In Senate race, health care still hot topic

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By STEVE LeBLANC

July 16, 2012 12:00 AM

BOSTON In Massachusetts' contentious U.S. Senate race, few issues divide the two candidates more sharply than the health care law signed by President Barack Obama and upheld by the Supreme Court.

Republican Scott Brown ran for the Senate in 2010 vowing to be the crucial 41st vote needed to block the initiative, which ultimately passed despite his opposition. He remains critical of the law.

His Democratic challenger, Harvard Law School professor Elizabeth Warren, has praised the Affordable Care Act, which was modeled after a 2006 Massachusetts law signed by then-Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican. Warren said the federal law has helped expand access to health care in Massachusetts and the nation.

Last month's Supreme Court ruling has only intensified the debate.

The latest salvo came from Brown in response to reports that U.S. employers added only 80,000 jobs in June, a third straight month of weak hiring. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.2 percent.

Brown called the numbers "grim" and faulted in part what he said were the "job-killing taxes on individuals, families and small businesses" that Warren supports, including those in the health care law.

"These are bad ideas under normal circumstances, but with our economy teetering on the brink, professor Warren's economic prescription would push us over the precipice," Brown said in a statement.

Warren has been equally emphatic in her support of the law and her criticism of Brown.

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In Senate race, health care still hot topic

Perry opposes Medicaid expansion

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AUSTIN As Gov. Rick Perry stood defiantly against expanding Medicaid in Texas under the federal health care reform law Monday, he and other officials said they'd work for alternative solutions in a state where a quarter of the people are uninsured.

It's unclear what those solutions would look like, although Perry has long called for the federal government to give money to Texas in block grants without as many restrictions on how it's spent.

Some suggested expanding federal subsidies for private insurance to allow more low-income people to buy insurance on the private market with government assistance.

The feds have basically said this is the amount of money we are going to spend. So if you are going to spend it, why don't you let us spend it in a way that we think is better for Texas, as opposed to loading up our Medicaid program? said state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond.

If Perry's decision holds, Texas will forgo billions of federal dollars to help cover about 1.5 million low-income Texas adults through Medicaid.

The federal government would pay the full cost of the Medicaid expansion for the first three years; after that, Texas would pay a share that would gradually increase but be capped at 10 percent.

The Health and Human Services Commission projects the expansion would cost $27 billion in state general revenue and bring in $164 billion in federal money over 10 years.

Perry also said Monday that Texas has no intention of setting up its own insurance exchange to allow people buying their own plans to compare coverage, another provision of the health care law.

If Texas doesn't set up an exchange, the federal government will do so. But the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states have a choice about expanding the Medicaid program.

Perry said in a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that he opposes both programs because both represent brazen intrusions into the sovereignty of our state.

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Perry opposes Medicaid expansion

Health care law's costs complicated

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By CARLA K. JOHNSON

CHICAGO - As the dust settles from the U.S. Supreme Court's momentous decision on health care, top state leaders have faced off with conflicting figures about the cost to Illinois of expanded Medicaid coverage. President Barack Obama's health care overhaul expands Medicaid to more Americans, but the court's ruling, in effect, makes the expansion optional for states.

The day of the court's decision, Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican, warned that the state would pay "an additional $2.4 billion" over six years. She urged lawmakers "to start saving now for those added costs."

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, countered that the federal government would pay "the entire cost" of the expansion. "I want to send to Miss Topinka, who is a friend of mine, a copy of the bill," Durbin told one TV news station, implying that Topinka would back down once she had read the law.

Who's right? As it turns out, they've both got facts on their side. But both fail to mention critical information.

Voters are likely to hear more sound bites from politicians about the cost of expanding Medicaid for states from now until November's presidential election. Governors in at least five states have said they'll reject the Medicaid expansion now that it's optional, citing costs.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has embraced the president's health care law, including the Medicaid expansion. Quinn's office says cost estimates have been incorrect and "unduly high."

Here's the reality: Most of the cost of expanding Medicaid program will be paid by the federal government, but states will pay some additional costs primarily because of a quirk called "the woodwork effect."

State and federal governments share the cost of Medicaid. In Illinois, the split is about 50-50. Health policy people talk about the "federal Medicaid match" because the federal dollars roughly match the state dollars. The formula varies from state to state.

