US Rep. Diana DeGette Liveblog

To start off: (0.00 / 0)

In an earlier thread, Johne asked the following:

Can you think of some of the crazier things said on any of these health issues either by fundy politicians or their lobbyists?  

How do they tend to respond when confronted with actual data and science?

What's the latest on reasonable expectations for cures for parkinsons, diabetes, and others?

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by: Aaron Silverstein @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 14:39:30 PM CDT

Johne question (0.00 / 0)

One of the strangest recent policies to actually pass Congress was in the SCHIP bill, which was designed to insure the children of the working poor.  The right wing was actually able to include language allowing states to give health insurance to fetuses but not the pregnant mothers!  Sounds preposterous, but it actually passed both the House and Senate and was in the bill vetoed by the President.

These folks don't really want to be confused with scientific data.

Embryonic stem cell research has not yet led to a cure for any of the diseases you mention, but we have made some good advances which could be even greater if we expanded the research.

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by: US Rep. Diana DeGette @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:01:22 PM CDT

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Dave Thielen asks: (0.00 / 0)

"When is her Daily Show appearance?"

and comments:

"This book is perfect for the interview part."

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by: Aaron Silverstein @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 14:41:58 PM CDT

Roadblocks (0.00 / 0)

In your book, the obvious roadblocks to passing reasonable legislation are the Republicans, but the numbers indicate that a good number of Democrats are also blocking the way.

If the problem is the passionate voting bloc of the religious right, then it won't be enough to just elect more Dems.

How do we make sure that after getting people to Washington they don't continue to bow to the pressure they are bowing to now?
How do we stand up to the mobilizing power of the churches and the single issue wedge voters?

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by: Aaron Silverstein @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 14:47:06 PM CDT

Roadblocks question (0.00 / 0)

There are some Democrats who represent more conservative districts who vote against science.  These Democrats, as well as the Republicans, need to hear from their constituents that the vast majority of them care about science.  What happens is that they only hear from the right wing and often they don't realize that the majority of their voters favor things like birth control and stem cell research.

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by: US Rep. Diana DeGette @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:03:30 PM CDT

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Polis and the Freshman (0.00 / 0)

How responsive is Congressional leadership likely to be to the incoming Representatives?

Sending new faces to the Hill might be seen by leadership as a vindication that they are on the right track instead of a call for progressive change. How do we send new people, and make it clear that it is a mandate for a new direction?

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by: Aaron Silverstein @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 14:51:52 PM CDT

Polis and the Freshman (0.00 / 0)

The new freshmen will be a strong influence on the policies we pass.

In 2006, I campaigned around the country for pro-stem cell research candidates.  A number of them were elected and I featured them on the House Floor when we debated my new bill as the third bill of the 110th Congress.   I hope to bring even more reenforcements this cycle.

No longer is the adage "seen but not heard" true for the Congressional freshmen; they are expected to be heard from the beginning.

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by: US Rep. Diana DeGette @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:06:28 PM CDT

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Hello! (0.00 / 0)

Thanks, Square State, for hosting me.  I am looking forward to answering your questions.

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by: US Rep. Diana DeGette @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 14:54:00 PM CDT

S-CHIP (0.00 / 0)

I understand that Colorado is having some problems properly accounting for the costs in S-CHIP and is revising downward the number of kids being covered.

What is on the horizon for S-CHIP? Are we going to be able to insure our kids anytime soon?

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by: Aaron Silverstein @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:06:19 PM CDT

S-CHIP (0.00 / 0)

I was active with the S-CHIP bill when it was first passed by Congress in 1997.  When it came up for reauthorization last year, we had hoped to expand it to the millions of children who are eligible for the program but not enrolled because of a shortage of funds.  Unfortunately, the President vetoed the bill twice, and we hope to reauthorize it when the new Congress is sworn in and with a new President.

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by: US Rep. Diana DeGette @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:15:09 PM CDT

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Appointing Scientists (0.00 / 0)

Putting incompetent people in charge is easy. Recruiting talent is hard.

Now that Bush has gutted the Executive Branch and sidelined the real scientists, how hard will it be to bring those departments back online? Will making top level appointments be enough, or do we really have to do something now to change the culture at the FDA, EPA, etc.?  

