Senate passes Inflation Reduction Act
• The final, party-line vote was 51-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie (Aug. 7, CNN)
• Here's what's in the newly passed Senate deal (Aug. 7, CNN) • Opinion: For a president many believe is failing, Joe Biden is sure racking up wins (Aug. 7, CNN) • Text of the Inflation Reduction Act (Aug. 7, CNN) • Wyden: This is a huge victory for American families (Aug. 8) • Merkley: A big step in combating climate chaos (Aug. 8) Jeff Merkley: Inflation Reduction Act |
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin on July 27 announced a deal on an energy and health care bill, representing a breakthrough after more than a year of negotiations that have collapsed time and again, CNN reported
But it will face furious GOP opposition. The deal is a major reversal for Manchin, and the health and climate bill stands a serious chance of becoming law as soon as August -- assuming Democrats can pass the bill in the House and that it passes muster with the Senate parliamentarian to allow it to be approved along straight party lines in the budget process. (Click here for the rest of the story) |
Medicare birthday rally will bring attention
to efforts to privatize the federal program
A rally to celebrate the 57th birthday of Medicare and bring attention to efforts to privatize the federal program will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Linn County Courthouse, 300 Fourth Ave. S.W.
Medicare was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 30, 1965. The federal health insurance program is for people 65 and older, certain younger people with disabilities and people with End-stage Renal Disease.
“Powerful investor groups are privatizing Medicare through the little-known program REACH (formerly Medicare Direct Contracting),” said Rick Staggenborg, Linn County Democrat and the Linn County chair of Health Care for All Oregon. “Unchecked, this will replace traditional Medicare with a system run like private insurance. As with private insurance, this is decreasing provider choice, increasing co-pays and deductibles, and causing inappropriate denial of care.”
In addition to these costs to beneficiaries, the change is coming at a huge cost to taxpayers. Under REACH, contractors are allowed to keep up to 40 percent of all monies they receive to pay provider bills. Traditional Medicare covers these bills with only a 2% overhead. Over half of the entities that have applied to become contractors are investor-owned, including private equity funds that make no pretense of being in it to improve medical care, Staggenborg said.
The rally is cosponsored by the Linn County chapter of Health Care for All Oregon, the Health Care Justice Ministry of Albany First Christian Church, and Mid Valley Health Care Associates.
For more about REACH, click here
Medicare was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 30, 1965. The federal health insurance program is for people 65 and older, certain younger people with disabilities and people with End-stage Renal Disease.
“Powerful investor groups are privatizing Medicare through the little-known program REACH (formerly Medicare Direct Contracting),” said Rick Staggenborg, Linn County Democrat and the Linn County chair of Health Care for All Oregon. “Unchecked, this will replace traditional Medicare with a system run like private insurance. As with private insurance, this is decreasing provider choice, increasing co-pays and deductibles, and causing inappropriate denial of care.”
In addition to these costs to beneficiaries, the change is coming at a huge cost to taxpayers. Under REACH, contractors are allowed to keep up to 40 percent of all monies they receive to pay provider bills. Traditional Medicare covers these bills with only a 2% overhead. Over half of the entities that have applied to become contractors are investor-owned, including private equity funds that make no pretense of being in it to improve medical care, Staggenborg said.
The rally is cosponsored by the Linn County chapter of Health Care for All Oregon, the Health Care Justice Ministry of Albany First Christian Church, and Mid Valley Health Care Associates.
For more about REACH, click here
Disability Justice Caucus:
Celebrate ADA anniversary
Today, we affirm that we all deserve the chance to fully participate in society and remember the brave activists who took charge — getting out of their wheelchairs and crawling up the steps of the U.S. Capitol on March 12, 1990, to demand our basic human rights. Hundreds of people with disabilities took part in this action and were the catalyst in pushing Congress to move forward and pass this landmark civil rights bill.
We recognize that for all its successes, the Americans with Disabilities Act is not sufficient in its guarantee of disability equity and accessibility. For example, people with disabilities who have multiple identities, such as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color with disabilities and/or members of the LGBTQIA+ communities with disabilities.
While there is still a long way to go, here in Oregon and beyond – we remain committed to building a more inclusive, accessible, and equitable state for all.
Get Involved!
Celebrate the ADA's anniversary and tell us your story! Use any media of your choosing (video, pictures, written word, or other) and share on social media:
Facebook: #ThanksToTheADA.
Twitter: #ThanksToTheADA #ADA32 #ADANetwork #DisabilityPride
Thanks for joining us in this fight.
Steph Newton,
Chair, DPO Disability Justice Caucus
PS - For more information on our Disability Justice Caucus, please sign up using the link below or join us at our next meeting, which will be held during the Democratic Party of Oregon's third quarter State Central Committee meeting on August 20-21. Details here.
We recognize that for all its successes, the Americans with Disabilities Act is not sufficient in its guarantee of disability equity and accessibility. For example, people with disabilities who have multiple identities, such as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color with disabilities and/or members of the LGBTQIA+ communities with disabilities.
While there is still a long way to go, here in Oregon and beyond – we remain committed to building a more inclusive, accessible, and equitable state for all.
Get Involved!
Celebrate the ADA's anniversary and tell us your story! Use any media of your choosing (video, pictures, written word, or other) and share on social media:
Facebook: #ThanksToTheADA.
Twitter: #ThanksToTheADA #ADA32 #ADANetwork #DisabilityPride
Thanks for joining us in this fight.
Steph Newton,
Chair, DPO Disability Justice Caucus
PS - For more information on our Disability Justice Caucus, please sign up using the link below or join us at our next meeting, which will be held during the Democratic Party of Oregon's third quarter State Central Committee meeting on August 20-21. Details here.
Biden signs executive order on abortion
President Biden issued an executive order July 8 to safeguard access to abortion and contraception, a move that comes amid heightened pressure on the White House since the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade. PBS NewHour's Laura Barrón-López joins anchor Judy Woodruff to discuss what it means and where some activists say it falls short. |
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