Topic: RED ALERT!!! Lyme Disease bill needs YOU!!!
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Just when we thought we could close the barn doors on this bill....
For everyone, everywhere, if you have Lyme disease or not. If it can happen here, it can happen in YOUR area. Please forward this to everyone in your email address book, any clubs you belong to, any community boards or groups you belong to, and to anyone who goes outdoors!
We need help AGAIN... STILL!
Many of you have made calls, sent faxes and emails to the Maryland Senate EHE committee telling them you OPPOSE the Lyme disease bill (HB 836). We thank you for your support, it is very much appreciated and it was making a difference... but... after an update... sorry to say we need more help!
We have just learned the bills sponsor, Delegate Montgomery, and the Department of Health have stepped up the pressure to get the bill passed at the last minute. BIG time! The current legislative session continues until midnight Monday, April 9, 2007, so please keep going until that time!!
I KNOW it is a holiday weekend and I know you have better things to do, but if you could find it in your heart to take a minute of your time to help those who have Lyme disease from being cut off from treatment and those who will get Lyme from being denied early treatment and having the chance of becoming chronically ill... well... it would literally save lives.
We need calls, faxes and/or emails to go to the following places ASAP telling them:
I OPPOSE the Lyme Disease Bill, HB 836.
(be sure to give your name, address, and a phone number)
THANK YOU for taking a minute of your time for Lyme and this grass roots effort. We are all volunteers and we do this because we KNOW Lyme disease and its consequences.. and we care! We need your help because we are chronically ill and basically running out of steam after 2 solid months of fighting this bill. We are ALMOST there! Please lend us a hand.
valymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7076
posted
Going to send this to folks on different email lists that I have. Thanks for sounding the alarm.
Posts: 1240 | From Centreville,VA | Registered: Mar 2005
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minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
Yep, we're here (and I believe I speak in more than the royal We). I've written to these folks (again) and emailed our local lyme group and family members.
If you get any feedback on how the MD congresspersons respond to out of state mail, do let me know.
-------------------- ********************* RECIDITE, PLEBES! Gero rem imperialem! (Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.)
NP40
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6711
posted
Forwarded it on to the WI. groups. Sent a note to all the legislators you listed basically asking why'd they'd want to send Guidelines being investaigated by an Attorney General to every doctor in Maryland ?
Doesn't make much sense to me and hopefully not to them. Either put ALL the treatment guidelines in or send the bill to the garbage.
Posts: 1632 | From Northern Wisconsin | Registered: Jan 2005
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mbroderick
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5220
posted
I'm here!! I just sent an email to every senator on the list. Hopefully many others will do the same.
posted
Tincup, Just want to say a special thanks for all of your grueling work. Wish it weren't so necessary.
Folks, Please step up and do your part. This bill is a disaster in the making.
-------------------- "Help Or Be Helpless" Please visit "Activism" board daily. See the threads regarding the IDSA Guidelines crisis and the threads about Dr. Charles Ray Jones and decide how best to help today! Posts: 1265 | From does not list | Registered: Jun 2004
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Put on those white hats and park yer horses in the stable out back! You MUST be the good guys!
posted
Tincup, Thanks so much for all your work on this and for letting us know how we can work to protect ourselves.
I'm writing and contacting friends and family to do the same. Ellen
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Posts: 819 | From New York, NY | Registered: Oct 2001
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
It sure is nice to see these friendly faces helping out. THANK YOU!
I wish I could address each of you personally.. but I am surprised I can even move at this point or put two words together.. one in front of the other. VERY worn down.
But do know EVERY letter and call are making a differece!!! We have some hope.
lou4656
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10300
posted
Tincup -- I can not thank you enough for all the work you are doing to see this Take A Tick To Lunch Bill defeated.
I have scanned the entire Sunday Annapolis newspaper. The couple of articles written that address which bills are expected to be voted on before midnight tomorrow do not mention HB 836. That may be a good sign, but it is important that the e-mails keep coming just in case they try to squeak it through.
I have heard from Senator Harris' office, but there was no indication as to which way he would vote.
My fingers are STILL crossed!!
-------------------- LouLou Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2006
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I sent off an email to the list above. Lets keep this post up!
