Today at Talk Radio News

White House Correspondent Lovisa Frost will cover the press gaggle this morning.

The Washington Bureau will cover remarks from political analyst Cokie Roberts on how healthy America's health care debate is on the campaign trail and in the halls of Congress. The Bureau will also be covering a discussion on the role of state and local governments in combatting poverty, as well as a briefing on Zimbabwe's economic meltdown, Botswana's ascent and what it means for the rest of Africa. As new worries regarding America's aging infrastructure emerge, the Bureau will attend a forum on our nation's water system and ways it can be improved.

Later in the day, TRNS will cover an event discussing the congressional energy outlook with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), as well as a discussion with the Israel Project on challenges facing Israel today.

Disagreements over Medicaid funding

The House Subcommittee on Health met to discuss a bill sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) that would increase federal funding given to states for Medicaid. According to Rep. Pallone, over 60 million Americans currently rely on Medicaid for their health care. Pallone said fiscal pressure on states, coupled with the state of the economy, is causing more Americans to seek Medicaid's assistance. By protecting Medicaid, Pallone said Congress would be protecting Americans' access to medical care while securing jobs in health care nationwide.

Pallone said his bill is similar to an economic stimulus plan put forth by the Republican Congress in 2003 and signed by President Bush. Both legislation call for temporary increases in funding that help prevent states from cutting Medicaid services and creates the possibility of states reinstating abandoned programs. Democrats on the subcommittee, concerned over health care accessibility and declines in a faltering economy, expressed their desire to retain social services for low-income Americans.

Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) criticized the actions of Pallone's bill. He said 40 states experienced budget shortfalls when Congress increased Medicaid allocations in fiscal year 2003, contrasting that number with the 29 states that face budget short falls in fiscal year 2008. Burgess said the subcommittee is failing to address critical energy issues.

In an effort to reform Medicaid funding, James Frogue of the Center for Health Transformation advocated using the internet to make states more accountable for their spending. Frogue cited a New York Times article that called 40 percent of Medicaid claims in New York State into question. Frogue said Congress should verify that states are using funds responsibly prior to allocating additional funds.

Report: Community health programs would reduce costs

Building a stronger public health system in the United States was the agenda today for the Trust America’s Health report that came out today. In the report recommends investment in more nutrition for America’s children. According to the report this would cost a total of $16 billion over a period of five years.

The Trust for America’s Health stated today that American’s spend on average of 2.2 trillion on health care a year, citing 2007 statistics. The organization cited community prevention programs as a way to reduce health care costs and added that a greater emphasis should be focused on preventative health care. Recommendations included everything from safe places for people to walk including trails, sidewalks and streets as well exercise programs that motivate people to walk two thousand steps more per day.

Former Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker who spoke on behalf of the report said “if there is one thing that you take away from this is, is the importance of this issue now and the money it can save in the long run for health care costs. But more importantly as has been stated is the quality of life in the future.” Kassebaum Baker agreed with the reports findings and stated that the report will encourage public health suggestions.

Obama said America was always a land of immigrants

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) spoke today at the League of United Latin American Citizens about the changes he would make in his first year as president, calling comprehensive immigration and health care reform his top priorities.

Obama said that the United States cannot afford the Bush economic policies that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will be following, but need to give tax breaks to ordinary working Americans, not outsource American jobs, solve the housing crisis and invest in infrastructure that will create jobs and make the U.S. competitive for the future in a global market.

America doesn’t need a government that will solve all their problems. Obama said that Latinos embody the spirit of the American dream and that America has nothing to fear from new comers because America was always a land of immigrants. Obama stressed the need to treat immigrants and new citizens equally so as not to create "two classes of citizens."

Obama praised Latin Americans for their hard work and desire to live the American dream. He urged Latinos to register to vote and to become active in government at a grassroots level, so that the people will create a comprehensive government that works for all Americans, “a government that represents all not some.” Sen. Obama also spoke on how McCain changed views on immigration reform, creating a comprehensive plan but then failed to vote for it. America needs a president who is not going to walk away from comprehensive reforms if it becomes unpopular, Obama said, and that is his top priority in the first year of his presidency.

Health Care for America Now!

“Something is wrong in America when getting a gun is easier than getting an appointment with your doctor,” stated Anna Burger, International Secretary-Treasurer for the Service Employees International Union. She and several presenters spoke to an energized news conference gathered for the unveiling of a new major campaign ad from Health Care for America Now!, an organization pushing for quality, affordable health care for every American.

According to the president of the National Education Association Reg Weaver, 9 million children in America do not have health care. This inhibits their ability to perform well in school, setting them behind others when joining the workforce later in life. Marcia Greenberger of the National Women’s Law Center added that 1 in 4 US women say they cannot afford their health care bills, often choosing between prescription drugs or putting food on the table for their families.

Health Care for America Now, and all speakers stated the importance of health care reform for the new presidential administration in 2009. Gerald McEntee of the American Federaton of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) best summed up the sentiments from the conference. “No more political posturing. We’ve talked long enough. Now, we need action.”