A new report out highlights the economic threat the current health care system creates for American cities, which are typically ignored in the discussion about health care reform. The report, put out by Families USA—a nonprofit and nonpartisan national organization that advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans—found that, “…cities are profoundly affected by the rising number of uninsured Americans and the rising cost of providing coverage for their own employees. These problems have an impact on all city residents, regardless of their health insurance status, and they affect cities’ ability to fulfill other municipal functions as well.”

“Our cities face the dual challenges of assisting a rising number of uninsured Americans and providing increasingly expensive health coverage for their own employees,” Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, said on Monday.

Pollock’s statement summarizes the key findings of the report, which concluded that cities have been overlooked and left to manage local health care crises on their own, which poses a risk to the budgets of other city services, such as police and fire protection, schools, parks, and the repair of city streets and other infrastructure.

“Today’s report makes crystal clear what many of us in cities across America—who are faced with the spiraling costs of health care both for our employees and our citizens—understand all too well,” said Philadelphia’s Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “It’s threatening our economies, our families and our futures. It is time for Washington to stop the excuses and fix our broken health care system.”

The report is based on extensive surveys and research of thirteen cities nationwide, which all had consistent results. Immunizations are one of the largest burdens on cities.

Other key findings include…

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The Maternal Is Political: Women Writers at the Intersection of Motherhood & Social Change
Edited by Shari MacDonald Strong
Seal Press
352 pgs, $15.95
ISBN: 1-58005-243-6

Something definitely changes when you become MOTHER. Besides all the physical,emotional and mental aspects; the sleepless nights, cranky babies, the thought of being able to fit into your pre-baby jeans. You become more aware of the world and your place in it, of what is happening around you. You see things with a mother’s eye. One of the essays, In Albania, by Mona Gable, captures this new view absolutely. Here she recounts her time in Albania as a reporter during the Kosovo conflict-Balkan wars with the new eyes of a mother: “The lens of motherhood would filter everything I was to witness…..”. Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t always agree with the bills that are introduced or passed in our U.S. Congress, but one bill that has quietly passed through the Senate is the Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008.  The basics of the bill are wider provisions on mental health support for our veterans and their families.  What are the mental health issues facing our troops?

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If I stop and think about it, it really alarms me that I am a mere seven years older than the toxics law in this country, a clunker that has so few teeth it doesn’t control many substances at all, despite being named the Toxic Substances Control Act. I’ve dreamed of overhauling the clunker and ranted about bisphenol-A.

But rather than resorting to trashing more dangerous products from our pantry, we can get on board with the Kid Safe Chemicals Act, an excellent piece of federal legislation recently introduced by three U.S. Representatives (NY and CA, all Dems, natch). This bill could really and truly help with the explosion of toxic products everywhere. we. turn. And all we have to do, mamas, is help pass the thing.

Nothing to it! ‘Cause all you need to do for now is know about this excellent bill. Read about this excellent bill. Talk about this excellent bill. And, when it moves (and with us behind it, it will), when a floor vote is on the horizon, let’s be at the ready to pick up the phone, send that e-mail, make that in-person meeting to tell your Congressional delegation - loud and clear - how very much this matters to you. To us. To all parents everywhere. Read the rest of this entry »

So maybe you’re not a federal employee like I was until last week. Shoot, maybe you don’t even know a federal employee (we’re nice, really). So why e-mail or call your U.S. Representative and ask that she vote for paid parental leave for federal employees? Aside from the whole helping others thing, which is pretty compelling on its own, this is important because it’s a critical first step toward paid family leave for all employees in this country.

Speak Up, Moms! The U.S. House of Representatives votes this week - Thursday, 6.19.08 - on a bill to allow four weeks of full paid parental leave for federal employees. Wow. It’s about time our government set an example in this area. There couldn’t be a better time to e-mail your U.S. Representative with one easy click (all possible with a sleeping babe on the lap!).

