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Show Hatch Appointed to Four Major Committees Assignments Bode Well for Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch (RUtah), who is among the busiest senators on Capitol Hill, will have an even heavier workload during the 111th Congress. Despite Senate Republicans’ smaller numbers, Hatch is positioned to play an even larger role. He will be on four of the most sought after committees in the Senate – Finance, Judiciary, Health, Labor, Education and Pension, and the Select Committee on Intelligence – and also will serve as a member of the Special Committee on Aging and the Joint Committee on Taxation. Hatch also has been asked to be vice chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the fundraising arm of the Senate Republican Conference. “Service on these committees is critical in the effort to reform our nation’s tax and health care systems, keep America safe, protect our senior citizens and restore Americans’ faith in the financial markets,” Hatch said after the Senate Republican Committee released assignments for the 111th Congress late Wednesday. “So I’m pleased for the opportunity to once again play an integral role in shaping the policies that will put Utah and the rest of the nation on the road to economic recovery.” As a member of the Finance Committee and Joint Taxation committees, Hatch will battle to grow the economy through tax incentives, advocate for policies encouraging savings and investment, and continue the fight to cut capital gains taxes and bring tax relief to hardworking Americans, as well as rein in federal spending and restore America’s financial independence. “The federal government cannot spend its way out of this financial crisis,” Hatch said. “We need to reduce irresponsible government spending and promote policies that will ensure that every dollar the federal government spends is being spent to meet vital needs and not being wasted on wants.” As a longstanding member of the Judiciary Committee, Hatch is ideally positioned to play a leading role in pushing laws that re- Page 5 The Garfield County Insider January 29, 2009 spect the right to life, make America’s cities and streets safer, guard our citizens’ rights to bear arms and protect the nation’s most-vulnerable citizens – women, children and the elderly. He also can help ensure the appointment of judicial nominees who respect and uphold the Constitution. “I reject the misguided notion some advocate that the ‘Constitution means what the judges say it means,’” said Hatch, a former chairman of the Judiciary Committee. “It is crucial to ensure the appointment of judges who understand the Constitution and the important but limited role our founders intended for them to play in our system of government.” A former chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), Hatch is pleased to continue his work on that committee in trying to make health care more accessible and affordable for every American. As a member of the HELP Committee, Hatch is poised to fight recent maneuvers in Congress to foist labor unions on our prosperous industries, turning them into bankrupt relics, much like the unions have done to the U.S. auto industry. Hatch noted the U.S. spends $2 trillion for health care, but only ranks 41st in health status in the World Health Organization rankings. “That must change,” the senator said. “Health is a national issue that must be resolved in a bipartisan and fiscally responsible manner. We must ensure that every American has access to the quality and affordable health care of their choice. We can do that by controlling costs through more efficient and quality-focused health care delivery, and by building on private sector choices. We also must focus on preventative health care.” As a senior member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Hatch plays an active part in overseeing federal intelligence agencies and departments and in ensuring their actions are proper, effective and constitutional. “Keeping families in Utah and other states safe is one of my highest priorities and a responsibility that I take very seriously,” Hatch said. “It seems popular right now to criticize intelligence and law enforcement personnel, and that has got to stop. Protecting America from terrorists and other enemies is priority number one, and I am honored to continue my service on the Intelligence Committee to ensure we have the resources and fortitude to keep up this crucial task.” Some of Sen. Hatch’s legislative priorities for the 111th Congress are: • Block labor union legislation that would eliminate secret ballot elections and saddle industries in the U.S. and Utah with the same problems that have nearly destroyed the nation’s auto industry. • Ensure Utah is able to secure a fourth seat in the U.S. House of Representatives • Ensure gun rights laws are not rolled back or restricted • Improve health care for Utahns by controlling costs, improving access and increasing quality. • Reforming taxes and spurring job growth and economic expansion through tax incentives, such as extending the Net Operating Loss (NOL) carryback provision to help struggling Utah businesses stay in business and avoid employee layoffs. • Pass the International and Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act to help Utah firms curb the theft of their intellectual property by other countries around the world. • Reform the pension system to ensure Utahns who depend on corporate pensions can feel secure that money will be there when they retire. • Pass the Serve America Act so Utahns who aspire to volunteer to serve others have plenty of opportunities. • Work on legislation aimed at cracking down on sex offenders, child pornographers and drug dealers in Utah. • Overhaul the nation’s outmoded