Under the new health law, as Durbin suggests, the federal government will pay the entire cost - 100 percent - for people newly eligible for Medicaid for the first three years, starting in 2014. The federal share falls to 90 percent by 2020.

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Health care law's costs complicated

Closer Look: Health care law's costs complicated

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As the dust settles from the U.S. Supreme Court's momentous decision on health care, top state leaders have faced off with conflicting figures about the cost to Illinois of expanded Medicaid coverage. President Barack Obama's health care overhaul expands Medicaid to more Americans, but the court's ruling, in effect, makes the expansion optional for states.

The day of the court's decision, Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican, warned that the state would pay "an additional $2.4 billion" over six years. She urged lawmakers "to start saving now for those added costs."

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, countered that the federal government would pay "the entire cost" of the expansion. "I want to send to Miss Topinka, who is a friend of mine, a copy of the bill," Durbin told one TV news station, implying that Topinka would back down once she had read the law.

Who's right? As it turns out, they've both got facts on their side. But both fail to mention critical information.

Voters are likely to hear more sound bites from politicians about the cost of expanding Medicaid for states from now until November's presidential election. Governors in at least five states have said they'll reject the Medicaid expansion now that it's optional, citing costs.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has embraced the president's health care law, including the Medicaid expansion. Quinn's office says cost estimates have been incorrect and "unduly high."

Here's the reality: Most of the cost of expanding Medicaid program will be paid by the federal government, but states will pay some additional costs primarily because of a quirk called "the woodwork effect."

State and federal governments share the cost of Medicaid. In Illinois, the split is about 50-50. Health policy people talk about the "federal Medicaid match" because the federal dollars roughly match the state dollars. The formula varies from state to state.

Under the new health law, as Durbin suggests, the federal government will pay the entire cost 100 percent for people newly eligible for Medicaid for the first three years, starting in 2014. The federal share falls to 90 percent by 2020.

But as Topinka suggests, states will be on the hook for other costs. States continue to pay about half the cost for people who are already eligible for Medicaid but who've never enrolled before. Those people are predicted to come out of the woodwork to sign up because of new outreach campaigns and more attention to the benefits of health insurance coverage. Thus, the "woodwork effect."

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Closer Look: Health care law's costs complicated

First Coast beaches focusing on bike safety

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Its no secret that the Duval County coastal communities are rich havens for bicyclists and pedestrians, and that has Beaches governments trying to make the areas safer.

Atlantic Beach Police Chief Michael Classey last week began instituting new pedestrian and bicycle safety programs. Meanwhile, Jacksonville Beach officials are preparing to add more signs and street markings to guide bicyclists and pedestrians safely through the heart of the business district.

Whether its the driver of a vehicle, a pedestrian or a bike rider, somebody broke a law which resulted in the accident, Classey said Thursday.

In his six-step plan, Classey said he will beef up education efforts, police officer training, traffic control signs, enforcement of traffic laws and traffic control maintenance and reviews.

Classey based his programs objectives on accident data for the Beaches municipalities and other area cities of comparable size.

In Duval County, Atlantic Beach had the fewest traffic crashes with 719 from 2009 to 2011, according to Classeys report. Of those accidents, 31 involved bicycles and 13 involved pedestrians, which ranked higher than St. Augustine, the report said. Jacksonville Beach had the most accidents involving bicycles with 59.

The report comes after two people were killed, one a bicyclist and another a pedestrian, during that time span in Atlantic Beach. Jacksonville Beach had eight fatalities involving either a bicyclist (five) or pedestrian (three) over that same period. Neptune Beach police do not track fatalities.

Classey said the program for safety enhancement is just beginning to be formulated.

With the beach community and beach environment, we have a lot of folks on foot and a lot folks on bikes, and we want to provide the safest atmosphere possible, Classey said.

In Jacksonville Beach, officials are proposing to add 12 new signs in the area of First Street North advising bikes and vehicles to share the road. Two road markings advising bicyclists to keep to the side of the road will also be added by the end of the summer in areas where the speed limit was already lowered to 15 mph.

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First Coast beaches focusing on bike safety

Shooting Venus

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Astronomy fans waiting to catch the Venus in transit

Not a bad effort: The Venus in the form of a black dot against the sun

FOR as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by astronomy. As a strapping young lad, I joined the Astronomy Club in my school, Sekolah Menengah Sultan Abdul Samad in Petaling Jaya, enduring jests by friends who warned of an impending descent into geekdom if I joined.

