From a Cancer group I belong too.....thought it needed to be shared!
Senator Toomey and Senator Casey, I was eighteen years old when I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. I was a senior in high school, I was a varsity athlete and a straight-A student. I had no prior medical problems. But when my lung spontaneously collapsed, my doctors found synovial sarcoma. I was lucky in more way than one. They found my cancer early, and before it had spread. I was also lucky to be upper-middle class, and that my parents had good insurance. I went through three surgeries and seven weeks of proton radiation treatments. The bills sent to my insurance company totaled close to one million dollars. This is not meant to be a pity story—this is a fact that I live with. I will get cancer again in my lifetime, but I haven’t done anything to increase this risk. I will start mammograms early, because radiation treatment has also increased my risk of breast cancer. I take every precaution necessary to catch my next bout with cancer early, including never smoking, and visiting my oncologist for frequent CT-scans. But the fact is, I will get cancer again. My reason for sharing my story is this: very little of these things were in my control. My cancer was not lifestyle induced. I did nothing to earn my spot in the upper-middle class, nor to “deserve” good insurance coverage. I am lucky enough to be on my parents’ insurance until the age of 26 because of the Affordable Care Act. But what happens when I turn 26? Under the regulations that the Graham-Cassidy bill is proposing, my preexisting condition could cost me significantly more than someone else who is “healthier-than-I.” I’ll admit it—I am a risk to insurers. But does that mean that I deserve to pay more for health insurance, or be denied coverage because of my preexisting condition? Supporting this bill will be putting my life and well-being at risk, but I am just one person. I am privileged. I am a white, middle-class American pursing a college education. What about the thousands of other Americans who aren’t so lucky? The list of high-risk diseases spreads further and wider than just cancer. This discussion isn’t a matter of what role the government should play in our healthcare; it is a matter of human decency. Everyone deserves to have access to the medical help they need, no matter their preexisting condition or social class. Have some compassion, and do what is right for your constituents.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan called on Wednesday for an end to Obamacare’s financial protections for people with serious medical conditions, saying these consumers should be placed in state high-risk pools.In election-year remarks that could shed light on an expected Republican health care alternative, Ryan said existing federal policy that prevents insurers from charging sick people higher rates for health coverage has raised costs for healthy consumers while undermining choice and competition.The rule, a cornerstone of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, has been praised by patient advocates for providing access to medical care for people who previously could not afford private health insurance. The Affordable Care Act also bars insurers from excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions
The fact that I have had health care, and been healthy most of my life, but then in 2010, was one of the unlucky ones to develop cancer does not matter. Ron Johnson looks upon me, and others like me, as irresponsible drivers and my cancer(my pre-existing condition) as equal to a car crash. Why should he have to pay more, he is not sick.
Before summer’s out, we'll repeal/replace Obamacare w/ system based on personal responsibility, free-market competition & state-based reform pic.twitter.com/JzCyxX9kJb
It is a very stressful time in America, when we are under one party rule, and the one party that is ruling, looks upon millions of Americans as drags on the system for contracting an illness. It is even more magnified, when it is your child that has the illness.
I am certain we are better than this and we need to actually "drain the swamp" in 2018!
Erin Moran, better known to most people as Joanie from Happy Days fame,recently passed away tragically. Whi;le many stars and former co-workers weighed in, one who had the most to say was her former on screen boyfriend Scott Baio(Cha Chi).
I’m OK, a little shocked but not completely shocked that this happened. My thing is, I feel bad because her whole life, she was troubled, could never find what made her happy and content. For me, you do drugs or drink, you’re gonna die. I’m sorry if that’s cold, but God gave you a brain, gave you the will to live and thrive and you gotta take care of yourself.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan called on Wednesday for an end to Obamacare’s financial protections for people with serious medical conditions, saying these consumers should be placed in state high-risk pools.
In election-year remarks that could shed light on an expected Republican health care alternative, Ryan said existing federal policy that prevents insurers from charging sick people higher rates for health coverage has raised costs for healthy consumers while undermining choice and competition.
The rule, a cornerstone of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, has been praised by patient advocates for providing access to medical care for people who previously could not afford private health insurance. The Affordable Care Act also bars insurers from excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions.
“Less than 10 percent of people under 65 are what we call people with pre-existing conditions, who are really kind of uninsurable,” Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, told a student audience at Georgetown University.
