LWV President, "Historic" Health Care Reform

Washington, D.C. – Statement from Mary G. Wilson, President of the League of Women Voters of the United States:

"Today's votes by the U.S. House of Representatives mark an historic milestone in American political history.  The path that began with Social Security and continued with Medicare is reaching fruition with this health care legislation.  Comprehensive health care reform will begin to undo decades of neglect and inaction that has left millions of Americans uninsured and at risk.

"This legislation is a monumental step in the fight for social justice. 

"Too many citizens lack adequate health insurance coverage and rising costs threaten everyone.  Passage of comprehensive health care legislation greatly expands coverage to include millions more Americans; protects the coverage that currently delivers care to most; reduces costs over the long term; and accomplishes these goals at a reasonable cost. 

"It would be difficult to overstate the importance of today's actions, and we commend our elected representatives for standing up for Americans and having the courage to do what needs to be done to confront the health care crisis in our country.  The League congratulates the House leadership on a closely-fought victory. 

"We can expect transformational reform from these bills.  Access to health care will be extended to all Americans.  Mechanisms to control rising costs will be put in place.  And the marketplace will be expanded and safeguards put in place to protect consumers.

"Truly, this legislation is monumental, historic and transforming.

"Today we took the critical step in dealing with the current health care crisis.  Tomorrow, many Americans will wake up to a new week and a new future that looks a great deal more promising."

 

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to men and women of all ages.

ACTION ALERT: Pass Strong Health Care Legislation Now!

ACTION ALERT: Pass Strong Health Care Legislation Now!

The House of Representatives is poised to take final action on health care reform legislation in the next few days. If ever there was a time to let your Representative know of your support for comprehensive health care reform, this is it! Please contact your Representative today and urge him or her to vote for the legislation that is coming to the House floor that will establish comprehensive health care reform...

The federal government needs to take strong action to extend health care coverage and reduce health care costs for individuals, businesses and communities. The current state of health care in this country is unsustainable. America is facing a health care crisis caused by a combination of skyrocketing costs and an insurance system that leaves 47 million living day-to-day without coverage. The federal government needs to take strong action to reduce costs for individuals, businesses and communities. As a nation, we are spending $1 out of every $6 we earn on health care. Over the last three decades, increases in the amount spent on health care have consistently risen faster than wages and inflation. If nothing is done, we could be spending $3 trillion for health care by 2011 and $4.2 trillion by 2016.

We cannot afford to do nothing. If comprehensive and effective health care legislation is not passed now, more Americans will lose coverage, endangering both our economy and our health.

TAKE ACTION

1. Contact your Representative now, by clicking here and entering your zip code. You may also call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask for your Representative. Tell your Representative to support comprehensive health care reform legislation.
2. Send this alert to other concerned citizens - your grassroots network, your friends and coworkers. Encourage them to contact their elected leaders.

BACKGROUND

Learn more about what the League is doing to support health care reform.

 

Explanations of Questions on the 2010 Census Form

See a sample census form

How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on

April 1, 2010?

The Census Bureau asks this question to help get an accurate count of the number of people in

the household on Census Day, April 1, 2010. The answer should be based on the guidelines in

the 'Start here' section. We use the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness

and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.

Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in

Question 1?

Asked since 1880. The Census Bureau asks this question to help identify people who may have

been excluded in the count provided in Question 1. The information is used to ensure response

accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or

missing information.

Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without

mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?

Asked since 1890. Homeownership rates serve as an indicator of the nation's economy. The

data are also used to administer housing programs and to inform planning decisions.

What is your telephone number?

The Census Bureau asks for a phone number in case they need to contact a respondent when

a form is returned with incomplete or missing information.

Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person here who

owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives

somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1. What is Person

1's name?

Listing the name of each person in the household helps the respondent to include all members,

particularly in large households where a respondent may forget who was counted and who was

not. Also, names are needed if additional information about an individual must be obtained to

complete the census form. Federal law protects the confidentiality of personal information,

including names.

What is Person 1's sex?

Asked since 1790. Census data about sex are important because many federal programs must

differentiate between males and females for funding, implementing and evaluating their

programs. For instance, laws promoting equal employment opportunity for women require

census data on sex. Also, sociologists, economists, and other researchers who analyze social

and economic trends use the data.

What is Person 1's age and Date of Birth?

Asked since 1800. Federal, state, and local governments need data about age to interpret most

social and economic characteristics, such as forecasting the number of people eligible for

Social Security or Medicare benefits. The data are widely used in planning and evaluating

government programs and policies that provide funds or services for children, working-age

adults, women of childbearing age, or the older population.

Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?

Asked since 1970. The data collected in this question are needed by federal agencies to

monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as under the Voting Rights Act

and the Civil Rights Act. State and local governments may use the data to help plan and

administer bilingual programs for people of Hispanic origin.

What is Person 1's race?

Asked since 1790. Race is key to implementing many federal laws and is needed to monitor

compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State governments use the

data to determine congressional, state and local voting districts. Race data are also used to

assess fairness of employment practices, to monitor racial disparities in characteristics such

as health and education and to plan and obtain funds for public services.

Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?

This is another question the Census Bureau asks in order to ensure response accuracy and

completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing

information.

Sandra Day O'Connor at Wayne State Feb 9th

League Members Only (non-members are welcome to join - go to www.lwvddh.org/join.html)

An invitation to "Options for an Independent Judiciary in Michigan," featuring retired Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, has just been extended to League members. The symposium takes place on Tuesday, February 9th, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at Wayne State University in Detroit.

Please note that they are not able to provide lunch and parking to new registrants. If you would like to attend,
Read more details and a description of all the featured speakers at www.lwvddh.org/wsuevent.pdf
RSVP at http://www.specialevents.wayne.edu/2010symposium. If you have problems registering, contact me and I will try to help.

Sincerely,

Kris Zawisza
LWVMI Project Director
517-484-5383

Who's Who 2010 Just Released

Here's the new Who's Who 2010!   (online at www.lwvddh.org/whoswho.pdf)

 

Thank you! to the following people and organizations:

 

Dianne Locke for the layout, numerous revisions, and for successfully requesting funding from the Dearborn Heights Rotary

 

Judy Carty, Judy Patrick, Kathy Gapa, Dianne Locke, Chris Sullivan, Mary Bugeia and Betsy Cushman for updating and proofing. 

 

Dearborn Federal Savings Bank and Dearborn Heights Rotary for help with underwriting.

 

Anyone interested in helping distribute these around our community, email us at lwvddh@mailcity.com.  Ask about locations too if you want to get one (or 2 or 3).  We don't mind if you pass them around to others.   The more we know about our elected officials the better.  More importantly, the better our democracy when these officials know what the voters think.  Our Who's Who includes email addresses and other contact information.

 

Census 2010 - The Basics by Mary Bugeia

Goal is to count every individual living in the United States. (Not just citizens – everyone)

PURPOSE:

• According to the constitution, a census of the population must be conducted every ten years in order to determine the apportionment of congressional seats. For Michigan this is very important because in recent decades we have been loosing representation going from 19, to 17, to the current 15. It is expected that Michigan will loose another seat, maybe two, depending on how much population we loose and other states gain. It is also used for redistricting state legislator seats, and voting districts.
• In addition, every year, more than $300 billion in federal funds are awarded to states and communities based on the census. This = more than $3 trillion over a 10 –year period
• Federal programs are funded on a formula for community block projects, S-chip for child heath, assistance to college students. The data helps guide local decision makers in important community planning efforts including where to build new roads (transportation), hospitals, and schools.

HOW:

• Establish partnerships with local governments, community based organizations, faith based organizations, schools, media, businesses and others - - to ensure a complete and accurate count. Beginning in 2007 – boundaries of counties, townships, and incorporated places were verified. Regional and local Centers were established.
• The Census document of one page, two sided, has ten questions regarding name, address, number of persons in residence, ethnicity of each, age of each person.
• Document will be mailed to every household during the month of March. People are to fill it out according to who is living in the place on April 1, and mail it back.
• If you do not return the form… then you will be contacted by telephone, then in person.
• It may cost $80,000,000 to follow-up for every 1% of people who do not return the form. 

WHERE:

• Typical living situations, group homes, U.S Military, college students, foreign students living in the U.S., people on the move (where they live most of the time.) 
• Special concern for Michigan is the… Snowbirds….. People living several months in another state. If you know any – urge them to wait and fill out the form at their Michigan residence.
• Foreclosed homes – look for people who may be with relatives.

PRIVACY:

• Official Census workers will have badges, will not ask to enter your home (unless you invite them), and will not ask for your social security number.

• The LAW Title 13 U.S. Code. Data for the Census may not be shared with any other agency like the IRS. It is a Federal law – if anyone releases data = 5 years in prison, or $250,000 fine.
• For genealogy purposes the data may be used after 72 years.

JOBS:

• Applicants have to take a test, undergo a background check, and take an oath.

 

TIMELINE:

• March 2010 – U.S. Postal Service deliver the 130 million Questionnaires to the American Public.
• Mid March – April – collect the completed questionnaires. (Anticipating  70% return)
• April – July follow –up of non- returns.
• December 31, 2010 - Deliver the counts to President per the Constitution – announce total population for the United States and for the 50 states.
• April 2011 – Deliver counts to state governors for redistricting of state legislators.

There is another survey called AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY asking more involved questions about home, mortgage, utilities, home insurance, auto ownership, employment, level of education, etc.

 

action alert - don't weaken clean air act

ACTION ALERT: Stand Up Against Weakening the Clean Air Act

 

The Senate is expected to vote on an amendment that would weaken the Clean Air Act and block EPA action against climate change. If it passes, the amendment will put public health at risk and jeopardize long-overdue action to cut emissions from the biggest polluters.

 

Get more information and take action here:

http://www.capwiz.com/lwv/issues/alert/?alertid=14566696&type=CO