Karen Sandefur's blog

This blog was brought to my attention at Democrat Unity. Dr. Bagwell challenged Shimkus for the IL-19 CD in '04 and Dr. Gronemeyer is one of the Democratic Party's most active and valuable members in IL. So, I thought it would be of particular interest to us here in the ILDemNet.

http://democratunity.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=110&I...

I had a call from my friend Pam Gronemeyer, a Pathologist in the metro-east area of downstate Illinois. She runs her own private practice pathology/cytology laboratory performing pathology work for patients as well as autopsies for coroners and hospitals in Southern Illinois. Her practice covers the health insurance of all her employees. Dr. Gronemeyer's practice depends upon payments for services from the state in order to stay both profitable and provide her employees with good health insurance. Dr. Gronemeyer is also a proponent and supporter of a single-payer health insurance.

The effective nationalization of AIG inspired Dr. Gronemeyer to propose to me that what the government should do is put AIG to work by making it the single-payer organization for national healthcare. It is the largest insurance company in America and the Federal Government(read taxpayers) now own 80% of the company. AIG already offers personal healthcare insurance, though along with other of its operations, may be up on the auction block.

The media have yet used the "A" word, that is "austerity" but they have already compared the current crisis to the Great Depression and have been warning that the $700 billion-plus bail-out will certainly do away with proposals such as single-payer national healthcare.

An expensive war in Iraq, the bail-out of Wall Street, the continuing crisis in the economy, and the healthcare crisis demands that the taxpayer's receive something in return for their sacrifices.

Yes, it is a "sock-it-to-me" punch to the other health insurance companies who, let's face it, like the rest of the concocted financial instruments of the past eight years, does not really constitute insurance. The expensive marketing and multiplicity of information systems, the delayed payments, confusing policies and surprising bills after the delivery of services do not even come close to property, renter's or auto insurance in terms of quality of service and understandability. Their days ought to be numbered in the current climate of change. It is time they turned over their business to the nationalized AIG.

In her capacity as a Pathologist Dr. Gronemeyer often sees the end results of a failed healthcare system. In her business practice she has provided comprehensive coverage to her employees at a great expense. Localized solutions from the state capitals are like band aids on bullet wounds, insurance companies have proven that after years and years of opportunities they are incapable of delivering a solution and up to this point the Federal government has been nothing more than a patsy to these same companies.

We now have the opportunity to stop another crisis in the midst of all the others. Make AIG the single-payer of a national healthcare program.

This past Friday, the Downstate Democrats for Change(DFA-Metro East Chapter) sponsored a fundraiser for Daniel Davis. It was held at Ramon’s in Collinsville. I hadn’t met Daniel yet. So, I browsed through his campaign website, Daniel Davis for Congress.

"The number of inmates in American prisons is outpacing the system's ability to hold them all. In one startling example, California prisons hold 70,000 more inmates than they're designed for, even though the state has built a dozen new prisons in the last 15 years.

One of the biggest reasons is rampant recidivism. "Right now, seven out of every 10 inmates that leave this prison comes back," California Warden Mike Poulos tells NOW. "We need to stop that revolving door.""

NOW went "inside an Illinois prison that may have the answer to California's problems. With its innovative plan to keep released inmates from coming back, the Sheridan Correctional Center is trying to redefine "tough on crime" by being the largest fully dedicated drug prison in the country. The approach involves aggressive counseling, job training... and following the convicts after they get out."

In case you missed it on Friday night, NOW has started providing the videos on their website. http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/322/index.html

This is the sort of thing that makes me so proud to be an Illinoisan.

VoteVets has included Illinois Congressman Timothy Johnson on their list of targets for their three commercials.

In the words of Jon Soltz, "For too long, the President has maintained that he's just listening to commanders on the ground, which is utterly false. These ads set the record straight, directly from the mouths of those men. The President isn't listening, he hasn't listened, and he hasn't shown an interest in listening to commanders on the ground in Iraq. If the President won't listen to commanders, then Congress must. They must force about a surge in diplomacy, and not allow a war without end."

This is the link. http://www.votevets.org/

I wasn't sure what to think about this report. http://www.bluehampshire.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=540 But, then I saw Sen. Gravel's youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJHdsWO5BKg If the Democrats are serious about standing up to unfair and unbalanced media, I believe they need to hold CNN's feet to the fire until they give Sen. Gravel a place in the NH Debate.

Stover supporters participated in the Alton Parade on Saturday Aug. 26. They alternated formations with the letters in Danny Stover's last name. Apparently, this was a big hit with the parade attendees.

To take a quote from the CDA website, "This coming summer, for the first time in a non-presidential year, CDA is proud to announce that it is moving convention out of D.C. and into the states! CDA's most important annual event can no longer afford to be solely based in D.C. and has chosen St. Louis for this important first."

I think it may be to Dr./Gov./Chmn. Dean's credit for stressing the need to reach out to all 50 States. I certainly hope this helps Midwestern College Dems to feel like they matter. And I especially hope our students in Illinois will take advantage of this. The registration fee is up to $70 now, as the deadline is fast approaching, July 19. Take a look at the headliners. They'll be well worth the price.

http://convention.collegedems.com/index.php

I know this is late in coming, but I want to report on a wonderful opportunity I had the night of June 10th. The Downstate Democrats for Change organized Trivia for Democracy with all the bells and whistles to create a really fun night for a great cause, raising money for Danny Stover's campaign. I am so proud to be part of this group. They're some of the nicest, hardworking people you'll ever meet. I'm sure I speak for us all in saying, we really appreciate all the people who participated in the event, along with the IBEW for lending their facility in Collinsville, in order to help support Danny's campaign. I have to give Danny and his wife special props for coming out and helping us(even through the clean up afterwards).

We all recognize how important it is that Danny wins the election in November, so we can send him to DC and work in the best interest of ALL Americans. If you go to his website http://www.stoverforcongress.us/ and read his stance on the issues our nation is struggling with, you'll see he has some real sensible approaches to them.

For more pictures, see the Gallery...

Last year Governor Rod Blagojevich proposed and implemented a rule that requires pharmacies in Illinois that stock contraceptives to dispense those medications without delay. This action was in response to numerous incidents in which women were refused lawful prescriptions for contraception at some pharmacies in Illinois.

However, some women and medical providers still encounter hassles when they attempt to have a prescription for contraception filled. In at least one instance the pharmacy staff misled a prescriber and told her that the medication was out of stock when it actually was available at the store at that time.

Downstate Democrats for Change is hosting TRIVIA FOR DEMOCRACY! There will also be 50/50 Tix, Attendance & Cash Prizes and a Silent Auction.

Come and meet the candidate! Proceeds of the event will support the campaign for Danny L. Stover, Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress, IL District 19.

WHERE:
IBEW Hall, Local 309
2000A Mall Street, Collinsville
(next to former Petite 4 Cinema and visible from Hwy. 157)

WHEN: Saturday, June 10, 2006
Registration: 6:15 p.m.
Trivia Game: 7:00 p.m.

$100 per table of 8 in advance
$12.50 / person in advance or $15 at the door