Well I guess its their loss then a part of their childhood that they will never regain.

This fascination with stellar objects permeated into my adult life and although I was never even close to becoming a serious astronomy buff, once in a while I found myself staring at supermoons, eclipses and other assorted celestial phenomena over the years.

VENUS TRANSIT

Recently, the transit of Venus piqued my interest and I found myself climbing the stairs up the National Planetarium located on a hill in the Lake Gardens.

In case you missed the media brouhaha, the transit of Venus happens very rarely and wont happen again until Dec 11, 2117. So its unlikely that any of us will be around for that next photo opportunity. But for those of you who felt left out, rejoice as a transit of Mercury will take place on May 9, 2016.

The National Planetarium on that day was a hub of activity, packed with schoolchildren as well as adults.

Astronomy buffs were out in full force, setting up their telescopes all over the planetarium grounds. I met Jong Tze Kian, one of the science officers at Angkasa and requested for an opportunity to fix my camera to one of the planetariums eight-inch Mead telescopes which had been conveniently set up outside. He gladly consented, but unfortunately, clouds decided to congregate over the sky and block our view of the sun.

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Shooting Venus

Soyuz Launches to Space Station – Video

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14-07-2012 22:04 A Russian Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft launched to the International Space Station on July 15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Inside the spacecraft for the two-day journey are Expedition 32/33 Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko, NASA Flight Engineer Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the station's next crew. The trio will dock to the station July 17 to start a four month tour, joining station Commander Gennady Padalka, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin, who have been on the outpost since mid-May.

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Soyuz Launches to Space Station - Video

Spectacular Launch: Soyuz takes new crew to ISS – Video

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15-07-2012 02:02 A Soyuz spacecraft carrying the next crew for the International Space Station has successfully blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome. The international team will spend about four months in orbit. The details from RT's Thabang Motsei in Kazakhstan. RT LIVE Subscribe to RT! Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google+ RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 500 million YouTube views benchmark.

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Spectacular Launch: Soyuz takes new crew to ISS - Video

Russian Soyuz rocket blasts off for space station

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ALMATY (Reuters) - A trio of Russian, Japanese and U.S. astronauts blasted off aboard a Soyuz spaceship on Sunday for a four-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS) that Moscow hopes will help restore confidence in its space programme. Veteran Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide launched successfully aboard the ...

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Russian Soyuz rocket blasts off for space station

Russian rocket blasts off on mission to space station- Fla. space workers struggle a year after last shuttle

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BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan A Russian Soyuz craft launched into the morning skies over Kazakhstan on Sunday, carrying three astronauts on their way to the international space station, where they will quickly start preparing for a frenzy of incoming traffic.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Russian cosmonaut Yury Malenchenko and Japan's Akihito Hoshide are set to travel two days before reaching their three colleagues already at the permanent space outpost.

Families and colleagues watched the launch from an observation platform in the Russian-leased cosmodrome in the dry southern steppes of this sprawling Central Asian nation.

Liftoff took place at the exact scheduled time of 08:40 a.m. local time (0240 GMT), sending a deafening roar as the craft gained height.

Despite withstanding intense G-force pressure, the three astronauts looked relaxed in televised footage as they performed a series of routine operations.

The Soyuz jettisoned three rocket booster stages as it was propelled into orbit, which takes just over nine minutes.

At that stage, a doll given to Malenchenko as a mascot by his daughter and suspended over the three astronauts floated out of view on television footage, indicating the craft had escaped the earth's gravitational pull.

The shell that surrounds the capsule during the launch phase also peeled away, soaking the astronauts in bright yellow sunshine pouring through the viewing hatches.

The solar arrays that deployed on the Soyuz after orbital entry will provide the craft with the power it needs during its two-day trip.

Williams, tightly squeezed into the cramped craft, gave a thumbs-up sign and waved to onboard cameras as Russian space agency chief Vladimir Popovkin congratulated the crew over radio control.

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Russian rocket blasts off on mission to space station- Fla. space workers struggle a year after last shuttle

Space station crew launches into orbit

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A Russian Soyuz rocket launched into orbit late Saturday, carrying three new crewmembers toward the International Space Station.

