democrats would probably change the Senate bill by improving subsidies, easing a tax on high-cost insurance plans, enhancing prescription drug benefits for the elderly and cutting or increasing Medicare and Medicaid. They could eliminate the politically embarrassing federal aid the Senate approved for Nebraska for expanded Medicaid coverage.

But the rules will make it hard for reconciliation to change Senate language covering abortions and eligibility of illegal immigrants, creating a new board to regulate Medicare rates or establishing wellness programs.

Advising the Senate on which items can be included in the bill will be its parliamentarian.

Technically, the presiding senator — in effect, the Democratic majority — makes the final ruling and can only be overridden by 60 votes — which Democrats no longer have. That could create dramatic showdowns, but parliamentarians are seldom ignored for fear of retaliation when a party falls into the minority.

That means enormous pressure for Alan Frumin, 63, the parliamentarian who has served under Republican and Democratic majorities. He did not respond to a request for an interview.

“You come under enormous lobbying by senators on both sides, staff on both sides,” said Robert Dove, parliamentarian under GOP majorities until he lost his job in 2001 after angering Republican leaders with rulings on budget bills. “The Senate is a political institution.”

The rules allow just 20 hours of debate, but Republicans would still have opportunities for delay.

The time limit excludes reading and voting on amendments or breaks known as “quorum calls.” After 20 hours, an unlimited number of amendments can be voted on without pause or debate — an exhausting process informally called “vote-a-rama.”

There is no limit on the number of amendments, so theoretically Republicans can keep proposing them indefinitely. The question is one of endurance.

“They come to an end not because there’s a procedure for ending it, but because people ultimately get exhausted,” said James Horney, a former Democratic congressional aide. “They just quit doing it, they can’t sit there any longer.”

________________________________

My Take: I’m no “rock scientist” as my young son likes to say, but I’m smart enough to recognize smoke and mirrors shows when I see them.  What all this mumbo jumbo means to me is that Obama and the Dems are going to make room for an onslaught of more GOP amendments that will effectively weaken the current bill, in exchange for being able to shorten the amount of time each party is given to debate the merits of the plan and other issues.

If the politicians were in charge of negotiating our own refinancing program, for example, and we were paid for every day they put on another floor show of debates and private “peace summits,”  we’d all be wearing the most expensive designers latest creations and sipping cocktails on the terraces of our Andalucia properties.  But let’s face it: working out a FHA loan with a lender doesn’t involve political sweetners and there are no political lobbyists running around for he designers schmoozing us into wearing those  T shirt designs.  The process is ours alone to go through with the rules and regulations in place to guide us.

————————————————————————–

Other Resources

Real Estate Markets Improving

There are some interesting numbers to come out of the insurance industry which suggest that a renewal and enhancement of various housing markets has occurred and this has sent people scrambling for New York commercial title insurance as they’ve started to look into selling their property. The different types of property currently looking to be quite hot properties in the commercial world have tended to be consumer based in this new period of growth and so this has meant that some people in possession of properties that could be formed into consumer stores have been lucky with sales.

Considering More Advanced Care

There are a lot of reasons why a family should create a proper timeframe for obtaining care for a family member who might need regular medical help and sometimes the best homes for elderly care have a waiting list so getting on it early is a good idea. But there are often reasons to look into Pasadena home care in the early stages of care for an individual because choosing the best company often requires some research as well. Being prepared for all eventualities even before they come is quite important as far as making smooth transitions to each level of care.

Time and Attendance Solutions

Your organization is most likely experiencing some changes, so you are feeling restricted with your existing solution’s capabilities and functionality.  Time is wasted, labor is expended and there is a noticeable decrease in operation efficiencies when you attempt to work around your solution’s limitations and restrictions.  Implementing a solution designed to work around you and the way you conduct business will improve operational efficiencies, enhance productivity, decrease expenditures and make your job.  This integrated payroll service company has worked with many companies with situations similar to yours.  We have had many successes because our solutions are designed for real-world use by today’s businesses, truly scalable, and have multi-solution capabilities.

Professional Website Design

NJ IT services offers full web development and content management services, encompassing everything from the technical aspects of content management systems and website design services to the artistic discipline of web design. With custom graphics and animated content available, we will work with you to design and develop the perfect Website and accompanying website CMS and website CMS design that best suits your needs and represents your business.  They have the ability to extend their reach across a broad area as well as offering NJ website design services.

