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Political Watch
By Robert E. Martin
Patient Deception Act
In pushing through what they have billed as HMO Reform, House
Republicans recently opposed several fundamental health reforms that put
patients first, voting No on reforms that would allow patients to sue their
HMOs to pay for treatment covered under their health plan that a patient's
physician says is medically necessary.
Republicans also voted no on measures that would allow patients to sue HMOs
for damages resulting from them being denied the care they need, and
another measure that would prohibit bureaucrats from making medical
decisions by preventing the Insurance Commissioner from reviewing medical
determinations made by the independent review organization during a
patient's appeal process.
"Republicans want a health system where bureaucrats have more power than
doctors, where seriously ill patients must jump through hoops, and where
people who are harmed are denied their day in court, noted State Rep. Mark
Schauer (D-Battle Creek.) "
Republicans Aid Polluters
House Republicans worked feverishly to cover the tracks of
industrial polluters during debate over a bill to restructure Michigan's
electricity market on May 31st.
Democrats blasted extraordinary Republican efforts to defeat two amendments
which would have required the Department of Environmental Quality to
regulate mercury emissions from electric power facilities located in
Michigan. Mercury is a toxin, emitted into the air, that poisons the air,
water and land. It also causes neurological disorders in people.
One amendment, sponsored by Rep. William Callahan (D-St. Clair
Shores/Harrison Twp) gained the 56 votes necessary for support and passed.
But anti-environmental republican floor leader Andrew Raczkowski
(R-Farmington Hills) moved to reconsider the vote and Republicans later
killed the amendment.
"All it takes is one drop of mercury to contaminate a lake," Callahan said.
"Republicans worked awfully hard to put the health of our families at risk."
A second amendment, sponsored by Rep. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor), was
repeatedly delayed by Republicans until they could muster enough votes to
defeat it.
"Michigan families want clean air and water. They want protection from
polluters," Brater said. "It's tragic to see corporate polluters protected
at the expense of families."
Drug Registry on the Horizon?
State Representative Eileen DeHart, a Democrat from Westland, has
proposed House Bill 5796, which would establish a registry for people
convicted of drug offenses.
Similar to the Michigan Sex Offender Registry, which was adopted in 1998,
the Drug Offender Registry would identify anyone ever convicted of
possessing marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other illegal substances.
Saginaw attorney Greg Schmid, a pro-pot Republican attorney who is
spearheading a petition drive for the Personal Responsibility Amendment
2000, which would legalize homegrown marijuana, was quoted in the
independent northern publication, Express, as saying "Representative DeHart
- a limousine liberal - shows what she thinks about personal liberty."
Legal Advice for Seniors
Following the Saginaw County Senior Circuit Pro Bono Bar
Association's annual meeting and election of officers, Joseph J. Trogan
will succeed James A. Brisbois, Sr. as President.
The other elected officers are Charles Collison Jr., Jack E. Kerr, Richard
Novak, Robert Choklos, and John McGraw.
The Association in conjunction with Legal Services of Eastern Michigan and
the Saginaw County Commission on Aging, conducts a "pro bono' advice clinic
each month at the Eleanor Frank Senior Center.
School Takeover Bill Delayed
Democrats on the House Education Committee moved successfully on
June 1st to table a Republican bill that would enable the state to take
over local school districts. The legislation, which has drawn scorn from
parents and local school officials, will remain in the Education Committee
for further study.
"This legislation gives the state government the power to conduct a hostile
takeover of virtually any local school district," said Rep. Ken Daniels
(D-Detroit), who sponsored the amendment to table the bill. "This bill is
wrong in so many ways. It deserves careful study and consideration. It
should not be put on the same fast track that has delivered so many bad
laws to the governor's desk."
The House Republican proposal allows the governor to appoint a takeover
team for local school districts, which is empowered to remove the locally
elected board of education and appoint its own trustee to manage the
district. The takeover team could even dissolve the district. The
Republican proposal also allows the takeover process to result in forced
mergers of school districts.
Democrats object to the bill on several grounds, including its heavy
reliance on MEAP test results as a criterion for takeover; that local
officials have no input into the decision to take over a district; and that
the standards put in place for takeover do not take into consideration
factors such as heavy concentrations of poverty that contribute to poor
student performance.
"Parents opposed this bill, school officials oppose it, educators oppose
it," Daniels said. "Virtually everyone who has testified before the
committee, as well as committee members from both political parties, want
to see us make significant changes to this bill. Tabling it was the right
thing to do for the children and communities of this state."
Daniels said he was disappointed that local school officials and parents,
who were scheduled to testify before the committee, did not get that
opportunity. Although committee procedures allow testimony t be taken at
any time, committee chair Jason Allen (R-Traverse City) decided that
testimony would not take place since the bill had been tabled.
When taken in conjunction with the growth in Charter Schools, this
legislation would have created a dangerous scenario for local school
districts insofar as Charter Schools may decline the acceptance of a
student, whereas Public Schools are forced to handle all the 'problem
cases' that Charter Schools reject.
Ah yes - your public tax dollars at work!
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