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by: Aaron Silverstein @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:09:55 PM CDT

Appointing Scientists (0.00 / 0)

Most of the scientists at the FDA, EPA and NIH are career employees.  The real politicization, as I discuss in my book, has come through the agency appointments.  A new President will make new appointments.  I believe that Sen. Obama will appoint science-based individuals; given Sen. McCain's voting record on most of the issues in my book, I have less confidence that he will do the same.

We also need to increase the budget at the NIH; it has been flat for several years and ongoing studies are beginning to be impaired.

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by: US Rep. Diana DeGette @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:18:40 PM CDT

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Abortion Messaging (4.00 / 2)

The mainstream media doesn't create a space for in-depth explanations for meaningful concepts. Do you have any ideas for a messaging strategy that can inculcate the obvious about how legislating against abortion is antithetical to history and human nature?

How do we shift the conversation away from "killing" to health care and human rights?

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by: sufimarie @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:12:24 PM CDT

Abortion messaging (0.00 / 0)

As the co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice caucus, I believe that abortion should be legal and safe.  I also believe that we should focus on preventing unwanted pregnancies.

Over the years, we got put into the position of  debating fringe issues like late-term abortion.  We will never win that argument, and frankly, its not the main point.  The main point is that the right wing not only wants to stop abortion, it has tried to limit birth control and family planning.

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and I have cosponsored comprehensive pregnancy prevention legislation which we hope to bring up early in the next Congress.

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by: US Rep. Diana DeGette @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:23:51 PM CDT

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$ and Science (0.00 / 0)

Your book focuses on the impact of Luddite theology on science, but what about the impact of money?

You spoke at one point about a hearing being totally derailed by the theatrics of the Raelians, and you said:

"After a while I turned to Jim Greenwood and asked, 'Why did you call this panel? These people are all nuts.' And they were. "

Then you go on to indicate that Greenwood is now a lobbyist for the Biotech industry.

Is it possible that the industry groups sometimes benefit from the bad policy, and occasionally try to gum up the works? Does our intellectual property law stifle what public science could be creating while benefiting private firms?

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by: Aaron Silverstein @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:16:11 PM CDT

$ and science (0.00 / 0)

Industry tries to influence legislation in its own direction, no question about it.

In the instance of stem cell research, though, industry has been very supportive and helpful.  And certainly, in the case of the Raelians (who  are trying to clone human beings as part of their religious beliefs), industry had no part.  The hearing was, in my view, a misguided attempt to bring press attention to this serious subject and backfired since the press left the room once the Raelians testified.

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by: US Rep. Diana DeGette @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:31:23 PM CDT

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Colorado (0.00 / 0)

How does the State of Colorado now compare to when you were in the legislature in as far as fundamentalist impact on our political climate?

Is there anything that our local readers can be doing if they want to help change our health policy for the better on either the State or national level?

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by: Aaron Silverstein @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:23:59 PM CDT

Colorado (0.00 / 0)

Since I served in the Legislature in the 1990's, the Democrats have taken control, so there are not as many big fights around sex and reproduction.

I will say, though, that even when I served, moderates on both sides of the aisle were able to work together to defeat some of the wackier ideas and pass some good bills.  It was just a lot more work.

In the book, I talk about how voters must look at the entire voting record of politicians and vote for those who support sound science.  For example, a lot of people think that since Sen. McCain is a maverick, he is a moderate.  In fact, he has a 0% voting record on issues of choice and birth control.  He voted for my stem cell bill but is now strangely silent on the issues.  People need to think about the effect of elections on sensible public policy and the expenditure of taxpayer dollars.

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by: US Rep. Diana DeGette @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:35:42 PM CDT

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Water (0.00 / 0)

Considering Penry's Amendment 52 and McCain's recent comments about "renegotiating" the Colorado River compact, why do you think Republicans continue to blow it on water?  Why didn't they learn their lesson with Referendum A?

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by: Jeff Bridges @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:24:38 PM CDT

Thank You, Rep. DeGette! (0.00 / 0)

Thank you so much for taking this time, and for everything you have been doing for my home district, CO-01.

Feel free to visit and comment at SquareState.net anytime, and we look forward to covering your work during the convention.

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by: Aaron Silverstein @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:35:32 PM CDT

Thank you (0.00 / 0)

Thanks to Square State and all of those who participated and read our dialogue.  I look forward to joining you again soon.

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by: US Rep. Diana DeGette @ Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:36:43 PM CDT

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