Eyelid Surgery

A Crestview FL plastic surgeon will explain that a blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery involves removing excess skin from either the upper or the lower eyelids, together with any superfluous muscle. This involves restoring and tightening connections between the eyelid skin and the eye opening muscles, which have stretched out over the years. Protruding fat from the upper and lower lids often requires either removal or restraining.  The methods of this Crestview FL blepharoplasty surgeon give a crisp, more stylized and deeper set upper lid fold, and a toned, youthful, and almond shape lower lid,

Would You like to Smoke Anywhere?

How you ask? The answer is simple, the electronic cigarette. The government has begun to restrict smoking in many places where a smoker once could light up in. However, a smoker is once again free to smoke in their favorite nightclub, restaurant or shopping center. Now, a smoker can “light up” in movie theaters, sporting events, taxis and even airplanes that are all non-smoking zones as long as they have a smoking alternative.  That means if you have an e cig, you can virtually smoke anywhere and not bother a single person or even break the law.

Legal Services Required

If you have been charged with a DUI, failure to provide breath sample, failure to give a blood sample, failure to blow in the breathalyzer, over 80 milligrams, driving over the legal limit or any other drinking and driving offence you should contact an Ottawa DUI lawyer.  If your DUI is for being under the influence of drugs, you may need a drug lawyer Toronto successfully defend your case.  One who has considerable experience offering advocacy in various criminal cases.  Being charged with any criminal offense from a simple mischief charge to more serious offences requires the services of a good attorney.

Source: Reuters

Americans have many questions about how health reform legislation pending in Congress, and chief on their list is how will affect the U.S. employment-based health benefits system?

The nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) recently asked that question of more than a dozen experts from a wide range of specialties at a day-long conference, and—not surprisingly, given the sharp disagreements that exist over health reform—got a wide range of answers.

But on one point there was general consensus: Imposing a tax on health benefits (such as the proposed tax on so-called “Cadillac” health plans) is likely to cause major cuts in health benefits and might result in structural changes in the employment-based benefits system.

Employers “will go ahead and cut benefits if that’s what it takes to avoid an additional tax,” Beth Umland, head of health and benefits research for the Mercer consulting firm, told the EBRI conference, citing a recent Mercer survey. Her comments were widely echoed, including by representatives from organized labor, management, and other groups.

Roll Back the Extras
Although it wasn’t explicitly said, Americans can probably count on employers to nix what if any benefits they now offer that cover so-called alternative medicine benefits, which may or may not include gym membership reimbursements.  Many employers don’t’ even know how to answer the question What is the Alexander technique?  But you can bet it, and those great Pilates workout sessions you’ve been taking at the gym won’t be covered by your plan anymore, if cuts are put into place as expected.

And a common disappointment voiced at the forum was that the initial effort in Congress to reform the delivery and cost of health care in America gradually became focused on just financing and coverage of health insurance.  ”Overall, the problem of high cost isn’t being fixed by healthcare reform,” said Bruce Pyenson, principal and consulting actuary with Milliman, Inc., a New York-based consulting firm.

These and other comments were made at EBRI’s biannual policy forum held in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 10, 2009, on the topic, “Employers, Workers, and the Future of Employment-Based Health Benefits.” The forum brought together a wide range of economic, benefits, management, and labor experts to share their perspectives at a time when major health reform legislation was being debated in Congress, and their presentations are summarized in the February 2010EBRI Issue Brief, online at www.ebri.org.

______________________________________

My Take: As usual, more news is no news when it comes to the great health care debate in Washington.  How long have we been waiting for lawmakers to take our concern seriously when it comes to providing us with affordable, quality healthcare?  We don’t all need expensive hair restoration, Pilates online videos, or the classes we can’t afford anyway to learn the Alexander technique New York style.  Some of us just want plain old basic coverage for doctor’s visits, the dentist and to of course cover us in the event we suffer a long-term illness or a traumatic injury.