The rocket rose from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, lofting the Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft into orbit. Liftoff came at 10:40 p.m. ET Saturday, which means it was early Sunday at the Central Asian spaceport. Onboard were an American, a Russian and a Japanese astronaut due to take up residence for four months at the orbiting outpost.

NASA TV showed the Soyuz soaring smoothly into a blue sky dotted with clouds, punching a hole through a cloud layer on its way up. It is due to dock at the station early Tuesday, at which time the three newcomers will join the existing crew of three on the space station's Expedition 32 mission.

The new complement includes NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, and Japanese spaceflier Akihiko Hoshide.

"Unfortunately our mission is only four months I wish it would be years and years and years," Williams said during a preflight briefing. "I'm really lucky to be flying with Yuri and Aki. I think we're going to have a great time."

An international milestone By coincidence, the U.S.-Russian-Japanese crew's launch and docking is coinciding with the 37th anniversary of the world's first international space mission: the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

On July 15, 1975, NASA launched an Apollo capsule and the Soviet Union launched its Soyuz 19 capsule to perform the first international space docking test. The mission set the foundation for the international partnerships that have led to the $100 billion International Space Station in orbit today. [Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in Pictures]

In September, the current station crew Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin of Russia, and NASA astronaut Joe Acaba will return to Earth, and Williams will relieve Padalka as space station commander. She will be the second female space station commander in the facility's history. (NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson was the first, in 2007.)

"I'm not good at bossing people around but my husband might say that's not so true," Williams joked. "If I say we're going to do this, they all jump on it. Everybody's also felt free to offer their two cents. I think it's going to be really, honestly, pretty easy, and part of that is communication."

The international crew will each be bringing a taste of home and their own cultures with them to share.

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Space station crew launches into orbit

Soyuz rocket blasts off with three bound for space station

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Launch of a Russian Soyuz crew ferry craft bound for the International Space Station kicks off a busy six weeks of activity in orbit, with multiple dockings, undockings and a pair of challenging spacewalks on tap.

A Soyuz spacecraft carrying a Russian commander, a NASA flight engineer, and a Japanese astronaut -- all veteran space travelers -- blasted off and streaked into orbit late Saturday (U.S. time), the first leg of a two-day flight to the International Space Station.

Under a partly cloudy sky, the Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 10:40 p.m. EDT Saturday (GMT-4; 8:40 a.m. Sunday local time) and quickly climbed away atop a rush of fiery exhaust.

The Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft climbs away from its launching stand at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to kick off a two-day flight to the International Space Station.

The launching came on the 37th anniversary of the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project that opened the door to U.S.-Russian space cooperation.

"So how are you guys doing?" Vladimir Popovkin, director of the Russian federal space agency, asked the crew a few minutes before liftoff. "All comfy?"

"Yes sir, we're all situated and getting ready," Yuri Malenchenko, the Soyuz commander, replied.

"Excellent. I don't want to take up any more of you time. I wish you all the best, best of luck during the ascent and free flight operations. And hopefully, everything that you wish for will come true. All the best to you."

Live television from inside the central command module showed Malenchenko, strapped into the center seat, monitoring the automated ascent, flanked on the left by NASA flight engineer Sunita Williams and on the right by Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide. All three appeared relaxed as they monitored cockpit displays, tightly strapped into their custom-fitted couches.

Soyuz commander Yuri Malenchenko, left, monitors cockpit displays during the spacecraft's automated ascent. NASA flight engineer Sunita Williams, right, assists. Crewmate Akihiko Hoshide is out of view to the left.

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Soyuz rocket blasts off with three bound for space station

Soyuz Crew Primed for Launch on This Week @ NASA – Video

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13-07-2012 14:43 At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Expedition 32/33 Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko, NASA Flight Engineer Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency participated in a variety of activities in preparation for their launch to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, onboard the ISS, the other three members of Expedition 32, Commander Gennady Padalka, NASA astronaut Joe Acaba and Cosmonaut Sergei Revin -- continue their daily activities as they await the Soyuz crew and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's HTV-3 transfer vehicle scheduled to arrive there later this month. Also, when the Curiosity rover sets off from its landing site near Gale Crater to explore the Martian surface, it might encounter some sand dunes. Project engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory have prepared for that possibility by putting a test rover through the paces here on Earth, the Cassini spacecraft has spotted signs that a change of seasons may be coming on Saturn's largest moon Titan, Deputy Administrator Lori Garver participates in a workshop focused on Innovation in Manufacturing, Celebrating Telstar I, Inspiring Inquisitive Minds and more!