Posts: 628 | From the south | Registered: Dec 2005
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lou4656
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10300
posted
Oh, and no mention of HB 836 in the Baltimore Sun newspaper either.
-------------------- LouLou Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2006
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
I've had some questions about the bill and the process .. so I am posting a response that I've sent out so maybe.. for those who are interested.. it will help explain it better?
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The bill originally and still contains the language "latest consensus guidelines".
If the bill passes, the latest consensus guidelines that will be sent to all health care professionals would be the IDSA guidelines (published most recently with their 2006 update).
Originally we tried to get an amendment passed along with the bill ... we were all (local, state, national) unanimous supporting the amendment (except a couple members from one Maryland group).
The sponsor told us the amendment WOULD be supported ... and then even told me it WAS in there.. then she suddenly flip flopped (the nice term)... which is where the problems really got bad.
At the last minute in a sub-committee meeting of Delegates (we weren't invited)... the sponsor would NOT support the amendment.. and neither did the lovely lovely Department of Health. I don't think they figured on me finding out this happened?? Hello?? And they haven't called back or returned my messages since to share their side of the story. Anyhow...
The bill immediately went to the floor and was passed unanimously by the Delegates before anyone knew it had even happened. I've since heard some things and some of the Delegates thought our amendment was in there (ok, right?). So much for paying attention to what they are doing while they are suppose to be making laws governing people's LIVES!!!
Keep in mind the Health Department (who we have been trying to get to help us for years, to no avail) is behind this bill. And here in Maryland...
Health Dept = Hopkins = IDSA author and editor... basically all one in the same.
Our wording in the amendment would have at least required the Dept of Health to send out BOTH sets of guidelines (IDSA and ILADS) rather than only one, which was the IDSA guidelines.
Our amendment, though ONLY a bandaid on a bad bill and an unnecessary bill all the same, which they put in without us knowing, was a compromise in order to make not just ONE side of the controversy, meaning IDSA, the LAW in Maryland... and to give doctors and patients a choice.
Our amendment would have made them also send out "balanced" literature (brochures and such) too. We used the term "balanced"... like what is used in the Federal bill and other state bills.. as I doubted they would have accepted the words UNBIASED or YOUR CRUMMY PIG STUFF. (Yes, I need to control my emotions more.. sorry)
We also had the wording "National Clearing House guidelines" in our amendment, rather than their wording of "latest consensus guidelines" to try to address this problem.
Even then, in my opinion, that was a sorry compromise, at best.. but we didn't have much choice, as we knew there was NO way they would only send out ILADS... and the sponsor refused to take the entire line out (our first suggestion).. which would have stopped nearly all the problems.
At no time did the bill allow for ILADS to be sent out to doctors... ever... and that is what we were trying to have put in there... and we couldn't get it done due to sponsor/Health Dept/Hopkins/IDSA pressure.
So now it has gotten (natural next step) to the Senate EHE committee for their review.
With only a few days left in the session (Monday midnight) and they had 2,000 bills to do this session... we are hoping it will stay in that committee and NOT be passed out of it and sent immediately to the Senate floor for a vote.
That would be called basically "killing the bill" (my words) if it stayed there.. which is what we need to have happen.
So we are asking people to write in to the Senators on the EHE committee to OPPOSE the bill.. or KILL the BILL. That is the only way we have a chance now to make it so the bill hopefully won't get passed.
Latest news.. even though the sponsor knows full well we ALL object to the bill and it could be dangerous to patients and residents.. and knows the reasons why... she is continuing to push it. And going to GREAT lengths to do so.. almost pitiful to see .. and the Health Dept. is pushing it hard too.
So much for HELPING patients and residents of the state!!!
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
I just saw more responses. I must have been typing.. at which I am very slow.
Good news that it isn't listed! WHEW!!!! That helps! Thanks for that news Lou4. I'd have never thought to check that out!!!
Good for you Serendipity.. and I need an email address for you. They aren't getting through?
Thank you all for sending it. I am just picturing in my mind the stacks of calls, emails, etc supporting us when Monday morning rolls around. I HOPE!!!