Before I get accused of histrionics and hyperbole, I understand that allowing insurance companies to drop us "who are really kind of uninsurable," will not immediately kill all of us. It will immediately kill some of us, and eventually kill a vast majority of us. I know personally, without the quality health insurance I have, I would have died a horrible painful death by now. There isn't a health savings account south of Janna Ryan's family Oklahoma oil money,that could even come close to putting a dent in the bills my medical issues have racked up.
Now Mr. Ryan, who is third in line from the Presidency of the United States, has decided it would be best if insurance companies would not have to cover me for a reasonable rate. Let's take cancer for instance :
Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world and its incidence continues to rise. Each year 12.7 million people discover they have cancer and 7.6 million people die from the disease. However, evidence shows that 30 - 40 percent of these deaths can be prevented, and one-third can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment. That translates to 340,000 cases of cancer a year in the US alone that can be stopped or cured with early diagnosis and treatment.
But wait there is more! If an insurance company is allowed to drop you after a diagnosis, then you are stuck during the hardest time in your life(trust me it takes quite some time for the (you have cancer) news to truly sink in) calling around and pricing private insurance plans for the uninsurable.
One thing for me, and I am sure most others, is consistency in care. When you change or price insurance companies, you have to keep your doctors in mind. My case is so incredibly complicated, I have at one time or another, spent time with 8 different groups of surgical specialists. Can you imagine half way through treatment/diagnosis having to switch to another hospital and finding a whole new group of 8 different teams and get them up to speed while hoping that the insurance company I picked was not also planning on dropping me.
The stress on not just me, but my family, and wife and children was unbearable to begin with. When a family member gets an illness the whole family and friends get it also. Does Mr. Ryan also plan on allowing the insurance companies to drop my wife and kids also because I am expensive? If that is the case, the 27.5 million Americans starts to increase exponentially.
We know from experience and hindsight that many patients can not wait for treatment because of no insurance, shopping insurance companies or denial of services by the insurance company you have.
Many people on both sides of the aisle, realize that Obamacare is not perfect. They realize that there are many different tweaks that need to be done to help insure all Americans. Almost all people realize that the one good thing we can agree on is that insurance companies can no longer drop people who get sick and actually have to use their insurance.
That is all but the most extreme of us. Paul Ryan is one of those people who are too extreme.
Are we a nation that wants people who are unfortunate enough to get a debilitating disease to die off quickly to cull the herd? Or are we a people that understands that "All (wo)Men Are Created Equal" and no diagnosis should be a death penalty?
I have been told many times that we have the government we deserve. Let us come to common ground and understand that I do not deserve to die because I happened to have cancer. I do not deserve to die a painful death early because I can no longer afford high risk insurance.
No one in Wisconsin deserves to have Paul Ryan represent them
It is time we retire Paul Ryan from Congress, for the sake of 27.5 million of your friends and neighbors and family members!
On Wednesday September 9th, the Wisconsin
Assembly will be discussing and voting on AB305.In AB305, “authored” by Rep. Andre
Jacque(R-DePere) and Rep. Joel Kleefisch(R- Oconomowoc) making ita Class H felony(subject to a fine of not
more than $50,000) to do fetal tissue research in WI.
In Wisconsin, we have some of the finest minds in the field
of stem cell research who are not only making, and close to making, major
breakthroughs in curing and treating - diabetes, muscular dystrophy, blindness,
cancer, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, immune disorders, paralysis, leukemia, deadly
strains of influenza, how toxins affect human systems.
Your Wisconsin Republicans are working to make sure that
these major advances, not only in quality of life for our fellow human beings,
but also have created countless thousands of jobs with each breakthrough, are
soon to be illegal.
Let me say that again.Any politician who votes yes on AB305(and its soon to be companion bill
in the State Senate) is voting to stand with Cancer, blindness, ALS, an
numerous other debilitating diseases and against a cure!
As a two time cancer survivor, it is almost unfathomable
that I have to write these words in the year 2015.
One thing that keeps me going every day, is
the faith that there will be a new breakthrough tomorrow that will be able to
treat me if my cancer comes back.All
because we have allowed far right extremists, to take over our state.
Some of the greatest minds in Wisconsin and leaders of our
most thriving businesses, have wasted countless hours testifying how
devastating this bill will be to our quality of life and our economy and as
most testimony does in Madison, it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
While the supporters of this bill will talk about the
“harvesting of babies” they will know this is a completely false
narrative(pushed further by long debunked videos).