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Soyuz Crew Primed for Launch on This Week @ NASA - Video

Space Launch System Advanced Booster Proposals Selected By NASA

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July 15, 2012

Image Caption: Artist concept shows NASA's Space Launch System rising from a launchpad. Credit: NASA/MSFC

redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports Your Universe Online

NASA reports that it has selected six proposals to improve the cost, dependability and performance of an advanced booster for the Space Launch System (SLS), a heavy-lift rocket that will provide an entirely new capability for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit.

For the next phase, engineering demonstrations and risk reduction concepts for SLS will be developed by the awardees. Individual awards will vary with a total NASA investment of as much as $200 million.

The initial SLS heavy-lift rocket begins with the proven hardware, technology and capabilities we have today and will evolve over time to a more capable launch vehicle through competitive opportunities, said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for the Human Exploration Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

While the SLS team is making swift progress on the initial configuration and building a solid baseline, we also are looking ahead to enhance and upgrade future configurations of the heavy lift vehicle. We want to build a system that will be upgradable and used for decades, Gerstenmaier added.

Designed to be easily used for launching spacecraft, including NASAs Orion multipurpose vehicle, for crew and cargo missions SLS will enable NASA to meet the presidents goal of sending humans to an asteroid by 2025 and to Mars in the 2030s. The initial SLS design will use two five-segment solid rocket boosters close to the solid rocket boosters that helped power the space shuttle to orbit. The evolved SLS vehicle will require an advanced booster with significant increase in thrust from any existing U.S. liquid or solid boosters.

According to NASA, proposals selected for contract negotiations are:

Subscale Composite Tank Set, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Aerospace Systems

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Space Launch System Advanced Booster Proposals Selected By NASA

ECU Notes: Scholars explore medicine

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Physicians at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University worked closely with three top scholars from a state university earlier this summer, providing the students with experiences ranging from anesthesiology to robotic surgery.

Sophie Austin, Pooja Sarin and Stuart Bumgarner, Park Scholars at N.C. State University, participated in a multi-week internship this summer involving the Park Scholarship program and the pediatrics and cardiovascular sciences departments at ECU.

Sarin, 21, a rising senior, is the daughter of Sanjiv and Ratna Sarin of Greensboro. Majoring in biomedical engineering, she is a graduate of Western Guilford High School. Bumgarner, 20, a rising junior, is majoring in zoology. Both interned with the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at ECU. There, they practiced working with the robotic da Vinci Surgical System, viewed heart surgeries in the operating room and compiled videos of robot-assisted heart surgeries.

I would say definitely the highlight for me was seeing the mitral valve repair, Sarin said. Ive loved watching the da Vinci, coming from an engineering background.

But the most interesting part has been watching Dr. (W. Randolph) Chitwood interact with patients, she said. Hes so good with patients, and they love him. We always leave laughing.

He tries to bring humor into it, Bumgarner said of Chitwood, a professor and director of the East Carolina Heart Institute. It makes them more comfortable with him and trust him more.

Both said the experience has been worthwhile.

Weve not only gotten to learn a lot about the surgical side, Bumgarner said. Weve gotten to learn about the other fields of medicine such as cardiology and anesthesiology.

Its been pretty eye-opening, Sarin said. Their internship ended Friday.

Austin, 19, is a rising junior at N.C. State. The daughter of Lisa Austin of Eden, she is majoring in biology and plans to enter medical school after graduation. From late May until June 22, she shadowed ECU pediatric faculty members, residents and medical students.

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ECU Notes: Scholars explore medicine

Alternative medicine docs say no to course

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Mumbai, July 15 -- Doctors who have graduated in alternative medicine (ayurveda, unani and homeopathy) will be allowed to sign up for a one-year course in pharmacology. On completing the course, they will be able to prescribe allopathic drugs. However, these doctors say they are already equipped to prescribe them."The existing Bachelor Of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course includes ...

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Alternative medicine docs say no to course