It makes no sense to me why we can’t have affordable healthcare in the U.S.   When you think about the amazing things that can now be done medically to improve our lives and to live longer ones, it’s not clear why we can’t comprise a system that will allow us all to stay healthy and take better care of ourselves.  And I’m not just talking about hair loss treatments, plastic surgery or other forms of elective-style surgery.  I’m referring to the simple procedures and basic care that keep us healthy and productive.

I get the argument for eliminating coverage for people who’s lifestyles may or may not be considered healthy or are found to put their employers’ at risk because of their choices outside the workplace.  For smokers, I’d say give them all free one year supplies of the NJoy NPRO.  They say electronic cigarettes can help wean even hard-core smokers off the hard stuff: tobacco.  Think of the money to be saved by employers on healthcare coverage if all their workers kicked the habit?

——————————————————————–

Other Resources

Are so-called “addictive” Internet searchers putting their emotional health at risk?  Psychologists in Britain seem to suggest so.

Though almost everyone uses the Internet to conduct business, connect with people, pay bills or find information, the people who spend hours each day aimlessly surfing the Net appear more likely to be depressed.

Psychologists at the University of Leeds in Britain evaluated the Internet use and depression levels of 1,319 people ages 16 to 51. Of this group, 18 people (1.2%) were classified as Internet-addicted. When these 18 people were compared with 18 similar people who were not Internet-addicted, the researchers saw striking differences in depression. The 18 non-addicted people were not depressed while the 18 Internet-addicted people were classified, as a group, as moderately to severely depressed.

The addicted people tended to use the Internet more for sexual gratification, gaming and chat rooms, compared with the non-addicts. The authors of the paper, published in the journal Psychopathology, concluded that these people were replacing real-life socializing with Internet surfing.

D’Ya Think?
Significant time spent online in chat rooms, searching the net for social connections or sexual gratification are rooted in isolationism, experts suggest.  It’s one thing to spend hours watching comedy movies online, shopping, or doing research.  But then the normal surfing session for a funny movie download turns into a habitual way of life and a replacement for real-time connection offline, the harder it becomes to interact without anxiety and the more prone we humans are to depression or depressive thinking.
They say, however, that it’s not clear which comes first: the Internet addiction followed by depression or depression followed by Internet addiction. Regardless of the answer to that question, depression and heavy Internet use appear to be a bad mix.

______________________________________

My Take: I know I get a little nutty after a full day chatting online with friends or searching Facebook for old boyfriends.  I’ll admit it: it’s almost as addictive as watching a model train circle the make-believe city over and over again.  You want out, but toy train sets have a way of keeping you gripped to the controls for hours without realizing the time.

Experts have long been looking into whether the light from the computer screen, has any impact on brain activity and depression.  The jury is still out on that one.  halogen light bulbs are pretty much useless when it comes to depression studies, however, there are manufacturers producing neodymium bulbs, that put out light that is extremely similar to actual sunlight, effectively offsetting the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder or SADs.

I had SAD when I lived in London for two years and I would have done anything on some days just to see some California sunshine pouring through the curtains of my garden flat.  It happened on occasion, maybe three or four times every month or so.

At the time, there was also no such thing as a “non-smoking” section in public places.  Today, thankfully, those rules are changing as more and Brits become hip to some form of smoking alternative and give them up for good.  For now, might be a good idea to turn the country on to the electronic cigarette, and, for those who don’t already know about it, offer the ability to puff smoke free in public places and give non-smokers a real break.

——————————————————————

Other Resources

The Beauty Bar

Did you know that smoking is one of the worst things you can put your skin through?  The carcinogens from cigarettes are so toxic that even the best skin care products in the world can’t protect you from the wrinkling and pallid coloring they eventually produce.  If you smoked for a long time, however, and you now are trying to reverse the damage done to your skin over the years, one of the best ways to do so is to find an organic skin care product with enough vitamin E.  Vitamin E is proven to help reverse the signs of aging, is great for reproductive activity in skin cells and gives your face a healthy glow.

In-Flight Services

One Los Angeles private jet charter service not only “books” a private flight for you, they also take full charge of the flight experience unlike many services.  They ensure that you will have top quality service every time you fly with them.  They do not leave important details up to the individual aircraft owners/operators as many competitors do.  They instead, offer special guest services to all passengers directly.  They even have their own flight department that offers increased attention to logistics of aircraft owners, catering from celebrity restaurants instead of standard catering companies, and they also implement their own client privacy protocol.  This type of service has earned rave reviews for this LA private charter service.

