Posted on 12/08/2006 7:35:13 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Friday December 08, 2006
By DONNA DE LA CRUZ
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate on Friday passed a bill making it easier for the estimated 50 million families caring at home for adults and children with special needs to find respite care.
The House passed the bill, sponsored by New Jersey Rep. Mike Ferguson, on Wednesday. The bill now heads to President Bush. White House aides have said the president will sign it into law, Ferguson's office said.
``I'm on top of the world,'' Ferguson said shortly after the Senate passed the bill by a voice vote.
``It's a triumph, a triumph for family members who are caring for loved ones, who are looking for a break,'' Ferguson said. ``And it's a triumph for those receiving the care, who because of this bill and because of the respite care they receive, are good and compassionate and loving caregivers.''
The Lifespan Respite Care Act provides $289 million over five years for states to train volunteers and provide other services to families.
Ferguson's father, Thomas, quit his job to care for his ailing wife when she was diagnosed with cancer. Roberta Ferguson died in 2003 after battling multiple myeloma for six years.
Respite care can come in many forms, from tutoring autistic children to helping feed and dress an elderly patient to transporting someone to a doctor's appointment.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., the bill's main Senate sponsor, said the measure will provide what has been missing in helping family caregivers get respite care: coordinating services and helping families find them.
``We are sending a message to family caregivers: we recognize, we honor your commitment and in many instances, your sacrifice,'' Clinton said on the Senate floor.
But getting the bill through the Senate was not easy because of spending concerns voiced by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. Coburn did not object to the bill, but to overall government spending without enough congressional oversight.
Coburn ultimately agreed to let the bill be brought up on the Senate floor after he was allowed floor time to speak of his concerns on government spending.
Bill is H.R. 3248.
My friend, a OSS officer, was there, I saw the captured Nazi 35mm film. Sadly, it happened.
Respite care happened? And here all along I thought it was a conspiracy. Did you find the right thread?
best reply ever.
What's the frequency, Kenneth ? You're stuning my beeber something fierce.
Hopefulyl htis will go through before the dems take the majority- when that happens headlines like "Senate approves measure to euthanize old farts who can't lift a finger to help anyone anymore" or "Senate approves of measure to allow3 year abortions provided the child is sleeping" http://sacredscoop.com
But to what thread?
There are many deficiencies in the vaunted safety net, so that neighbors, famiies and friends really have to pitch in. Howwever, we have a huge surplus of bureaucrats who sit in offices and just soak up air conditioning. I guess we will get more of those. And, frankly, I get very irritated when they want to train me to do things I am expert at.
Well, I'm a full time caregiver (for an adult), and I could certainly use a few of hours away every few months... Unfortunately, there appears to be no one in this area that is honest, competent AND available.
But even given that, I STILL don't want the government getting involved with it. All the Medicare and the prescription drug plan paperwork is driving me crazy as it is. I sure don't need another bureaucratic bunch of crud to deal with.
I have no objection to the bill per se--even if it was sponsored by Hillary Clinton. But I do object to the subterfuge of a voice vote--irrespective of what the vote concerns.
For one thing, if the vote is close, it may be hard to be sure which side actually carried the day; in that case, the Majority Leader's preference is all that really matters. More importantly, senators should stand proudly behind their votes--not attempt to camouflage them from public scrutiny.
This is hardly a new tactic; and it is certainly not peculiar to just one party. But that doesn't make it any less imprecise--and cowardly.
Just more socialism, the only product our Congress can generate, coming your way....
Our hands were tied then because officially we hadn't entered the war yet.
Huh? In which galaxy?
Whats another billion to cap off a fun spending spree for this congress. And Bush is happy to sign it.
This will go well over the billion dollars and morph into a bigger government program to sustain it.
Didn't the Republicans learn anything in the last election?
So a country with 300 million people, has 50 million families caring at home for adults and children with special needs. My BS meter just pegged.
I don't think I want government help no matter how bad a case of cabin fever I get(and it gets bad sometimes).
My mother has a few weeks left at most and I rather take care of her without Uncle Sam.
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