CONGRATULATIONS MICHAEL ! you too marty

PERSONAL

I awoke this morning at 5:30am a 3+ and a cloudy morning. I took my am pills, and put my flag out and I settled into my Lazy Boy for 2 quick massages. Marty’s celebration is today.

I am still reporting we have 1 more graduate to celebrate here, today by the way. Nephew (and Godson) Michael from Evergreen High School. His plan, I believe, is to go to Pasadena Community College in California starting in October. I did check to see how good their Baseball program is, it looks like they could sure use a good lefty on the mound. I hope it is “Pasadena City College”. If it is the same one I found on the Internet their list of Alumni is very impressive. I am not sure if others will feel the same way, but of the many honored graduates they list is “Jackie Robinson”, along with a number of current MLB, NFL, and NBA players. They even have an alumni playing for the Mariners.

Today my format changes may continue. I think my permanent “Hero's” box is up, but the “pay pal” box for direct connections to MY charities of choice is not complete yet, so you will have to go directly to their link. If “pay pal” works the way I want, a donation there goes to me for distribution to one of the many I list in my “Community Organizers” section. I will try to keep a running tally. I will also try to keep posting the direct links for those charities.

POLITICAL

I still don't know what did happen in Astoria? I did get a email from my friend, and sister, Suzanne saying she really liked my letter. However, I don't know if she read it from my blog or if it was published elsewhere.

Come on Salem, Get behind the President, we need that cleaner energy and those good jobs.

It's been a week since I participated in that conference call on health care with President Obama, He was on Air Force One. I am not sure if they were just looking for support (which I do); or if they are looking for comments, it was definitely a pitch for support but they did take 3-4 comments. Mine was not one of them, but I did get a follow up report:

Wally --

Two days ago, President Obama called in from Air Force One to join tens of thousands of Organizing for America supporters on a conference call to discuss our Health Care Organizing Campaign.

In case you missed it -- or just want to hear what happened again -- we've posted the audio from the call.

Listen to the audio and leave a comment there.

On the call the President laid out his goals for real health care reform, talked about some of the personal health care stories he's read from OFA members, and took questions on how we can help win this campaign.

He called on the thousands of participants to host Health Care Kickoff Events on June 6th, which I will miss because of my nephews graduation party and I missed the training conference call on June 3, I have not given up trying to participate but it appears my participaton will be limited to those who read my blog. OFA's National Health Care Day of Service is on June 27th and I will try to post whatever info I can.

Please listen to the call, and pass this note on to any of your friends who might be interested:

http://my.barackobama.com/may28audio

There seems to still be a little battle going on here in Oregon between a few Unions (mine is not one), The Bus Project and Senator Wyden over whether he wants to tax employee benefits and other stuff. (Please see the Earl Blumenhauer Letter later in “OTHER STUFF”). Senator Wyden ran an ad ( I did not see it, but my wife told me about it) and Senator Wyden said the Unions sponsoring the ad had it all wrong. I have received a couple of emails of support for the “Obama Plan” from one of the Unions attacking the “Wyden Plan” so I am assuming there is a difference. Senator Wyden has been running a good ad with Senator Merkley and there does not appear to be any mention of, or definition of, “lavish” benefits. I wish someone could tell me the difference? ( Earl tries )

I also saw a report that unpaid Health Care bills were responsible for 60% of bankruptcies in this country. Do you see the same connection that I see?

Is a rhetorical question, a question that also contains the answer? I have two questions?
My first one; If you really believe in the right to life, should you kill someone to prove your point?
My second one is; as a longtime Union supporter, if we had meetings and espoused the killing of scabs, would the Federal Government come after us on “conspiracy” charges?
Isn't that one of the ways they get organized crime?

Health Care Now !

This is what I got off of Senator Wyden's website:

The Healthy Americans Act will make quality health care affordable for individuals families and employers. All employers, along with individuals and the government, will share the responsibility of financing health care. Employers who provide employee health benefits would be required to convert their workers' health care premiums into higher wages for two years after the bill is enacted. Employees, in turn, would be required to purchase private health coverage with their higher wages. To ensure that health care coverage is affordable, the plan would fully subsidize the premiums for those who live below the poverty line. Those people earning between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty line ($10,400 annually per person) would also receive subsidies on a sliding scale to help pay their premiums. The bill also creates a generous standard deduction to help Americans pay for health coverage regardless of whether they get coverage on their own or through their employers. Employers who don't currently offer health benefits would have to make phased-in "Employer Shared Responsibility Payments," which would be used to provide financial assistance to individuals and families of modest income. After two years, all employers would make "Employer Shared Responsibility Payments" to the Federal government. These payments are relative to the size of the employer and their revenues. The plan, known as the Healthy Americans Act, would: guarantee private health care coverage for all Americans and allow them to choose the health insurance that is right for them; provide health benefits equal to those that Members of Congress now enjoy; modernize the employer-employee relationship regarding health care benefits making health care portable from job to job and even allow Americans to keep it between jobs; provide incentives for individuals and insurers to focus on prevention, wellness and disease management rewarding Americans for maintaining healthy lifestyles; establish tough cost containment measures that save $1.48 trillion over 10 years; as demonstrated by the Congressional Budget Office, the plan would pay for itself once the act is up and running by eliminating administrative costs and changing the outdated tax code that gives businesses write-offs for even the most lavish designer health plans; and return surpluses to the government after the first two years of implementation

