H1N1 Highlights Need For Mandatory Paid Sick Days, Says Democrat DeLauro

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) urged Congress Tuesday to consider legislation that would mandate paid sick leave for employees with the H1N1 virus.

“Paid sick days have always been a good and common sense idea, but in light of the recent H1N1 epidemic it has also become a necessary one,” DeLauro said while testifying to the Senate Health, Education and Labor Pensions Committee.

According to the Department of Labor and Statistics, only one in four low wage workers have access to paid sick days. These employees often work jobs that require frequent contact with the public. Adding to the problem is the fact that many workers go into work when sick in order to maintain the income they need.

“This isn’t just a workers’ rights issue, it’s a public health emergency,” said Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.). “Families should not have to choose between staying healthy and making ends meet.”

DeLauro worked with the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) earlier this year to push the Healthy Families Act, a bill that would mandate employers to guarantee employees one hour off for every 30 hours worked, allowing employees to earn up to seven sick days a year. Such a bill is necessary now, said DeLauro.

HELP Committee Ranking member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) said legislation that forced employers to provide paid sick days would be detrimental to small businesses that are already struggling to retain employees during economic hardships.

“Many employers are not able to maintain current payrolls, which is evidenced by the rise in unemployment,” Enzi said. “If this bill is enacted, employers will adjust somewhere either by reducing current healthcare... or by downsizing their number of employees.”

Many Republicans shared similar concerns when DeLauro and Kennedy urged passage of the bill in May. Dodd argued that given the current spread of H1N1, the bill is necessary now.

“If paid sick leave had been a reality when this pandemic began, we would be in better shape,” Dodd said. “I want it in place immediately to help parents and workers.”

Governor Seeks To Tap Temporary Replacement For Kennedy

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick (D) announced Monday that while there will be a special election in mid January for recently deceased Sen. Edward Kennedy’s (D-Mass.) vacant seat, he will urge his state’s legislature to take action that would allow Patrick to appoint an interim replacement.

Under former Governor Mitt Romney’s (R) tenure in 2004, the left leaning state legislature voted against allowing the Republican Governor to name an interim successor in the case of a Senate vacancy. Patrick acknowledged the legislature’s political move, but noted that it was before his term and that he did not know all of the details behind it.

Kennedy, who died last week following a lengthy bout with brain cancer, had two years left in his term.

Patrick did not say Monday who he intended to appoint.

Senate Loses Lion: Ted Kennedy Dies At 77

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), one of the Senate’s most prominent figures and member of the legendary political family, passed away late Tuesday evening at 77 at his Hyannis Port, Massachusetts residence.

“We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever,” a statement released by the Kennedy family said. “He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it. He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it’s hard to imagine any of them without him.”

Kennedy, who was elected in 1962, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May of last year. Following the diagnosis, the Senator rose to be a powerful symbol for health care reform.

“For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts,” a statement from President Barack Obama read. “An important chapter in our history has come to an end.”

Kennedy was brother to former President John F. Kennedy and New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated in the 1960’s. His sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, died earlier this month.

Senate Looks To HELP Those Hurt By Defective Medical Devices

By Courtney Ann Jackson - Talk Radio News Service

Members of the Senate want to ensure that medical devices which patients rely on to stay alive and healthy are working properly. Patients as well as medical professionals testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) Tuesday to express support for the Medical Device Safety Act of 2009.

Each witness provided different insight into an issue that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) sought to address over 30 years ago. He worked on the Medical Device Amendments Act, a bill that gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate medical devices.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said last year’s Supreme Court decision in Reigel v. Medtronic, Inc., gave corporations immunity from lawsuits which involve endangering consumers with unsafe devices.

“The upshot is that negligent corporations are not held accountable, victims cannot receive fair compensation and consumers are at risk. Unfortunately, this has had catastrophic consequences for ordinary Americans,” said Harkin.

Michael Mulvihill was one of the patients who testified. He received 22 electric shocks within a span of 53 minutes from a faulty Medtronic defibrillator. The defibrillator had been implanted in him a little over a year ago to help address an irregular heart beat and pulse rate.

Mulvihill said, “My hope is that no one else ever has to go through the pain and agony that I experienced with the fractured lead, and that Medtronic is held responsible for the injuries it has caused other patients like me.”

Sen. Harkin believes people should maintain the ability to sue when injured and, in turn, encourage manufacturers to use “utmost care” and improve the safety of their devices.

“The threat of [product] liability is the safety net that helps repair problems when the FDA or manufacturers fail to warn consumers properly,” said Harkin.

Other members of the panel felt that the “Medical Device Safety Act of 2009” could stifle some important progress in the realm of innovation.

Michael Roman, an amputee, testified that in the time span of just five years, the changes in spinal cord stimulator technology have made a “huge difference” in his life and that of his family.

“But what if Congress had enacted the Medical Device Safety Act in 2001? For me, I’m sure it would have been game over,” said Roman.

Committee members say the purpose of the Act is to ensure the safety of consumers.

“Lieberman- Warner Climate Security Act” breezing through Senate

Following a vote on the “Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act” in the Senate, a news conference with remarks by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) was held in advocacy of the bill and how it will help keep our environment clean. The senators speaking at the press conference expressed their satisfaction with the bipartisan support the bill has received from other members of the Senate.

Concerning the bill, Senator Kerry described the role the next President will play in “getting this done” to solve the problem of global warming. Kerry mentioned that our nation has to set an example to other world powers such as China and India about properly funding initiatives to keep the environment clean.

Boxer talked about how, because Americans are concerned about climate change, this bill will pass more quickly than the Clean Air Act that took roughly a decade to pass. In an emotional moment, she told the story of a “beautiful” letter she received from ailing Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) about his appreciation and support for the bill.

Lieberman comically mentioned that, due to the success the bill had in acquiring Senate support, this morning’s vote was “A small step for mankind, and a giant step for the U.S. Senate.” He said the bill would help move American history in a direction it needs to go toward, with Boxer adding that funding for fuel alternatives could also help make our country less dependent on foreign oil.