(Baltimore, MD) — Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-7) will receive an award Saturday evening, at the “Art of Health Care: A Vision for our Future Gala.” The award honors Cummings’ commitment to ensuring all Marylanders have access to quality health care.
Dave Shippee, CEO of Chase Brexton, will present the award to Congressman Cummings. Tom Miller, Baltimore artist and former Chase Brexton patient, will also receive an award posthumously. Miller died from complications of AIDS in 2000.
“Tom Miller was diagnosed with AIDS in 1989, at a time when the treatment for that disease was not nearly as effective as it is today,” said Cummings. “Tom lived another 11 years, creating the art that was his life, brightening the lives of so many people in Baltimore. His life is a testimony to what healthcare can do in our state and in our country. I am honored to receive this award, and I will continue to fight to make sure that every Marylander has the opportunity to receive the same healthcare opportunities that Tom Miller had.”
WHAT: Award honoring Congressman Elijah E. Cummings’ commitment to quality healthcare, at The Art of Health Care: A Vision for our Future Gala
WHERE: American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD
WHEN: Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 6:00 p.m.
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) pushed back against Republican attacks today by stating that health care reform will actually significantly expand coverage and lower costs for seniors.
“Health reform will benefit our nation’s seniors by strengthening Medicare, closing the “donut hole” to lower seniors’ prescription drug costs, and improving the coordination and quality of care,” stated Congresswoman Edwards. “Reform will also expand home and community-based services to offer people the option to stay in their own homes and out of nursing centers.”
Each year, 3,700 beneficiaries in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District enter the Part D donut hole and are forced to pay full price for prescription drugs. Under the Democrats health reform plan, these beneficiaries will receive a $250 rebate in 2010, 50% discounts on brand name drugs beginning in 2011, and complete closure of the donut hole within a decade. A typical beneficiary who enters the donut hole will see savings of over $700 in 2011 and over $3,000 by 2020.
“Health care reform builds on 44 years of strong democratic support for Medicare,” said Congresswoman Edwards. “When we pass this legislation, seniors can be assured that reform will reduce costs, improve their quality of care, and protect Medicare for theirs and future generations. Seniors have always counted on the staunch support of Medicare from Democrats, and they can do so once more when it comes to health care reform.”
In total, 71,000 Medicare beneficiaries in the 4th Congressional District will experience improved coverage.
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Recently, Ehrlich has taken to being hostile towards the middle class. For example, on the November 28 show, Ehrlich came out in support of a massive new tax on the middle class, endorsing a health care plan offered by conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer. A key part of the plan is imposing a tax on employer-provided health insurance. Krauthammer estimates that this would be a $250 billion tax increase. While others have slammed this proposal for its impact on working Americans, Ehrlich posted the column on his website and told listeners, “Please read this Krauthammer piece, everybody, it’s just fantastic. He is the best writer on the right today.”
Since Ehrlich is the de facto head of the Maryland Republican Party, we wonder if the GOP’s announced gubernatorial candidates, Larry Hogan and Pat McDonough also support this tax increase. They should publicly state a position, now, as Ehrlich has boldly done, so the people of Maryland know where they stand.
Then, this week, Ehrlich came out against helping middle class consumers get access to credit, even when told by another WBAL host that the lack of credit was hurting the economy. Ehrlich also acted as a cheerleader for the recession, declaring that he was “not buying” good economic news:
Brian Kroneberger (host, Financial Hour, previewing his show, which follows the Ehrlichs): We’re going to walk through mixed signals in the economy. We had a better jobs report but the service sector, the manufacturing sector slipped a little bit–
Bob Ehrlich: I’m not buying it, Kroney.
Kendel Ehrlich: Any consumer reports yet on big Thanksgiving weekend?
Kroneberger: November retail sales a little bit lower, uh, than last year’s numbers –
Bob Ehrlich: People showing up but spending less, right?
Kroneberger: They’re showing up, spending less, frugal consumers, but you know –
Ehrlich: Sales, right?
Kroneberger: Credit. Credit cards have just basically taken — if you’re not a worthy consumer in their eyes by the numbers, right? You make ‘em bring down your interest rates and give you plenty of time to pay your bill, well they’ve fought back now and they’ve basically said, “You know what? The heck with it. Anybody that we think is not gonna pay us back, just purely by numbers, we’re gonna just take away their credit line.” And so you’ve got people out there, especially low and moderate income, people who have jobs, they don’t have credit anymore, so it’s going to be very difficult. So everybody down in Washington — Governor, you know this better than everybody — you know, “Go get the mean banks,” right –
Bob Ehrlich: Congress always overreacts. They always overreact. Always.
Kroneberger: But they’re coming back and saying, “You don’t have the credit line.” So that is certainly a negative economic sign.
So, Larry and Pat — who’s side are you on? Do you agree with Bob?