The fetal stem cells that are used in this incredibly important
research, if this bill passes, will now be thrown away.Disposing of these CELLS, is apparently more
important to the extremists than curing diseases so others may live.
As prominent bioethicist R. Alta Charo of the University of
Wisconsin says “ Virtually every person in this country has benefited from
research using fetal tissue. Every child who's been spared the risks and misery
of chickenpox, rubella, or polio can thank the Nobel Prize recipients and other
scientists who used such tissue in research yielding the vaccines that protect
us (and give even the unvaccinated the benefit of herd immunity). This work has
been going on for nearly a century, and the vaccines it produced have been in
use nearly as long. Any discussion of the ethics of fetal tissue research must
begin with its unimpeachable claim to have saved the lives and health of
millions of people."
The choice is simple, do we increase the quality of life for
us, our children and grandchildren or do we appease a few hard core extremists
who cannot accept that science and religion are compatible.
My Bible is filled with story after story of Jesus healing the sick.There were people during his time also that
felt the need to stop these acts, but I have not seen a faith yet that worships
the oppressors and not the One doing the healing.
It is very important that you contact your legislator and
tell them this bill is harmful and irresponsible.If they refuse and continue to stand on the
side of Cancer….make sure to put party preferences aside in the next election
and let them know that is completely unacceptable and worthy of a spot in the
unemployment line.
When you allow the smartest among us, to do research,we have incredible breakthroughs and people(ie....you, me, our friends, family and neighbors) actually are able to beat diseases and live.
When we elect the people to govern us who are NOT the smartest among us, this is what we get:
In an interview last week, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker fired a shot across the bow of academe. Defending his proposal to cut $300 million over the next two years from the University of Wisconsin (UW) System, Walker opined, “Maybe it’s time for faculty and staff to start thinking about teaching more classes and doing more work.”
Apparently the researchers who are busy in the lab doing research and saving lives and eradicating disease are not working. I wonder what Scott Walker thinks a full day of work consists of?
Or this:
In the wake of Republican victories at the polls last Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos opened another chapter in a contentious relationship with the University of Wisconsin System.
Robin Vos will never be accused of understanding any topic he speaks to, but it is interesting that he speaks to helping the economy when research brings in a billion dollars a year and Robin Vos brings in failed marriages, forced ultrasounds and low wages.
Gerrymandered districts or not, can we please STOP electing stupid people?
An ex-republican candidate for vice-president, whom I refuse to name ever again in hopes that she disappears from the public spotlight, likes to tell people that Obamacare mandates "death panels". Unfortunately for America(and Wisconsin), others like Paul Ryan (R-Wall St.) have repeated that flat out lie.
The problem is, we actually DO have death panels, but they come courtesy of the people who Paul Ryan represents.
As if this isn’t hard enough
On May 13 an MRI found 20 tumors in my
husbands brain. On May 15 he could barely breathe and was in a lot of
pain. A CT scan that day revealed he had a softball-sized tumor in his
lung, tumors in his other lung, his liver and possibly his bones. On our
way home from the imaging center our primary care doc called and told
us to turn around and get to the hospital right away. My husband was
admitted and they promptly removed more than a pint of fluid from his
lungs, which helped him breathe better. We were there for 6 days while
they performed a bronchoscopy, did more scans, gave him drugs to stop
his brain from swelling and administered emergency chemo.
Today I got a letter from Anthem Blue Cross regarding his hospital stay:
"Coverage for the requested service is denied because the service
does not meet the criteria for “medical necessity” under your
description of benefits. To assist our Medical Director in making this
decision, we have put a process in place to send all information about
the service to a clinical reviewer with appropriate credentials. Based
on their opinion, we have determined that covered for the requested
service is denied. Our Medical Reviewer Layma Jarjour MD has determined
we cannot approve your hospital stay for cancer. We do not have enough
facts to show that it was medically necessary. "
Anthem is owned by WellPoint. Did you know Wellpoint CEO Joseph
Swedish earned almost $17 million during his first year on the job? Now
you know how they can afford to pay him.
CAMP MEEKER (CBS SF) — A Sonoma County man battling more than a dozen
tumors in his body is fighting a new battle with his insurance carrier,
who has denied coverage for his treatments.
