We now stand in the finals weeks of session here at the Statehouse, and there has been a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. Conference committees, a committee of legislators appointed by the House of Representatives and Senate to come to a conclusion of amendments on a particular bill, have begun to meet. After a level of agreement has been reached, representatives will take the version of the bill back to their respective legislative body, and present to the General Assembly to concur or dissent. With this new level of finality, you will begin to see a noticeable amount of legislation being signed by the governor and enacted into law.

Two notable bills that I have authored and sponsored have gone to conference committee. Senate Bill (SB) 554 and House Bill (HB) 1061 are two bills addressing local issues for us in Southwest Indiana. SB 554 addressing improved convenience in healthcare through telehealth and telemedicine services, while HB 1061 speaks to issues in my home district of Warrick County with the Warrick County circuit and superior courts.

As a healthcare professional, I believe that the topic of telehealth and telemed will revolutionize the way that medicine is practiced. Through enacting SB 554, authored by my fellow state legislator Sen. Veneta Becker (R-Evansville), Hoosier taxpayers would save millions of dollars each year under Medicaid.

Telehealth refers to patient monitoring that occurs in the home by a health care provider from a distance. The shortage of physicians and psychiatrists is a limiting factor on patients’ access to care, especially in rural areas like ours. Telehealth and telemedicine services allow physicians and psychiatrists to care for their patients without having those patients travel to receive them, or having physicians use precious time and money to visit the patients in their homes.

The bill will require the office of Medicaid Policy and Planning to reimburse home health agencies, rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers for doing medical consultations, diagnoses and monitoring using videoconferencing, telephones or computers.

There may be monitors that transmit blood pressure and other vital data in the home to the provider in a hospital. St. Francis Health has done this for a while and has noticed greater savings. Specifically for congestive heart failure, there is normally a 1 in 4 readmittance rate. With telehealth, there is a one in twenty readmittance rate.

Reducing the readmission rate means that patients are having healthier outcomes, and are being done with lower costs. SB554 would allow providers to receive reimbursement, which would decrease health care costs by reducing hospital readmission rates.

House Bill 1061 allows the judges of the Warrick County circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint a magistrate. According to the 2010 census, the Warrick County population has grown by almost 10,000 people in past ten years, making it one of the fastest growing counties in Indiana. The attractiveness of our region has spurred economic development and consequently, more work for county judges. County judges will hold magistrates accountable for their work, creating a higher level of efficiency within the judicial system.

Adding a new magistrate will also assist with the increased workload of the judges. This legislation will streamline the county’s court system and ease some of the burden that the county is currently facing by allowing for more reasonable hearing dates.

Throughout the 2013 legislative session my thoughts are with the communities of Indiana and how I can help improve the lives of Hoosier families. These bills address key issues within District 75, as well as across the state. As session begins to draw to a close I am proud of what has been accomplished and I look forward to working these next few weeks in committees to do what is best for Hoosiers.

As always, feel free to connect with me on my website at www.in.gov/h75 or by phone at 317-232-9674. I look forward to continuing to support legislation that positively impacts Hoosiers in our state.

Rep. Bacon represents House District 75, serving portions of Pike, Warrick and Spencer counties.

On Saturday, April 27, 2012 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring the sixth nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative. The initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft. Collection sites will be set up nationwide for expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs to be disposed of for destruction. This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked. The only restriction is we will not accept new or used needles. This program is intended for liquid and pill medications.

The Drug Take Back events have proven to be a popular and safe method for the public to legally and safely dispose of prescription drugs that are no longer needed or have expired. Citizens wishing to participate in this program may drop off their prescription drugs for disposal at any Indiana State Police Post throughout the state (except the Toll Road) on Saturday, April 27, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

To locate a collection site closest to your home or business, visit https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/NTBI/ntbi-pub.pub?_flowExecutionKey=_c9A72F226-1A39-29CF-5E86-1546A21F7C7C_k4FB902E6-E157-D32E-1F0A-17127551AD25

3 p.m. (CST) on Monday, April 22

Civic Center Complex, Room 301

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller will recognize local March Against Hunger food drive participants for their outstanding contributions.

Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nicholas Hermann will also accept the Attorney General’s Cup for his office winning the nonprofit/public service division by donating 2,295 pounds of food and $5,000 to the Tri-State Food Bank.

Evansville’s bank is one of 11 regional food banks in Indiana that partner with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry or FIsH – an organization which helps link Indiana’s resources to feed those in need. For the fifth consecutive year, the Attorney General’s office has joined FIsH and the Indiana State Bar Association to challenge law firms to donate goods and raise money for these banks.

This year, 44 Indiana and Kentucky law groups competed and raised $55,455 and 10,065 pounds of food total for local food banks

Grammy Award-winning country vocal group Little Big Town blew into Evansville on Thursday night with their “Tornado Tour,” and even the city’s weather was anticipating their arrival. It may have been cold, dark and stormy outside the Victory Theatre, but inside the atmosphere was decidedly warm and light thanks to the group’s lively, upbeat show. Little Big Town and opening act David Nail were enthusiastically received by a sold-out crowd that was determined to have a great time no matter what the weather.

“We were excited for Little Big Town to play at the Victory,” said General Manager Ben Bolander. “The atmosphere in this smaller setting lets fans feel close to the group, and the acoustics in the theatre really showcase their four-part harmonies. It was good to see them welcomed by a packed house.”

The Victory Theatre continues to be active with upcoming shows that include Here Come the Mummies April 19, SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody May 22, B.B. King June 5, Jagged Edge June 15, and Gregg Allman June 25. The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra will also present performances on April 27, and May 18 & 19.

The Victory Theatre is managed by VenuWorks of Evansville, LLC.

For event information or to purchase tickets, please call (812) 422-1515, or visit
www.facebook.com/VictoryTheatre www.twitter.com/Victory_Theatre

Outreach Ministries is in the final planning stages for its “Cheesecake for Charity” fundraiser. Anthony’s Heavenly Cheesecakes in Downtown Evansville will supply cheesecake bites for the event. Flavors include fruit varieties, chocolate, and even some unique savory flavors such as tomato basil cheesecake. In a show of continued support for the community, Ron Romain’s United Companies is our primary event sponsor.
“Cheesecake for Charity: a night of entertainment, wine, and food to benefit the working poor through Outreach Ministries” will take place Friday, May 3rd from 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. at Vectren Headquarters in Downtown Evansville. The cost is just $25 per person or $40 per couple. For more information or to reserve your tickets call (812) 464-3098. Tickets can now be paid for by credit card over the phone.
Along with cheesecake, the event will include hors d’oeuvres, wine, live music by Monte Skelton, and live auction. Auction items include: Indianapolis Colts tickets, gift certificates to local businesses, and vacation getaways. For a complete list, please visit www.outreachministriesevv.org/events.
As a partner of United Way of Southwestern Indiana, Outreach Ministries provides emergency financial assistance for those who need help with rent, utilities, eye exams, some prescriptions, and transportation. In 2012, we provided emergency financial assistance to 3,644 households – a total of 12,754 people.

Indianapolis: Yesterday Indiana State Police Superintendent, Douglas Carter accepted a certificate on behalf of the Indiana State Police recognizing the Department as a Bronze Medal Law Enforcement Torch Run Agency. An agency is recognized as a Bronze Medal Torch Run Agency for raising between $5,000 and 9,999 in donations toward Special Olympics Indiana. This presentation was made in recognition of funds raised by the Indiana State Police in 2012. The presentation was made by Stephanie Stewart, Manager of Community Partnerships Law Enforcement Torch Run and Paul Philhower, a 26 year Indiana Special Olympics Athlete. Miss Stewart commented, “We are also very excited to have the Superintendent on board with the growing of the relationship between Special Olympics Indiana and the Indiana State Police! He has participated in LETR events in his law enforcement career and has a great support for the program.”

For more information regarding Special Olympics Indiana visit their website at http://soindiana.org/.

Media note: Pictured in the attached photo (L-R)- Paul Philhower, Master Trooper Tommy Walker, Stephanie Stewart, and Superintendent Douglas Carter.