CNBC, and sister Suzanne, has still been pushing the need for and benefits of, Natural Gas. Oregon Democrats, are you listening?

President Obama, I am still giving him a B+, with that Supreme Court nominee (Yes we Can), but if your Health care plan includes taxing benefits you will for sure fall to a C-.

Bring our people home!

At the 11th Hour, on the 11th Day, of the 11th Month a cease fire was signed to end the war to end all wars in 1918. How's that worked out so far?

SPORTS

The Mariners are hurting and that kid from Butte deserves more playing time with Kenji still on the 15-day disabled list.

Randy Johnson got his number 300 win and he was lucky enough to share it with his son in the dugout. There have been less than 30 players in the history of baseball that have accomplished that. The way the game has changed that may be the last 300 game winner in baseball.

Jamie Moyer has 250, you go guy! Will you be able to pitch past 50?

Do you realize how hard it must be to get to 250 wins in MLB, especially without a 90+ mph fast ball.

Imagine having played 2,624 games in their history (Cubs - Dodgers) and each team had won 1,312. That still astounds me.

I still hope I get to a Beaver game before San Diego pulls all the talent up.


COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS

And I still plan to get a permanent link for Denise and her walk/run at:

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=206439510610&h=VyGOF&u=ohEQM&ref=mf

The American Rights at Work ads are getting better all the time.

Are there better Community Organizations than the National Guard or the USO?

OTHER STUFF AND COMMUNICATIONS

FROM EARL, worth repeating:

June 4, 2009

Dear Wally,

Thank you for contacting me about the need for health care reform and the importance of including of focusing on prevention and long term care, especially for those Americans struggling with chronic diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis. As you both know, I have long supported improving both the health and health care of all Americans, but these issues are now all the more important with our pressing economic challenges and growing social needs.
I am very hopeful that with the leadership of the Obama administration, coupled with a strong determination in the House and Senate, we can finally achieve health care reform in the near future. I agree that a cornerstone of that reform must focus on helping reduce the costs and obstacles for individuals dealing with chronic diseases and supporting prevention-focused care.
As we begin to tackle what health care reform will look like, I look forward to working with all my colleagues in exploring different ideas and approaches because we can only be successful with a broad coalition of support. As we explore diverse proposals, I also feel strongly that certain goals must be met and I am committed to the following principles:
o Provide comprehensive health care coverage and access for all;
o Allow individuals their choice of doctor and health plan, including a public health insurance plan;
o Improve the quality, value and equality of health care;
o Prevent disease and promote healthier lifestyles;
o Reign in ineffective health care spending;
o Invest in research that provides better guidance to both physicians and patients about the most effective treatment options;
o Train a health care workforce to meet our community's needs;
o Give states the flexibility to explore new, innovative ideas that will enhance coverage or improve accessibility.

Thanks for letting me know where your priorities are. I hope that before to much time passes, that we have a chance to catch up and talk more about health care reform, as I very much value your unique perspective. Our country is facing great challenges, but with that comes great opportunity. My best to both of you.

Sincerely,

Earl Blumenauer
Member of Congress

I did send an email to nephew Daniel, and I have heard back, he's tired but doing good. I still don't know if he responded because he got my email or he just had time to catch my blog. I did talk to his Mom and she said that she would send me his “snail” mail address.

Please, I hope everyone can share the American Rights at Work, the MS walk, the March of Dimes walk, The Epilepsy Run/Walk and the Recovery websites; so my taxes and donations can be utilized to their fullest extent.

Whether you attend a church service, a Mosque, G & L gathering, or Synagogue service, please say a prayer that God; yours, mine or ours; keeps our service men and women in the Palm of their hand.

And even a special prayer for my nephews Daniel, Christopher, Ryan and all the families separated right now.

Mike; I am over 2000, and I'm feeling 3+, and getting ready to head to Marty’s celebration.

Now don't forget to say your prayers. I'll see you next time on my blog.