Why The Republicans Should Not Cut Food Stamps

Facts about food stamps. Click on this image to see it full size.

Today's post comes from guest author Paul J. McAndrew, Jr., from Paul McAndrew Law Firm.

I write about a debate now occurring in Congress in which the GOP is threatening millions of American families, including 200,000 Iowa households.  The debate is over food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”).

To understand the problem, we need only review the survey-report issued by the Department of Agriculture on September 4.  (Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Mark Nord, Anita Singh, “Household Food Security in the United States in 2012”).  The report shows that nearly 49 million Americans lived in “food insecure” households last year.  This means family members lack consistent access to adequate food throughout the year.  In short, 49 million Americans (over 16 times the Iowa population) went hungry for long periods in 2012.  Worse, children were found to be hungry in 10% of all U.S. families with children.  The agency found that hunger rates since the 2007 recession are much higher than before.

Lobbying In D.C. On Behalf Of Injured Workers

Regulations were proposed recently to operationalize the The SMART act. The public comment period is ongoing. Today's post comes from guest author Paul J. McAndrew, Jr., from Paul McAndrew Law Firm.

On April 17, my colleagues from WILG (Workers Injury Law & Advocacy Group) and I gathered in Washington D.C. to lobby Congressional representatives on behalf of injured workers. We discussed several bills that will affect the interests of workers in Iowa and across the United States. I had the pleasure of meeting with Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Chuck Grassley, Congressman Bruce Braley and Congressman Dave Loebsack in their offices where we discussed the following bills:

The MSP and Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreement Act of 2012

The Akaka Amendment to S. 1789, The Post Service Reform Bill (an amendment to strip from S. 1789 those provisions that deform the Federal Employee Compensation Act).

As I explained at these meetings, the MSP and Worker’s Compensation Settlement Act of 2012 is necessary for three reasons:
(1) to bring some reasonable and understandable system to CMS’ current uncertain and regulation-less system of establishing Medicare Set-aside Plans for workers’ compensation settlements;
(2) to allow for an appeal of CMS’s MSA determination; and
(3) to bring some reasonable time limits to CMS’ process of setting the MSA required for workers’ compensation settlements.

The Akaka Amendment to strip the FECA deform provisions out of S.1789 is necessary because the FECA deform provisions wrongfully reduces monetary benefits and treats the injured worker like a fraud (mandating period independent medical examinations, vocational rehabilitation and field nurses to hound the injured worker). Workers' compensation reform is a constant threat to the rights of workers across the country. It is important that all of us who participate in the work' comp' system do our part to protect and preserve these legal rights.

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Three more states report Cyclospora cases; total rises to 283

Today's post was shared by CIDRAP and comes from www.cidrap.umn.edu

Three more states are reporting Cyclospora infections, pushing the national total to 283, but it's not clear which of the newly reported cases are part of the national outbreak, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and individual states reported today.
In its update today, the CDC added Georgia, Connecticut, and New Jersey to its map of cyclosporiasis cases, which means nine states are now reporting cases. Georgia has two cases, and Connecticut and New Jersey each have one.

About half of the total cases are from Iowa, which reported its first cases in early July. In an update today the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) said 134 cases have been reported in the state so far, which is seven more than reflected in the CDC total.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) also updated its case count today, adding one more case that isn't reflected in the CDC's total to bring its total to 69. The combined new cases in Iowa and Nebraska raise the total number of US cases to 283.

Texas is third in case numbers, with 65.

The CDC said totals in those three states may include some travel-associated cases and that interviews are pending. It also noted that the single cases reported from Illinois and Kansas probably involved infections acquired in neighboring outbreak states.
Wisconsin has confirmed four Cyclospora cases.

William Gerrish, director of communications for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, said both of the state's patients are...

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Compensation Blog Launched To Help Iowa Workers

A new blog has been launched in Iowa to help injured workers and their families to learn more about the workers' compensation system and understand what benefits are available. The Iowa Workers' Compensation Blog, published by the Law Firm of Paul McAndrew offers up to date information and friendly tips to assist those disabled at work.

Paul announced that "...Workers’ Compensation has traditionally been a primary remedy for injured workers throughout Iowa. My firm has proudly participated in assisting injured workers’ and their families in obtaining benefits following industrial accidents and occupational exposures. This blog, as well as our newly launched, and client friendly, social media network is yet another effort to provide modern quality service to our clients and the community that we serve. We hope that you take the opportunity to participate in our new adventure in provide helpful and important information."

Paul J. McAndrew, Jr. is the founder of the Paul McAndrew Law Firm, focused on Iowa workers' compensation law as well as social security disability and employment law. Paul is an Iowanative and double degree graduate of Iowa University. Having practiced law for over 25 years, Paul is annually recognized by Best Lawyers in America. He is presiding President of the Workers Injury Law & Advocacy Group, a national organization of workers' compensation attorneys dedicated to protecting the rights of injured workers. Paul is also a frequently published author and educator on the topic of workers' compensation.

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Gingrich Calls Present Workers' Compensation System Dangerous

Entitlement programs were a hot issue in the Iowa Caucuses, and the nation's workers' compensation system has become an ancillary target. In the final hours of the Iowa debate,  Newt Gingrich called the present workers' compensation system as "very dangerous." 

Whoever the winner of tonight's contest is on the Republican side, that person will ultimately carry forth the Republican agenda to review the nation's disability program including both workers' compensation and disability. 


Click here for the NY Times story on the results of the Iowa Caucuses

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Gingrich: Workers' Compensation is History

The NY Times reports today that presidential hopeful, Newt Gingrich is taking the lead in the Iowa state Caucus poles. Over the past years, during his absence from Washington politics, Gingrich has been involved in lobbying for change in the nation's medical delivery system. 

His statement before the National Governor's Conference in 2010 reflects that he will definitely advocate for the abolishment of the patchwork of State workers' compensation laws:

"Replace litigation-focused workers compensation with a rehabilitation and capabilities focused program that maximizes the speed of helping people medically, and focuses on retraining and focusing on what they can do rather than on what they can't do."

Read more about his increase in popularity:
In Iowa, Gingrich Is Gaining Favor, New Poll Shows
"Newt Gingrich enters the final four weeks of campaigning before the Iowa caucuses with Republican voters in the state viewing him as more prepared to be president than Mitt Romney, more attuned to their concerns and just as capable of defeating President Obama, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll." read more.......

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