Jeffrey Rusch of Camp Meeker knew the news was bad when an MRI found
20 tumors in his brain. Two days later, a C-T scan at Sutter medical
center in Santa Rosa brought another devastating blow, discovering a
large tumor in his lungs, and more in his liver and bones.
Doctors told Jeffrey he would need to be hospitalized immediately.
Our prayers are with Zoe and her husband! Cancer is hard enough to fight without having to fight the profiteers.
As we always say here, but wait there's more. Mary Czaja, R-Irma, the state representative for the 35th Assembly District has had a relapse of Breast Cancer. She was in the press lately in a misleading story that says she supports the oral -chemo bill. The problem is she didn't. She voted for the poison pill that Robin Vos attached to it hoping it would not pass in the Senate and they could wash their hands of blame. The problem is we know what happened and its all documented.
The republicans in the assembly, instead of passing a clean bill that would have been signed by now by Governor Walker, decided to attach an amendment to it meaning it had to go back to the Senate to pass. They knew that attaching a needless amendment to this bill, would likely kill it.
Yes, that is an "N" in front of Rep. Czaja's name.
I wish Mary Czaja the best of luck in recovering and surviving her current battle with cancer, on her taxpayer funded Cadillac health care plan. She says Good luck with that because you are on your own!
After a long conversation with my doctor, I started to think about the
issue in a new way. It’s not just the affordability factor; it’s about
helping people get back to normal and get back to work.”
Tell me again why we elect people who like to make important decisions yet have no idea about the subject? Why would someone make up their mind about a bill WITHOUT talking to experts first?
Robin Vos let everyone know that he supports cancer victims, because he joins a cancer walk once a year.
After the amendment was adopted with a 54 to 40 vote, Robin Vos gave a
long speech about how he honors family members at a cancer “Hope Walk”.
He said many people on his side are “philosophically opposed to mandates
on insurance
policies” regardless of the discussion because they think more options
leads to cheaper prices and he called Strachota’s amendment changes
“reasonable”.
Vos is against "mandates" in curing cancer victims but for them if you are a woman considering abortions, if you are a municipality wanting to have to control over your own government and many other things.
Then the theatre really hit. as Rep. Tom Larson turned on the waterworks!
Following, Rep. Danou told the Republican Assembly members, “The only
reason you are voting on this bill is because you were shamed into
doing this.”
That accusation drove several Republican Assembly members to emotion.
Rep. Tom Larson from Colfax was moved to anger and tears and denied
that he was shamed into action. He told the Assembly he saw his own
daughter die from cancer six years ago.
Rep. Tom Larson, shortly after his speech voting yes for the poison pill, telling Wisconsin families, my daughter died of cancer 6 years ago so now your child can die also.
Then Sandy Pasch stood up and said what everyone was thinking :
“It always bothers me when people think they’ve done
enough for cancer when they light the dome pink or purple or… whatever
cancer month color it is. ‘Look how much i care. I lit a dome’. Or ‘I’ve
gone on a walk’. Or ‘I lit a candle’. Or ‘I’ve posed for
pictures’…That’s not showing how much you care. That’s showing how much
you care about political points,” said Rep. Pasch. “I can not believe what this body is doing today. We had
the possibility to get something done for the people in the State of
Wisconsin.” “Today. A clean bill.” “I talked to cancer groups. They said this is an “Unhappy
compromise.” An unhappy compromise. They felt that they had nothing
that they COULD do – that they had nothing to bargain with. Other than
their lives. This is such hypocracy i can’t stand it. If there was true
intent on getting a good bill passed we could have had an executive
hearing in the health committee where we could have debated alternatives
and looked at how to make this bill better. But this bill never had a
hearing in the executive health
committee. We had an incredibly moving public hearing. Where people
talked about the impact of not being able to afford treatment. … that
did not move the executive committee to have have an executive committee
hearing about it because the intent was “Let’s just shuffle this thing
around”. Again. Let’s not have revisionist history. The real history is
that the intent from the leaders of BOTH HOUSES – the majority in both
houses – was to shuffle this bill around and try to kill it.” “And look how good we are. We passed a bill in one house
that’s different than the bill in the other house and maybe – just maybe
– the Senate will take it up and change it in the exact same form and
we can do something besides light candles.” “Don’t hold your breath on it. Don’t hold your breath on
it. The only sure way to get this thing done is by passing a clean
bill.”
