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Weekend, September 18-20, 2009
Protestors call for single-payer health-care plan at Capitol rally By Hannah Furfaro THE DAILY CARDINAL
Supporters of a single-payer healthcare system rallied at the Capitol Thursday with members of Mad as Hell Doctors and state Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona. Mad as Hell Doctors, a group of physicians from Oregon, are traveling around the country bringing their message of a single-payer health system to rallies in major cities. Miller opened the event on the Capitol steps. He discussed his role as a supporter of the Wisconsin Health Security Act and said the bill would position Wisconsin to become the first state to provide universal health care. Miller said a majority of Wisconsin state senators are committed to healthcare reform and called health coverage a right for all. “It is our right regardless of whether we are rich or poor, regardless of whether or where we work, regardless of if we are young or old, ... regardless of if we are sick or well, regardless of whether we are brown, white, black or yellow.” John Nichols, a writer for The Capital Times and The Nation, enthusiastically saluted the crowd by saying, “Welcome to the real town-hall meeting.” He criticized statements asserting a single-payer option would allow “death panels” and said compromising on health care is not an option.
At the mention of U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who unveiled a new health-care plan earlier this week, the crowd chanted “mad as hell.” Members of Mad as Hell Doctors discussed why they joined the group after the opening speakers. “I’m mad as hell about the way the government of the United States has ignored the wishes that all of us have,” Dr. Eugene Uphoff, a native
of Dane County, said. “The majority of physicians, about 59 percent right now, and the majority of Americans, about 70 to 72 percent, want to have a single-payer system.” Attendees at the rally were allowed to take the microphone for a “mad as hell minute” at the closing of the rally. Participants shared their views on health-care reform and told personal stories.
halloween from page 1 be beneficial to Freakfest. Central District Cpt. Mary Schauf of the Madison Police Department said there would be a
STATE NEWS IN BRIEF Unemployment drops to 8.4 percent Wisconsin’s unemployment rate is down for the third month in a row, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development announced Thursday. DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman said though unemployment is declining, the department recognizes that many people are still out of work. “We are committed to doing all that we can to keep the economy moving forward and help job seekers and displaced workers gain employment,”
Gassman said in a statement. The unemployment rate for August was 8.4 percent, down almost a full percentage point from June’s 9.2 percent rate. However, in August 2008, the state had an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent, 3.8 percentage points lower than August of this year. Nationally, August saw a 9.6 percent unemployment rate, which is down 0.1 percent from July but 3.5 percentage points higher than the national rate in August 2008.
State Rep. Brett Davis throws his hat in ring for lieutenant governor race
DANNY MARCHEWKA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Wisconsinites and members of Mad as Hell Doctors rallied at the Capitol Thursday, calling for a single-payer health-care plan.
House OKs student aid act, but ASM objects The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act Wednesday, which would invest almost $500 million in financial aid for students throughout Wisconsin. The act would increase the maximum annual Pell Grant to $5,550 by 2010 and $6,900 by 2019, compared to the current $4,050. The act would move all future federal loans into the Direct Loan program and attempt to simplify FAFSA forms with the goal of making applying for student aid a smoother and more reliable process. The bill would also expand the
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Federal Perkins Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans to students. Members of the Associated Students of Madison, however, said after taking a closer look at the act they believe it may adversely affect UW-Madison students who receive aid through the program. “Under the current law, Perkins Loan interest rates don’t start occurring until nine months after you graduate, so that’s almost five years of not having interest,” Adam Johnson, chair of the ASM Legislative Affairs Committee, said.
“Under the new proposal, they can occur immediately, so that can add up to almost 40 percent of the cost of the loan.” Johnson said the act may also cancel loan forgiveness provisions for teachers and nurses. “With such a big education and nursing school here, that’s another big problem for us,” he said. Johnson said ASM plans to work with other student governments throughout Wisconsin to show their disapproval for the legislation, which will now move on to discussion in the U.S. Senate. —Kelsey Gunderson
diverse crowd at Freakfest, including the UW alumni band, who would potentially want to attend the festivities, including the headlining band, Third Eye Blind. Schauf said the MPD has
decided to switch from a threeshift plan to a five-shift plan of patrols for monitoring Freakfest. Doing so, she said, would enable more efficient and continuous coverage by officers.
assault from page 1
DANNY MARCHEWKA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Dean of Students Lori Berquam discussed the university’s updated plans for combating sexual assault and assisting victims.
violence and stalking on campus. “UW is continuing to take a proactive stance against domestic violence,” she said. “The statistics are shocking: 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 women will experience this violence.” Berquam said the university is committed to making it easier for victims to report sexual assault and that the crime of sexual assault is never the victim’s fault, regardless of their choice to drink. The new Evoc program will have benchmarks based on the number of incoming students who complete an online training course. Preliminary evidence suggests the online program is working, according to Carmen Hotvedt, student services coordinator at UHS.
State Rep. Brett Davis, ROregon, filed for a possible run for lieutenant governor in the 2010 race Thursday. Davis said his campaign will focus primarily on the economy and job creation. The most recent candidate to enter the race, Davis filed paperwork Thursday that allows him to begin gathering resources for a campaign. He said he will spend the coming months traveling around the state to discuss his ideas with Wisconsin citizens. Davis has not yet confirmed
his candidacy. “I expect to make a final decision on a campaign later this year,” he said in a statement. Other candidates from both sides of the aisle are also vying for the position. Superior Mayor Dave Ross, a Republican, filed to run July 3. Milwaukee Ald. Tony Zielinksi, a Democrat, announced his candidacy Aug. 25. Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton will vacate the seat in 2010. She announced her candidacy for governor in August.
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