Pilates Exercise Equipment

The exercise equipment used in Pilates provides support for the body, so that individuals of all ages and fitness levels, even those undergoing physical therapy, can discover exercises to challenge their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses.  The accompanying Pilates DVD offers Pilates instruction with strengthening and stretching workouts on the Pilates cardiovascular exercise equipment, both the large studio machines and the smaller exercise equipment such as balls, bands and Bosus.  With a Pilates workout, you will learn about what is Pilates, what are its benefits, and also learn valuable tips on how to do Pilates correctly with the comprehensive Pilates instruction provided.

Experts say lifestyle changes and protection from diseases could dramatically alter the outcomes for the roughly 40 percent of the 12 million people diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year.

A report by the Geneva-based International Union Against Cancer (UICC) highlighted nine infections that can lead to cancer and urged health officials to drive home the importance of vaccines and lifestyle changes in fighting the disease.

“If there was an announcement that somebody had discovered a cure for 40 percent of the world’s cancers, there would quite justifiably be huge jubilation,” UICC president David Hill told Reuters in a telephone interview.

“But the fact is that we have, now, the knowledge to prevent 40 percent of cancers. The tragedy is, we’re not using it.”

Cervical and liver cancer, both caused by infections which can be prevented with vaccines, should be top priorities, the report said, not only in rich nations, but also in developing countries where 80 percent of global cervical cancer occur.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and the total number of cases globally is increasing, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The number of global cancer deaths is projected to rise by 45 percent from 2007 to 2030 from 7.9 million to 11.5 million deaths, driven partly by a growing and aging global population.

The UICC said it wanted to focus policymakers’ attention on cancer-preventing vaccines — like ones made by GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co against the human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer, and others against hepatitis B, which causes liver disease and cancer.

“Policymakers around the world have the opportunity and obligation to use these vaccines to save people’s lives and educate their communities toward lifestyle choices and control measures that reduce their risk of cancer,” Cary Adams, UICC’s chief executive, said in a commentary on the report.

Other cancer-causing infections include hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Epstein Barr, a herpes-type virus transmitted by saliva.

The experts said the risk of developing cancer could potentially be reduced by up to 40 percent if full immunization and prevention measures were deployed and combined with simple lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, eating healthily, limiting alcohol intake and reducing sun exposure.

Myth Busters
Experts say there are a great deal of misunderstandings about cancer and its causes and that these need to be addressed in order to promote wellness.  These myths go as far as to suggest that the fiber from clothing, such as Polyester or heavy duty fire resistant clothing can cause cancer.

Hill said national health authorities should also work to dispel widespread myths about cancer, in particular a sense of fatalism felt by many people in the face of the disease.

As part of this, the UICC is launching a campaign called “Cancer can be prevented too” on World Cancer Day on February 4 to encourage people to face up to the fact that smoking, poor diet and some infections carry high cancer risks.

European cancer experts issued a report last year warning that a wave of cancer now threatens developing countries, estimating that around half of the 12.4 million new cases in 2008 occurred in low and middle income countries.

Despite the availability of so much scientific knowledge about the disease’s causes, Hill said there was great concern among health experts that “the opportunity to prevent this huge escalation of cancer may be missed.

______________________________________

My Take: It’s no surprise to me that many forms of cancer could be avoided easily.  The mot obvious way to begin is to think about sun exposure.  It doesn’t take much to protect your face from the harmful effects of too much sun that can cause skin cancer.  A simple flower hat out in the garden on the weekends can go a long way to prevent over exposure.  Plant those veggies and eat them.  That’s a great way to prevent cancer: flush your body of toxins by avoiding meat and eating the fruits of your labor.

Speaking of labor.  If you are thinking about putting in new garage flooring or even replacing the insulation, check the asbestos presence before you begin.  You don’t want to expose the guys putting those beautiful new garage tiles in to nasty cancer causing agents found in all kinds of older homes.  Wear heavy duty clothing from Carhart or Dickies or any of the other industrial workwear retailers out there who specialize in manufacturing clothes that protect you from the elements.

