February Update from Peter Slocum

FROM: Peter Slocum, Vice President of Advocacy NY & NJ

Access to Care – Health Care Reform
In the run-up to today's summit on health care reform, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) joined nine other national organizations in calling on Congress to work together in a bipartisan manner and quickly move to enact meaningful health care reform. In a letter to Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate, the groups welcomed the White House Summit on health care reform as a serious bipartisan opportunity. Groups joining us include the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the American Nurses Association, Consumers Union, Families USA, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the National Association of Community Health Centers, the National Partnership for Women and Families and the PICO National Network. More information about ACS CAN’s Health Care Reform campaign can be found by visiting fightcancer.org/healthcare.

Peter Slocum, VP of Advocacy

Also, ACS CAN today launched a nationwide petition drive calling on Congress to take immediate action on health care reform, with a goal of collecting tens of thousands of signatures by March 19. The petitions will be delivered to Members of Congress on Capitol Hill and in district offices during the spring recess. ACS CAN will promote the campaign in a variety of ways, including through email, Twitter and Facebook.
The open question now is what happens after the big summit. It is difficult to believe that having taken the political risk of calling for the meeting in the first place, the President will give up on health care reform if no bipartisan agreement is forthcoming. The media and others are speculating that there will be a strong push from the White House to move forward on a specific piece of legislation in March. As always, stay tuned. (We already sent the petition hard copy and link to Division CMMs and Relay staff in NJ and NY.)
Cancer Research and Prevention Funding

Earlier this month, the President proposed an FY 2011 budget to Congress that fell short of the commitment needed for cancer research and prevention. Specifically, we were disappointed that the President’s budget does not sustain the investment in cancer research made through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, meaning that the potential benefits of research currently being supported may not be fully realized. In addition, CDC cancer programs are cut by $19 million (3.9%) under the President’s budget. This includes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), which is slated for a $4 million (1.8%) cut. The NBCCEDP is already woefully underfunded, and is currently screening nearly 80,000 fewer women than it did five years ago.

This will impact the screening efforts in both of our states, which are already facing severe state budget pressure.

New Jersey

Gov. Christie nominated Dr. Poonam Alaigh, a former American Heart Assn. board member to be the new Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, and ACS sent a congratulatory letter. We are working to set up a meeting with advocacy and division leaders.
Last week Jennifer Sullivan testified before the Senate Health Committee in support of legislation sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono and Loretta Weinberg that would ban smoking in parks and beaches throughout the state. No vote was taken that day, but we anticipate a vote shortly on this important tobacco control measure.

The Governor's budget address is due on March 16, and we will see details of funding recommendations for our key screening and tobacco programs. Gov. Christie already announced plans to cut unspent current year funds in the cancer research program.

New York

Given the size of the state deficit, we are pretty happy with Governor Paterson's budget proposals on both cancer screening and tobacco control, though there is no assurance that these numbers will hold up. The Governor has proposed essentially flat funding for the state screening program, in a lump sum appropriation that includes other cancer programs. We are working with the Save Cancer Screening Coalition to maintain support for this funding level, and meetings are already underway around the state and in Albany. In addition, a news conference is planned for March 4 in Albany, hosted by ACS, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, and others. Miss USA is expected to attend, along with cancer patients and volunteers. Banners in support of cancer screening funding that were signed at Making Strides events across the state will be used as a backdrop to the event.

In addition to the proposed $1 tax on cigarettes, Gov. Paterson is pushing a one penny per ounce sugar sweetened beverage tax, to both reduce soda consumption and help with the state budget deficit. Although ACS has no official position on the tax proposal, we are seizing this opportunity to educate the public and policy makers about the huge problem of sweetened soda consumption, its role in the obesity epidemic, and the link between obesity and cancer. We are also actively involved in discussions about how the money from a soda tax might be spent, advocating that it be used to boost state obesity programs and to help schools replace unhealthy foods with healthier choices.

And in a long-sought victory, the State Senate yesterday gave final passage to the Family Health Care Decision Act, which will enable a patient's family member - including his or her domestic partner - to make health care decisions when the patient is not able to do so. The ACS strongly supported the bill to ensure that patients who do not have a Health Care Proxy will have critical cancer treatment decisions made in their best interest by those closest to them when and if they lose capacity. Capitol RVP Diana Martin spoke at a Senate news conference yesterday, and Gov. Paterson is expected to sign this bill shortly.

Meantime, we are working with the RFL Business Unit and Relay staff around the division on advocacy activities for the upcoming Relay season. Please don't hesitate to contact me and/or advocacy directors if you have questions or would like additional information about any of the above. We also are posting more frequent updates on Advocacy issues and campaigns at fightcancer.org/newyork and fightcancer.org/newjersey.

Peter