JSPAN is a part of Pennsylvanians United to Fix Part D, a coalition of organizations committed to fixing or improving the Medicare Part D coverage gap. As it now stands, millions of seniors are on the verge or have already fallen into the "doughnut hole," a gap in the coverage Medicare Part D provides on prescription drugs.

Real Player (Version G8 or later)

Windows Media (Version 7 or later)

• JSPAN Vice President Ken Fox spoke at a press conference in opposition to the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. To read his remarks, click here.
• View ABC 6's report of the news conference and the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole"
• Families USA is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Check out their Comprehensive Medicare Drug Coverage Center.

Two weeks ago, twenty-six Republican members of Congress sent a letter to Majority John Boehner, urging him to schedule a vote on raising the minimum wage. Among the signers were three members of the Pennsylvania delegation: Curt Weldon, Mike Fitzpatrick, and Phil English. Conspicuously absent was Representative Jim Gerlach whose opponent in the 6th Congressional District, Lois Murphy, has made raising the minimum wage one of the issues in her campaign.

Earlier this month, Governor Rendell signed into law legislation that would raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania to $7.15 an hour by July 1st, 2007. We encourage members of Congress to embrace the same bi-partisan spirit the state legislature did in passing a minimum wage increase. We also urge them to include an indexing provision so that the wage rate of the working poor does not continue to remain a partisan political issue.

An additional sign of momentum came this week, when on Wednesday House majority whip Roy Blunt declared that a vote on increasing the minimum wage would be scheduled for this fall or sooner.

• View JSPAN's Minimum Wage Policy Center and efforts to raise the minimum wage.
• Boston Globe: House vote vowed on minimum wage

Breaking News: The New York Time reported today that the Republican leadership is willing to pass an increase in the minimum wage before leaving Washington for vacation, but only as part of a package rolling back taxes on the heirs of multimillionaires.

Stem cell research promises to expand human knowledge of the body the way Galileo’s vision expanded human knowledge of the universe. By vetoing H.R. 810 this week, the President tried to build a roadblock to the future of stem cell research. But it’s really only a speed bump. The hope offered by stem cell research is too great to ignore.

The President’s argument that using spare in vitro fertilization embryos for research destroys life is essentially a paper tiger – the spare IVF embryos are slated for destruction anyway.

I understand that many have ethical and moral reservations about stem cell research. But for the same reason I describe myself as pro-life, I embrace embryonic stem cell research, because I believe being pro-life is not only about caring for the unborn, but about caring for the living as well.

Stem cell research promises no immediate magic medical bullets. Cures are not around the corner. It will take years for stem cell research to give us treatments or cures for afflictions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and many others.

But the sooner we start, the faster we will get there.

Opponents of stem cell research are on the wrong side of history. In 1992, Pope John Paul II officially apologized for the Inquisition’s treatment Galileo. At some point in the future, when the fruits of stem cell research bless millions, I imagine critics of this breathtaking technology will offer a similar apology. But victims of afflictions like spinal cord injuries and their families cannot wait 360 years for the country to move ahead with this. We need to get these tools into scientists hands as quickly as possible. Even if opponents block access to stem cells for a while, this week’s vote is an important way of telling them, “And yet she moves.”

Reprinted with permission of Senator Hatch.

The Jewish Community Relations Council has been working with Hispanic Clergy and Nueva Esperanza, a national organization of Latino Protestants, to promote understanding between the Jewish and Latino communities. Joint projects have been missions to Israel, a Spanish-language documentary film about Israel that has been distributed to Spanish speaking churches throughout the country, and a model Seder for Hispanic and Jewish families.

On Sunday, June 25th representatives of the Jewish Community were invited to a special program explaining the meaning of Pentecost. We broke bread together and became better acquainted as we spoke one on one. Afterwards, we attended a prayer service consisting of scripture readings from both the Jewish and Christian bibles and had the opportunity to reflect on the significance of the Pentecost.

Most Christians recognize the Pentecost as the "birth of the Church". The name Pentecost comes from the Greek (50th) and is celebrated on Shavuot (50 days after Passover). According to Christian belief, this is seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus. After the ascension of Jesus, the apostles waited in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. Three signs occurred signifying the coming to the Holy Spirit. One of which was of interest to me was the concept of "speaking in tongues," that is, speaking in the native language of the listener, which is important for the spreading of the gospel.

Questions and discussion followed and parallels were drawn between holidays. The success of the meeting was evident as plans were immediately set in motion for another meeting to be held in a synagogue
 

Gun violence is a growing threat to the well being of all our communities. JSPAN supports the Statewide One Handgun per Month" bill as a realistic measure to put a real dent in the illegal handgun trafficking that feeds it.

Volunteers will convene at 12:30 PM in Radnor Township at the SEPTA R5 parking lot near the intersection of King of Prussia and Matsonford Roads. JSPAN members who are interested in joining the petition effort should contact CeaseFire PA or the PATH Coalition (Pennsylvanians Against Trafficking Handguns). More information about both groups are available on the web, www.ceasefirepa.org and www.pathcoalition.org.

Recently, Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN) introduced the Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005 (PERA). PERA enjoys the support of forty-five other sponsors (all Republicans save one), and of the American Legion. James Madison, however, must be rolling over in his grave.

PERA is a creative attempt to forestall Establishment Clause attacks on public displays of religion - from statues and plaques of the Ten Commandments placed at courthouses, to government placement of religious symbols such as crosses and menorahs in public areas. Indeed, PERA’s language goes so far that it could even protect government-sponsored sectarian prayers from Establishment Clause challenge.

If enacted into law, PERA would forbid awards of damages, and awards of attorneys’ fees in cases involving the Establishment Clause. As a result, such lawsuits would end, at most, in injunctions - and plaintiffs’ lawyers would have to accept the cases on a pro bono basis, or not at all.

The Government Efficiency Act, H.R. 5766 ("Tiahrt Bill") and the Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2005, H.R. 3282 ("Brady Bill") both aim to establish commissions which would have the power to set expiration or "sunset" dates for federal programs which the commissions deem unnecessary and inefficient or whose services are deemed to be duplicated in another program or agency.

Our friends at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) advise that the food and nutrition community is especially concerned that these bills could adversely affect those people who depend on government for food assistance.

The bills would create an unelected commission with the authority to review, evaluate and eliminate federal programs, including entitlements. There would be very limited input from Congress or the public. No public hearings are required and meetings could be closed to the public.

Under both bills a substantial majority of the commission members could be from the majority party in Congress and/or directly appointed by the President. A simple majority would be needed to pass commission recommendations, which would have to be voted on by Congress without amendment.

To read more:
http://www.frac.org/Legislative/Budget_07/Alerts/07.28.06.html