Rep. Pasch concluded:
“I keep waiting for the
profiles in courage moments in this house. I keep waiting for it. For
somebody to break away from the man behind the curtain who tells
everyone how to vote. For somebody to say, ‘You know what? Enough of
that. I’m going to do what’s right for my constituents. I’m going to do
what’s right for the people of Wisconsin. I’m going to save some lives
tonight.”
While the Cancer Treatment Bill passed yesterday in the Senate 30-2(with the coward Scott Fitzgerald voting for it - Leah Vukmir and Paul Farrow casting votes against(and should be severly punished the next time their name is on a ballot).
Mike McCabe wrote the following on Facebook this morning. The cancer drug bill is being blocked in the state Assembly too,
despite the fact the legislation is supported by at least 61 of the
Assembly’s 99 members, including all 39 Democrats and 22 Republicans. Assembly Republicans have received nearly $287,000 in political
donations from interests opposing the legislation. The top recipient is
the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee ($43,700), the leadership PAC
controlled by Speaker Robin Vos. Vos himself is fourth on the list of
leading recipients, with $16,400 in donations from bill opponents to his
personal campaign committee. Another opponent of the cancer drug bill,
Representative John Nygren, who is co-chair of the powerful Joint
Finance Committee, is second on the list of recipients
There you go Cancer victims from WI. Robin Vos has officially valued your life at less than $16,400. People in the 63rd District must be so very proud of their rep.
When asked in the Capitol Tuesday, here's a sampling of those who wouldn't say if they were for or against the bill. Rep. Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin): "I really don't have an opinion." Rep. Daniel LeMahieu (R-Cascade): "I'm not saying anything about oral chemo." Rep. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville): "We're still working that out." Rep. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green): "We'll talk about it Thursday." Rep. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield): "I'm still discerning it." Rep. Mary Williams (R-Medford): "Uh, I'm not going to talk to you." Rep. Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva): "I have to take a look at it." Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander): "I'm going to wait for caucus on Thursday."
Nothing says conviction and backbone like "I am going to wait for caucus." Swearingen needs to be told how to think behind closed doors apparently.
Seriously though, just in case there is something seriously wrong with Mr. Kramer beyond the normal republican sense of entitlement and lack of personal responsibility, we at CogDis want to help.
We will be rolling these out statewide soon(H/T Phill Scarr):
If you see republican representative Kramer, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND OR CONVERSE WITH, as he is known to be drunk and dangerous.
More than two-thirds of GOP senators and four-fifths of the state
Senate now publicly support a bipartisan bill to help cancer patients
get critical treatments, but the measure is still being blocked by the
head of that house.
Senate
Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) said Wednesday he's going to
unusual steps to block the proposal because a majority of his GOP
caucus opposes it, not because his brother is lobbying on behalf of
influential insurers to kill the bill.
But a review
by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel shows that as of Friday, at least 13
of the 18 Republicans in the state Senate and all 15 Democrats have
taken a public stance in support of the legislation. In the Senate,
Fitzgerald is now the main force holding back the bill, drawing on one
of his body's most arcane rules to keep the legislation trapped in the
committee he chairs.
"The result
of that bill passing would be chemotherapy would be cheaper for many
families and people would have healthier lives," said Senate Minority
Leader Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee), asking why Fitzgerald was using the
rare maneuver to prevent that. "He and his (Republican) caucus owe
families an explanation for why that is."
Ok, they spell it out clearly that a majority of Senators support it, it has bipartisan support and Scott Fitzgerald went to great lengths to block a vote. Now lets get to the kicker, the scathing words condemning Fitzgerald and Vos for these despicable actions.
The answer is simple. It boils down to pleasure and pain. While there are dire consequences for the people who will suffer for this bill being blocked, there are NO consequences for the despicable people blocking this bill.
Sure some people will be very sick and might even not make it through because they can not afford this treatment, but they will be too busy trying to find other ways to fight cancer or mourning the loss of their loved one to speak up.
Today there are many types of chemotherapy (chemo). Oral chemo
is any drug you are taking by mouth to treat cancer. Oral chemo is not
put into the body with a needle, but is taken as a liquid, tablet, or
capsule that you swallow.
Chemo taken by mouth is as strong as the
other forms and works just as well. One of the best ways you can help
fight the cancer is by taking your chemo exactly the way your doctor or
nurse tells you to.