Better yet, pick up the phone, mamas, it’s worth the extra effort. To find your Representative’s phone number, just enter your zip code here. If you’re a little nervous to call, do it after hours and leave a message. It still counts! You could simply say: “Hi, I am your constituent and strongly urge you to vote YES on HR 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Leave Act of 2008. Thank you for supporting working families.” Read the rest of this entry »

I love our country’s Bill of Rights (without which our opportunities to SPEAK UP might be a wee bit limited) and am not as regularly thankful for it as I should be. So… thank you, James Madison!

So I was pretty happy the other day when I stumbled across another Bill of Rights, and just like one of the original 13 states, I signed it. Though not with a quill, I must admit, as they did back in 1787. Since it’s electronic, you too can sign this very on-point Work & Family Bill of Rights. How needed is this?? Here’s how it starts:

Families face a shortfall of time and money for care. A majority of America’s children have no one at home full-time to care for them, while others, including the elderly and people with disabilities, increasingly need care. Jobs divide employees into those with high pay, benefits, but long hours and little time for family or leisure, and those with low wages, few benefits, and insufficient flexibility and financial resources to care for their families. We can and should do better. Working families have fundamental rights to financially sustain and to care for themselves and their families. These rights include… Read the rest of this entry »

 Over at Treehugger, there was a short listing of hollywoods sexiest vegetarians.  It was not the vegetarian aspect that made my day, or the the sexy part, but the link to Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey’s latest press release regarding the Green Our Vaccine march this coming Wednesday on June 4th in Washingtong D.C.  What is their goal? 

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In my part of the country, the case of the mom who was a participant in a Myspace hoax that ended tragically with a 13-year-old girl committing suicide is a big news.  Please read the whole story here.  On the McGraw Milhaven radio show this morning he interviewed the mother, Tina Meier, of the young girl.  Basically the indicted mother, Lori Drew, was found guilty of posting under a fake profile.  The radio host brought up an interesting point? 

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*cue Twilight Zone theme *

Did you know that just 6 media conglomerates control most of the media in the US?

This may seem unimportant to you and your family and I assure you there are some folks that are banking on that and expecting you will be passive, but don’t be fooled; it’s important to the freedom of all Americans.

Have you ever wondered why some news stories, even really important ones, are buried in the back of the newspaper or only mentioned in your alternative weekly? Ever wonder why the media makes almost no mention of certain alarming or newsworthy topics and other topics (Britney Spears’ escapades, Anna Nicole Smith’s death) get non-stop coverage?

In a free country, media concentration hinders vigorous public debate and limits the news, viewpoints and perspectives presented to citizens — often to their detriment.

The problem just got worse when Bush’s FCC basically gutted a rule that limited the number of both newspaper and television stations giant media conglomerates are able to buy up in the same city.

Right now a few major corporations with with ties to many special interests are controlling the news and influencing your world view.

And independent or dissenting voices are being silenced.

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The MOTHERS Act (also referred to as Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act) is up before the Senate. The bill has been passed by the House. The basic premise of the Act is provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis. You can read the bill here.

There are two sides talking about this bill. There are those who believe this is good thing because more research and care needs to be provided for women suffering from postpartum depression and psychosis. There are those that strongly oppose this bill because, in essence, it will be a green light for pharmaceutical companies to force doctors to hand out more antidepressants.

As a new mother to my second child, I can appreciate both sides. First, yes more research should be done on postpartum depression and psychosis. So much has been printed on what happens during the pregnancy, but sometimes a new mom gets nothing more than a 6-week hurried check up at her OB. Is that enough? Does that count as a screening for postpartum depression? What about months later?

Second, this speaks to those who oppose the bill, an antidepressant may not be the best answer for everyone and a patient should not be bullied or guilted into taking medicine. What are the alternatives? The goal of this bill is to not only provide services, but research. Research in postpartum depression and psychosis is needed.

The language of the bill does not specify that prescriptions drugs will be the first line of defense. If you want to make your voice heard in support of the bill please visit the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

For further reading and up to date postings please visit the Postpartum Progress Blog.