This is out there, but I’ve heard unsubstantiated reports that those super tight sexy lowrise jeans, including the new skinny jeans girls are wearing (and guys too), are causing all kinds of health issues, from tingling legs and nerve endings, to stomach problems.  Nothing has been written about any links to cancer, but I can see how the uber-tight jeans could cause long-term issues especially if they are too tight for the body inside them.  I say find a cool pair of womens stretch jeans and make them work.  Your body will love you for it in the long run.

—————————————————————————-

Other Resources

Fashion Update:

Spring hair bows are coming back if you believe what you read in the fashion mags.  Swept back hair will be held in place with big fancy flowery bows and clips this upcoming season.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas announced Feb. 1 its plans to launch a program to emphasize wellness and manage diseases a new “model of life” health insurance initiative aimed at streamlining patient care.

The insurer has created a so-called medical home program with two physician groups, Medical Clinic of North Texas and Village Health Partners, which provide care for more than 20,000 members in Dallas, Denton, Tarrant, Collin and Johnson counties.

The term medical home refers to a coordinated system of primary care physicians, specialists and pharmacists sharing a patient’s information electronically. Today, the health care system in Texas and the nation is mostly fragmented. Patients with chronic conditions often are treated for each medical symptom rather than managing the underlying disease, such as diabetes.

“The medical home is really the new model of care for the 21st century,” said Dr. Christopher Crow, president of Village Health Partners. “It combines the traditional hands-on approach that family medicine has always been known for with the latest technology to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time in the right setting.”

Eduardo Sanchez, vice president and chief medical officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, said the company’s effort to improve health requires a partnership with physicians, which he called the “quarterback guiding patients through the complex health care system.”

Healthcare on the road?
The new medical “home” program should make it easier for patients with chronic illnesses to feel more confident about travelling.  Often, once a passenger makes his or her way through the walk through metal detector and heads out of town, they also leave their medical history far behind.  Now, through this new network of physicians and primary care providers, patients with ongoing illnesses can avoid the emergency rooms when they are ill on he road and instead save that money for cheap airfare, or perhaps some designer perfume from the duty free shop.

Blue Cross is not the first health insurer to propose such a program. In August, Cigna HealthCare announced the state’s first commercially sponsored medical home program with Medical Clinic of North Texas to serve 10,000 patients. An estimated 10 percent of those patients have chronic conditions and have a higher risk of being admitted to an emergency room, Cigna said.

Although insurers are just embracing the medical home concept, hospitals and physicians long have pushed for medical homes. Children’s Medical Center in Dallas invested $2 million to start Physicians for Children as a nonprofit medical-home clinic system in August 2000.

Before the medical home program started, the 75220 ZIP code near Bachman Lake was Children’s largest source of minor visits to the hospital’s emergency room. But after the medical home clinic opened at Bachman Lake, minor emergency room visits from that ZIP code dropped to sixth among Children’s coverage zones.

______________________________________

My Take: I’m all for a new system that will allow people to avoid putting more pressure on the already overcrowded emergency rooms at our country’s hospitals.  There simply aren’t enough volunteer programs or paid opportunities in the ERs here in America to keep up with the demand caused by the fact that so many of the country’s uninsured, including traveling passengers in and out of the country, rely on them to take care of illnesses that could and should be treated in a doctor’s office.

Speaking of traveling, if you are not a sufferer of any chronic illness and you have all your health insurance related issues sorted out, you might want to think about a vacation doing volunteer conservation work.  This is a great way to get to see a part of a foreign country you’ve always wanted to see while being of service to the locals.  There are often help wanted signs or ads for these kinds of jobs online.  They just take a lot sorting through to narrow down details about locations and costs to you, along with the work involved.

Usually, these kinds of working vacations do require you to have health insurance, but often they include some form of discount airfare, which can compensate for the long lines in customs and security checks where you and your belongings are heavily scrutinized by the latest metal detection equipment and TSA workers.

———————————————————————–

Other Resources

Gift Giving

Traveling to see a loved one?  There’s all kinds of interesting gifts to buy in airports while you wait for your flight.  Everything from brass bells and stuffed animals to discount perfumes and faux designer purses, jewelry and clothing can be purchased in the shops in most airports around the country and abroad.