Also, I noticed that there were 11 senators listed on the web page for the committe, but only 9 have been listed here. Is that intentional or should we be contacting the other 2 as well? Thanks
-------------------- Lynne
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead Posts: 63 | From USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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lou4656
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10300
posted
Just checked cover to cover the Monday Baltimore Sun and The Examiner. No mention of the bill.
Do not sit back, however. The Senate has been known to vote quickly on bills towards the end of the session. And Gov. O'Malley has granted them an extension if they cannot agree on the budget, so there is now more time available for passing bills because a budget agreement is not hanging over their heads. The Senators are tired and may be more lax...........
Call, e-mail fax.
The clock is TICKING. . . TICK, TICK TICK! (Sometimes I crack myself up!!!!!!!)
-------------------- LouLou Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2006
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
LMNOP and Lou..
Thanks!
Yes.. two names were left out of the list because they cried "Uncle" already.. and will be voting NO to the bill for sure. So we don't need to annoy them at this point.
But yes on the others.. keep 'em coming!!!!
LMNOP.. THANKS for the list!!! Although I've been thinking about it... I haven't had time to make one up with fax numbers, so it is a big help!!!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lou1234...
Aside from being goofy, tick tick tick... HA!
That info is VERY much needed. I'm in FL and don't have access to the Maryland TV news,, IF I had time to watch it. So any updates like that are MUCH needed... please keep posting them!!
You can be our official "anchor person".
Did they say how long the extension was going to be?
If you can find that out and share.. that would be nice.
If you could contact the Governor and tell him NOT to do that any more.. cause we are exhausted... that would be even nicer!
Yes.. sometimes I crack myself up too. HA!
UPDATE!
We are getting there. It actually looks encouraging.. kinda almost!!!
YOUR calls and notes are what is helping so much. THANKS!
lou4656
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10300
posted
OK . . . here is my PERSONAL opinion of what will happen. I hesitate to post it, because I do not want people who are planning to contact the Senators to not follow through based on my OPINION!
The legislators must pass a balanced budget. Maryland reportedly has a huge deficit at the moment, which means that bills that require spending money (such as the Take A Tick To Lunch Bill) may be voted down or killed in an effort to balance the budget. And the House and Senate supposedly have numerous disputes regarding the budget.
I do not believe that there is a deadline for a balanced budget if they cannot agree by midnight tonight. They would have to call a Special Session and just hammer it out until all the legislators agree. The state constitution requires it.
Based on all that, I think the bill will be killed.
Here is where I get a bit scared, though. On the surface, the Lyme Bill looks a "feel good" kind of bill. "Education the public" "offer diagnosis and treatment guidelines" Blah Blah Blah. And for those unfamiliar with Lyme and its complications (Legislators - raise your hands), they could vote to pass the bill based on their ignorance. That's why it is so important to contact these Senators and tell them personally why it is so important to Vote NO or KILL THE BILL.
OK -- I've rambled long enough. The Captial (Annapolis) newpaper comes out this afternoon. I will do a cover to cover search and report on anything that I find.
TICK, TICK, TICK! (Fingers STILL crossed)
-------------------- LouLou Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2006
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sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
Lou-
i think the Assembly just passed O'Malley's budget...
sounds like you're a veteran Annoplis watcher?
dilly
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Zippity do dah... we keep getting bits and pieces of hopeful info.
But we aren't putting all our eggs in one basket.. and not counting the chickens before they hatch!
So keep up the good work!!! It REALLY is what is going to make us succeed.. if we do!!!
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Idea.. amazing I still can think.. but what about this!!!
Someone put up a new post with a title like ..
COUNTDOWN till Session Ends- BILL progress
Something like that?
We've got about 9 1/2 hours left. I have a feeling I'll be up till then. HA!
It will give us all somewhere to get the latest updates.. and I can send out emails for others to watch. Kinda like the Dick Clark New Year event. I need some positive stimulation.
lou4656
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10300
posted
I rarely watch the Annapolis legislative procedures, because everything gets so muddled with amendments to bills . . . too complicated for this lyme brain!
BUT, this is much too important to the health of current and future lyme patients. So, I am trying to keep a watchful eye.
TICK, TICK, TICK!! (Fingers still C-R-O-S-S-E-D!) Whew........I am getting tired!
-------------------- LouLou Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2006
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
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