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Dems' Health Care Reform Plans Would Include Abortion Coverage, Washington Times Opinion Piece States
As lawmakers work to pass health reform legislation, "few are talking about" the "essential question" of whether "health reform will force taxpayers to pay for abortions for the first time in 30 years," Family Research Council President Tony Perkins writes in a Washington Times opinion piece. According to Perkins, "the short answer is yes" because there is no "explicit provision" in any Democratic health plan that would "[p]revent taxpayer funding of abortions as part of the health care benefit Congress is considering"; avert "delays in health care services that result in the death of the patient waiting for care"; or allow health care providers "to refuse to participate in health care-related action that violates their conscience." Perkins continues that the House"s reform proposal would provide federal coverage for ""family planning," the well-worn buzz word that includes abortion unless specified to the contrary." He adds that "it would be naive to assume, unless there is an explicit prohibition in the bill, that [HHS] Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will not use her discretion to fund abortions with taxpayers" money." Perkins also writes that the Democratic reform plans, "in short, ... attempt to be silent on the key question of whether or not to allow the U.S. government to fund abortions with taxpayers" money," and also give the HHS secretary "the power to allow taxpayer-funded abortions."He writes, "The Family Research Council"s answer is clear: There must be a permanent prohibition on taxpayer-funded abortions," as well as "provision to allow a right of conscience for doctors and nurses and other health care providers" to refuse to participate in treatments they oppose. He adds that "there can be no system of denial or delay or rationing of care." Perkins concludes, "Euthanasia by any other name is a poison pill in the health reform debate" (Perkins, Washington Times, 7/5)

New Report Finds American Obesity Rates Climb Again - Fruits & Vegetables Important To Combating Obesity
Adult obesity rates did not decrease in a single state over the past year, but rather increased in 23 states. Also, the percentage of obese and overweight children is now at or above 30 percent in 30 states.
News of the day
Key Found To How Tumor Cells Invade The Brain In Childhood Cancer
Despite great strides in treating childhood leukemia, a form of the disease called T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) poses special challenges because of the high risk of leukemic cells invading the brain and spinal cord of children who relapse. Now, a new study in the June 18, 2009, issue of the journal Nature by scientists at NYU School of Medicine reveals the molecular agents behind this devastating infiltration of the central nervous system. The finding may lead to new drugs that block these agents and thus lower the risk of relapse.
Mental Health

Dodd Stretched Thin On Finance And Health Roles

Critics are saying that Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., cannot handle his role in financial regulatory reform while he sits in for ailing Sen. Edward Kennedy on the House"s health committee, Politico reports. Dodd, in addition to sitting as the acting chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, is full-time chair of the Senate Banking Committee, and he insists he can get both health and financial market reform done this year. "Dodd"s staff talks just about every day with administration aides on the issue, and his office points to the fact that the committee has already held 15 hearings this year related to the regulatory reform issue, 12 of them before the full committee. But Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), a member of the committee, said there"s no way that financial regulatory reform will move quickly if his colleagues - and his chairman - are focused on health care." As Dodd runs for re-election: "The optics of fighting for the top kitchen-table concern for many Americans provides the perfect antidote to the image of Dodd as too cozy with Wall Street fat cats - fueled by the controversy of his getting what some view as a sweetheart mortgage deal from now-defunct Countrywide Financial - and as out of touch with folks back home, symbolized for many by his quixotic run for the White House" (McGrane, 6/23). Indeed, his re-election is increasingly a topic in any conversation about him, CQ Politics reports: "He"s facing by far the roughest campaign of his career. Although he"s won his Senate seat five times by double-digit margins, and secured his current term in 2004 with two-thirds of the vote, he"s trailing in the polls behind his likely Republican challenger next year: Rob Simmons, who served in the House from 2001 through 2006" (Nather, 6/23). But Dodd is hanging his hat on health care reform, and is abetted by his friend Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., The Hill reports: "Few senators know that (Baucus and Dodd) have had a quiet friendship over the years, but that relationship may prove pivotal for Democrats" hopes of passing a health reform package. Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee charged with figuring out how to pay for the healthcare overhaul, once backed Dodd for leadership at his own peril (by voting for him instead of Sen. Tom Daschle for a leadership position)" (Bolton, 6/22). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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