Some chemo drugs are never taken by mouth
because the stomach can’t absorb them. Others may cause harm when
swallowed. In fact, most chemo drugs are put in through an IV
(intravenous) line in a person’s vein. The chemo you take by mouth is
easier because it can be taken at home. You don’t need to go into a
hospital or clinic for every treatment.
Still, oral chemo drugs cost a lot. Many
times you have to pay more out of pocket for them than the IV drugs. If
you have insurance, this might mean a higher co-pay. Make sure you know
how much you will have to pay for each treatment.
Sometimes chemo is given in cycles.
This cuts down on the harm to healthy cells and allows the drugs to kill
more cancer cells. Your doctor will decide if you need to get your
treatment every day, every week, every few weeks, or every month.
The newest cancer report, which came out in mid-December, put the best
possible face on things. If one accounts for the advancing age of the
population — with the graying of the baby boomers, death itself is on
the rise — cancer mortality has actually been decreasing bit by bit in
recent decades. But the decline has been modest compared with other
threats.
A graph from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention tells the story. There are two lines representing the
age-adjusted mortality rate from heart disease and from cancer. In 1958
when the diagram begins, the line for heart disease is decisively on
top. But it plunges by 68 percent while cancer declines so slowly — by
only about 10 percent — that the slope appears far less significant.
The political observer in me found this part of the article the most interesting:
OVER all, the most encouraging gains are coming from prevention.
Worldwide, some 15 to 20 percent of cancers are believed to be caused by
infectious agents. With improvements in refrigeration and public
sanitation, stomach cancer, which is linked to Helicobacter pylori bacteria, has been significantly reduced, especially in more developed parts of the world. Vaccines against human papilloma virus have the potential of nearly eliminating cervical cancer.
Where antismoking campaigns are successful, lung cancer, which has
accounted for almost 30 percent of cancer deaths in the United States,
is steadily diminishing. More progress can be made with improvements in
screening and by reducing the incidence of obesity, a metabolic imbalance that, along with diabetes, gives cancer an edge.
Let's see improvements in prevention have significantly lowered cancer, yet our friends on the right(especially the tea party) have seriously and recently, fought every single one of these preventions! From
I am a member of the parent's advisory committee and also someone whose children has benefited greatly from Camp Kesem - UW and they need your vote. It only takes a few seconds, and you can only vote once.
Camp Kesem UW-Madison is a college student run summer camp for children throughout Wisconsin with a parent who has, or has had, cancer. This free, week-long summer camp is offered to children ages 6-16. Lead by college students, Camp Kesem is a national organization with 54 chapters across the country. Camp Kesem UW-Madison has grown from serving 16 campers to 120 campers in just four years. They strive to provide each camper with a supportive, lifelong camp community that recognizes and understands the camper’s unique needs.
Camp Kesem UW-Madison reaches out to local hospitals and related organizations to find families that would benefit from their services. In addition to the week-long summer camp, Camp Kesem UW-Madison provides year-round support for the campers and their families, including hosting camp reunions, sending birthday and holiday cards, and providing extra support to the families when needed.
If they won Sentry’s $10K for a Cause, Camp Kesem UW-Madison would put the money directly into sending kids to camp. As the only national organization serving kids with a parent affected by cancer, Camp Kesem UW-Madison understands that when cancer strikes, the whole family is affected. To provide camp for 120 kids, Camp Kesem UW-Madison raises nearly $70,000.
Also if you know someone who has or has had cancer, and has children, PLEASE give them this information
For inquiries about Camp Kesem, please contact us at
info@campkesem.org or (260) 225-3736 / (260)22-KESEM
For fundraising inquiries, please contact us at magic@campkesem.org
Wisconsin's second couple was kind enough recently to give me some time for an interview. Here it is in its entirety:
CogDis: Thank you Rebecca for giving me and CogDis a few minutes to discuss some of the issues that are important to the people of WI.
RebeccaforReal: Your welcome. I always thought Cogdis was a golf course but I am glad to sit down with my Constituents and talk about WI.
Cogdis: Umm that is Cog Hill, but that's Ok let's get down to it. I thought Joel would be joining us.
RFR: He is hunting still and Mr. B has the kids somewhere, I think at soccer. No wait, maybe dance? Somewhere around here he is running them.
CD: Of course. OK, first question. What do you like most about your job as Lieutenant Governor.