St. Mary’s Women’s Wellness Center is offering Tai Chi Community Classes for midlife and senior men and women every Wednesday in May from 3:00 – 3:35 p.m. in the St. Mary’s Community Room at Washington Square Mall.
There are many health benefits to Tai Chi for all age groups, but particularly for the aging population. Tai Chi:
• Reduces the risk of falling
• Helps treat osteoarthritis in the knees
• Reduces pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia
• Reduces stress and blood pressure
• Improves sleep quality and aerobic capacity
• Boosts the immune system
The cost is just $5 per class. No pre-registration is required, and participants do not need to attend each class. For more information, please call 812-485-5725.

America’s Just Not That Into Obama

By Jonah Goldberg – April 19, 2013

“You know, I actually believe my own bull****.”

That’s what President Obama once told a reporter. If the man ever uttered a statement that spoke more to his approach to politics, I haven’t heard it.

Whether it stems from a grandiose overconfidence in his own powers of persuasion, or the lessons he took from his years as a community organizer, or his own messianic conviction that he is on the right side of everything, including history itself, the president has always operated under the theory that he can move the American people to his causes. And he can’t. He just can’t.

Yes, he got elected and reelected, and that’s saying something. But whatever personal popularity the man has doesn’t transfer to domestic policy.

It’s as if the American people are saying, “Mr. President, we’re just not that into you.”

“What about health-care reform!?” his fans invariably respond.

Well, what about it? Sure, it passed. But the Affordable Care Act didn’t become law because Obama ignited a populist prairie fire in favor of it. He dedicated vast, vast swaths of his time and energy trying to sell the American people on Obamacare. He never made the sale (and still hasn’t). The misbegotten law’s passage is attributable entirely to the fact that Democrats rammed it through Congress — with a 60-vote majority in the Senate — using the sorts of backroom deals and corporate giveaways the American people despise.

Ironically, the only populist mass movement on domestic-policy issues Obama can claim credit for creating is the Tea Party, which I think we can all agree isn’t what he had in mind.

Indeed, if Obamacare had been popular, the Democrats wouldn’t have been dealt a “shellacking” — Obama’s word — in the 2010 midterm elections. But they were: Democrats suffered a defeat of biblical proportions, despite Obama’s relentless campaigning.

In 2012, after scoring an impressive reelection win, Obama apparently thought he solved the puzzle. He needed more organization, like he had in the election. Obviously everyone loves what he has to say, Obama reasoned, but he needed to translate that love into action. And so he rebranded his presidential campaign into his own personal grassroots operation, Organizing for Action. Action item No. 1? Gun control.

It’s worth remembering that when Obama took up gun control in his State of the Union address, he set the bar at shin level for himself and for Senate Democrats. He didn’t demand victory; he demanded a mere vote on the issue.

Running through a list of victims he was all too eager to politicize — “The families of Newtown deserve a vote. The families of Aurora deserve a vote,” etc. — he brought the Democrats in the audience to their feet. Many in the press hailed it as one of the most moving moments of his presidency.

With the sort of willingness to politicize tragedy that is always denounced as the vilest cynicism when Republicans do anything of the sort, Obama and his paid OFA subalterns took to the streets and the airwaves waving the figurative bloody shirt of Newtown for months (with nary a peep of complaint from the same press corps that routinely denounced President Bush for politicizing 9/11).

But when it came time to clear the shin-level hurdle he set for himself and OFA, they face-planted in the ground, well short of the target.

And now the president is going to run the same play, again. “If this Congress refuses to listen to the American people and pass common-sense gun legislation, then the real impact is going to have to come from the voters,” he said in one of several bitter promises to turn gun control into an issue to win back Congress in 2014.

As Josh Kraushaar of National Journal noted, Obama couldn’t misread the political environment heading into 2014 any worse. Why? Because the places where the Democrats need to win to take back the House — the South and mountain West — are precisely those areas where even many Democrats disagree with the president on gun control. Making it a central issue in 2014 is a boon to Republicans.

The upshot of this is that we will now endure nearly another two years of Obama haranguing us about how it’s him and “the people” against special interests and other evil forces who don’t care about murdered children. Washington will become more shrill and get even less done, all because Obama’s only play is a populist charade made possible by the fact he still believes his own bull****.

Source: Real Clear Politics