Tuesday, April 16

Noon

Casino Aztar Conference Center

EVSC Superintendent David Smith will present the State of Our Schools presentation at Rotary at noon tomorrow at the Casino Aztar Conference Center. Superintendent Smith will discuss the past school year and a look to the future.

Tuesday, April 16

5 – 9 p.m.

Bosse High School Gymnasium, 1300 Washington Ave.

Teams from 19 schools in Evansville and the surrounding area will converge tomorrow on Bosse High School for the Senior Regional Academic Superbowl Competition and the chance to qualify to compete at the state level in May. This year’s theme is Ancient Greece.

As in years past, the competition will be comprised of five subject matter rounds – Fine Arts, Social Studies, Math, English, Science and a sixth Interdisciplinary round in which questions may come from any and all subject areas.

The top 10 teams, based on total scores from regional competitions across the state, will advance to the state competition on May 4.

A bipartisan bill to protect healthcare consumers.

(Washington, DC) – Representatives Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and David Scott (D-GA) introduced H.R. 1427, the “Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act,” a bipartisan bill to protect healthcare consumers. H.R. 1427 provides more information to consumers so they are able to make wise and informed decisions about their personal healthcare needs.

This legislation would make it unlawful for any healthcare professional to make deceptive statements or engage in behavior that misleads patients in advertisements and marketing efforts. It also directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to pay particular attention to false and misleading advertising among all healthcare professionals.

Bucshon and Scott’s bill will provide much needed clarification at addressing patient confusion in the healthcare marketplace and ensure wiser expenditure of all healthcare dollars.

Rep. Bucshon (R-IN):

“As a physician, I understand that healthcare providers are vitally important to our nation’s healthcare system,” said Rep. Bucshon. “That being said, we need to take every step possible to ensure patients are protected. It is imperative that healthcare consumers have adequate information, including the education and training level of the healthcare professionals treating them, so that they are able to make wise healthcare choices. Ultimately, this bill will protect patient autonomy and decision-making and improve our healthcare system.”

Rep. David Scott (D-GA):

“Health consumers should be empowered to make decisions based on accurate information about their service provider. That is why I continue to be the chief Democratic co-sponsor of, the Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act,” Rep. Scott said. “Patients today are confused about the healthcare system, especially when it comes to differentiating among the qualifications of the many types of healthcare providers. Our bill would make it unlawful for any healthcare professional to make deceptive statements or engage in behavior that misleads patients in advertisements and marketing efforts about their level of training.”

BACKGROUND:

Prior to being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, Rep. Larry Bucshon served as a cardiothoracic surgeon for over 15 years.

Warrick County – Effective immediately, Lincoln Avenue will be closed to thru traffic between Bell Road and Frame Road. A physical barrier located just west of Brandywine will prevent thru traffic. Motorists needing access to residences west of Brandywine will have to enter Lincoln Avenue from Frame Road. Motorists needing access to Brandywine and all points east will need to enter Lincoln Avenue from Bell Road. Motorists that must enter this area are encouraged to reduce their speed and keep a watchful eye for construction workers. Lincoln Avenue between Bell Road and Frame Road is expected to be closed for approximately three weeks.

INDIANAPOLIS – I get this question a lot…at Third House meetings, from people I meet on the street, from members of my own family.

“So, what are you guys doing up there in Indianapolis?”

I want to be optimistic and tell them that we are making strides on helping the middle class, improving the quality of education in our local public schools, and just making life in general better for Hoosiers.

But it gets tough after weeks like the last one.

Early last week, the Republican chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee strolled to the microphone at the end of a session day and told the members that he was not going to hear a bill that would expand affordable health care to more than 400,000 Hoosiers and provide the means to give 30,000 Hoosiers jobs.

Rather than taking advantage of the federal health care expansion – which would bring close to $10.5 billion back to our state, by the way – the governor has chosen to try to convince Washington to expand a statewide health care plan that cannot come close to providing the level of coverage that can come from the federal Affordable Care Act.

And if the federal government says no to the governor’s plan? There is no backup plan. And that is my major complaint with the process-no backup plan for the legislature to discuss!

Where does that leave Hoosiers wanting to cut medical expenses and avoid using the emergency room as their primary health care option? No one knows, which is more than just a little scary to think about.

When the House majority wasn’t turning its back on health care, it was approving a proposal that places almost complete control of our state’s largest city in the hands of its mayor. If this legislation becomes law, the mayor will be the ultimate authority over the purse strings and the policy, without any need for input from other locally-elected officials on the city-county council.

By any definition that you choose to use, this is a power grab by majority Republicans to help the Republican mayor of Indianapolis. It is a slap in the face of home rule, locally elected councils and any other standard of local representative government that comes to mind.

And while you’re thinking about that, think about how easy it would be for lawmakers to try and install a similar system – one person controlling everything – in other communities?

But if you think all the news last week was bad, I want to end on a slightly more positive note.

Over the past couple of weeks, you probably saw the news about a proposal to require that every single public and charter school have at least one armed employee roaming its halls each day.

We all want our schools to be safe, but this plan offered no explanation how we would pay for the plan, or how these people would be selected or trained.

As time went along, legislators on both sides of the aisle in the House began to consider the enormous risks involved in this plan, and it was decided to take some time and give us a chance to study the proposal in depth over the summer. If it makes sense, we can come back in 2014 and take further action. We need to think long and hard about what we are doing when it comes to improving the safety and security of our schools: Now we have the time to do exactly that.

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As always, please contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns related to our state government. Here is how you can stay in touch: call my office toll-free at 1-800-382-9842; write to me in care of the Indiana House of Representatives, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204; or email me at h77@iga.in.gov.

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State Representative Gail Riecken
Indiana House District 77

STATEHOUSE — House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1111, which deals with tactical emergency medicine, was signed into law today by Governor Pence. State Representative Wendy McNamara (R-Mount Vernon) authored the measure along with co-author, State Representative Ron Bacon (R-Chandler).

With the enactment of this law, trained SWAT professionals will have the authority to use their tactical medical skills during an emergency when EMTs have not yet arrived. The SWAT team will now have the go ahead to act instead of waiting for others to assist them.

“It can be difficult to fully prepare for an emergency, but providing trained professionals with the authority to assist when needed is a great start,” said Rep. McNamara. “This legislation will give trained SWAT officers the ability to use their tactical emergency medicine skills instead of waiting for EMTs to arrive.”

HEA 1111 allows an individual to practice tactical emergency medicine if the individual:

1. is an emergency medical technician, an advanced emergency medical technician, or a

paramedic;

2. is employed by a law enforcement agency or an emergency medical services agency to

provide retrieval and field medical treatment to victims of violent confrontations; and

3. has successfully completed an accredited educational training program in tactical

emergency medicine.

“In Indiana, there are many qualified people who have received tactical emergency medicine training but, due to inconsistencies, they cannot use these skills to the full extent of their capability,” said Rep. Bacon. “This legislation seeks to allow for the use of tactical emergency medicine by setting three guidelines in order to do so.”

“Time is of the essence during emergencies and can make the difference between life and death. I am glad to see this legislation become law as a means to save lives in case of dire circumstances,” said Rep. McNamara.

HEA 1111 will be enacted July 1, 2013. To learn more about this bill and others, visit www.in.gov/legislative.