RFR: Are you kidding? The perks. I make $76,261/yr with AMAZING benefits, an expense account and no one cares (or asks) what I do all day or where I go! You can not ask for anything more! Plus Scott Walker is out of the state fundraising so much, that I am practically the Governor on a daily basis.
RFR: “Colon cancer doesn’t discriminate between young and old or rich or
poor, it knows no color, ethnicity or gender. But my appeal to you today
is not about raising fears because there is hope for people who are
diagnosed with this disease. Early detection is key. And I’d like to
serve as a reminder that colon cancer can be beaten with treatment. So
please have the guts to get screened ... it saved my life and talking
about colonoscopies is funny. Talking about cancer isn’t.”
CD: outstanding congratulations. (phone rings)
RFR: Hello. O HI Lori! No Joel isn't in right now, he should be shortly. Ok you can call him on his cell if you want. Thank you, good bye.
Joel is such a great legislator that he is always helping people. This poor woman, has all kinds of needs and Joel is always there for her. If only the public knew that side of him, but he is so humble he keeps it secret.
CD: So why then would you oppose a mandate that makes insurance companies cover such treatment. Especially in lieu of you being cured by such treatment. Can you put yourself in their shoes and think aboiut where you would be if YOUR insurance didn't cover the treatments your doctors felt best to use with you?
CD: Ummmmmm. So you dont think that insurance companies should be forced to pay for treatments of cancer patients? That that burden should fall on the patient themselves? Do you remember your time when you were diagnosed? Can you imagine the burden of having tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars of bills on top of the stress of being told you have cancer?
CD: Congrats Joel. I just have a few questions, then I will get out of your way.
JK: No problem, always glad to help and talk about this great state of WI
RFR: Joel, before I forget, Lori called.
JK SHE DID!!!!!! ...errr I mean she did?
RFR: Yes she had a question on the thing you two were working on, said she would call you later. your such a champion of the people! (Joel Blushes)
CD: Yes Joel, you rock. Now lets get back into it. Rebecca and I were just talking about her bout with cancer and we are all glad that she has worked her way through it!
JK: Yes she is a true fighter. Sarah Palin has nothing on her! Bec should have been McCain's running mate, they would have won and we would not be wasting our time on this Obamacare BS.
JK: "It is my hope and prayer that anybody who would need this type of
chemotherapy would be able to receive it, no doubt, That does not eliminate the difficult question for who is going to pay
for it."
CD: Who paid for Rebecca's treatment?
JK: Insurance of course. If someone doesn't have insurance they should buy it. If someone does not have a job they should just go get one. I did! However we can not have taxpayer funded insurance its too expensive.
RFR: I am a free market guy!
CD: But your insurance is 100% tax payer funded insurance and you are able to get any treatment you need.
JK:
CD: Allrighty then. Let's move on. What do you like best about your job.
JK: The perks! I get paid to hunt, never have to take vacation and get $88/day just for driving to Madison! Did I tell you about the bear I killed?
CD: Nice Bear. It seems as though all of your bills have to do with guns. You wanted to start a Sand Hill Crane hunting season:
JK: Yummy. Wanna try some and you will see. errrr....I mean if you ever get the chance you should try some.
CD: I just lost my appetite thanks, then you wanted to allow anyone with a ccw permit to carry a gun in our schools.
JK: I am not sure the citizens of Wisconsin want concealed carry holders on their school grounds.
CD: Well I am glad you introduced it, since no one wants it.
JK: Well the NRA congratulated me.
Long pause
CD: You guys have been passing many bills in the Assembly, what was your finest hour.
JK: When I got to push all of the buttons! That was cool!
CD: Its the little things in life. One last question. Will you be running for re-election?
JK; Of course, I cant give this gig up. What else could I do to get paid so well to hunt? Its not like I ever have to actually work. Besides, the democrats wont contest me. Last election they did, then the party insiders attacked him and made my job easier. I did not even have to campaign, which was good, because then I didn't have to explain that silly little business about Ecoli. I mean seriously a couple people get a little bit sick, we can not interfere with business just for a couple stomach aches can we?
CD: Thanks for the time. I have to go home and beat my head against my desk!
JK and RFR: sure you dont want to stay for dinner? We are having Little Ceasar's pizza. Later we can head over to Lakerz and have a beer! Mr. B will be our designated driver, IF he gets our kids home in time.
CD: Thanks but I have to do go home and pull my hair out!
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