patent laws to help Utah companies, and American companies as a whole, retain a competitive edge over the rest of the world. tHe lAuGhiNg pOiNt!! What’s for Dinner? The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having. “Goat,” the little boy replied. “Goat?” replied the startled man of the cloth, “Are you sure about that?” “Yep,” said the youngster. “I heard Dad say to Mom, ‘Today is just as good as any to have the old goat for dinner.’” The New Conductor The symphony musicians had little confidence in the person brought in to be their new conductor. Their fears were realized at the very first rehearsal. The cymbalist, realizing that the conductor did not know what he was doing, angrily clashed his instruments together during a delicate, soft passage. The music stopped. The conductor, highly agitated, looked angrily around the orchestra, demanding, “Who did that? Who did that?” Special Day Over breakfast one morning, a woman said to her husband, “I bet you don’t know what day this is.” “Of course I do,” he indignantly answered, going out the door to the office. At 10 AM, the doorbell rang, and when the woman opened the door, she was handed a box containing a dozen long stemmed red roses. At 1 PM, a foil wrapped , two pound box of her favorite chocolates arrived. Later, a boutique delivered a designer dress. The woman couldn’t wait for her husband to come home. “First the flowers, then the chocolates, and then the dress!” she exclaimed. “I’ve never had a more wonderful Groundhog Day in my life!” Wire Guard Gale-force winds and frigid temperatures had taken their toll. Snapped electric wires were sparking and snaking about the snowdrifts. As a foot patrolman, I was assigned to a desolate intersection to provide security at the scene of a downed wire. It was 12:40 a.m. and -19 degrees when I relieved the initial guardian of this dangerous area. He pointed out the thin line swinging ferociously from the main electric circuit, as he entered the squad car for his return to warmth. I pulled my coat collar up to my earmuffs and took up my position to protect the public. Finally, at 5:40 a.m., a utility truck arrived. The twp linemen checked the wires, then laughing, descended the utility pole toward me. “Well, Officer,” one of them said, “congratulations. You’ve successfully guarded a frozen kite string all night.” A golfer hit his drive on the first hole 300 yards right down the middle. When it came down, however, it hit a sprinkler and the ball went sideways into the woods. He was angry, but he went into the woods and hit a very hard 2 iron which hit a tree and bounced back straight at him. It hit him in the temple and killed him. He was at the Pearly Gates and St. Peter looked at the big book and said, “I see you were a golfer, is that correct?” “Yes, I am,” he replied. St. Peter then said, “Do you hit the ball a long way?” The golfer replied, “You bet. After all, I got here in 2, didn’t I?” Dog I.Q. A psychologist is selling a video that teaches you how to test your dog’s IQ. Here’s how it works: When you spend $39.95 to see this video, it proves your dog is smarter than you. It Makes Sense...By Veda Hale Lots of sort-of news stories these days about how to live longer. Not much out there on how to die before one doesn’t want to live longer. I suppose the world won’t change. We all want to live...and live...and live. Happy and healthy, and I might add, wealthy. Now days it might be easier to live healthy than to get wealthy. Well, no use lamenting that fact. So much is relative. I do believe most of us would choose “healthy” over “wealthy”. So here’s a list of the foods to eat to help in the health department. However, it is my opinion that until we learn to be more contented, accepting and thus happy, bad health will creep up on us. Chili peppers, ginger, blue berries, cinnamon, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, figs, mushrooms (the ones with funny names), pomegranates, green tea, pineapples, olive oil, Bing cherries, dark chocolate, Turmeric, wild fatty fish, flaxseed, almonds, apples, whole grains, walk 30 minutes a day to build up leg muscles, because strong legs help you live longer. Don’t drink sodas. Hummm. Doesn’t sound too hard to use most of this list. Turmieic is a new one for me. Seems every year or two someone comes up with a new “snake oil” idea. Latest one I heard about is oil of oregano. Well, all sounds good to use. Certainly wouldn’t hurt you. I wish there was a list of foods for “happy”, besides ice cream, candy, Big Macs, etc. Knee Surgery Leads to Premature Death THE ELDERLAW FORUM ~ Professor Michael Myers provide RNs, LPNs, and Knee surgery—indirect- at no cost. “It happened on the nurses’ assistants on a ly--can lead to death. It did for a 66-year-old woman third day she was there,” 24-hour basis. “If your whose nephew called the the nephew said. “We aunt’s fall was the result received a telephone call of inadequate staffing and senior legal helpline. Her knee had been se- telling us she had fallen she was improperly left verely damaged by arthri- and had been returned to unattended, her estate may tis, making it difficult to the hospital. It turned out have a claim for wrongful perform simple activities she struck her head on the death,” I advised. The daughter is the sole such walking or climb- tile floor, sustaining a fatal ing stairs. “She was con- injury. She died after one immediate heir. “Health is wealth,” observed Aristinuously in pain,” he said. day in intensive care. “The reason we are totle. When one person’s She had tried medications and walking supports calling you is that we re- negligence deprives anwithout success. Her doc- ceived a letter from an other of her or his health— tor recommended knee re- unidentified employee of and in this case life—our the nursing home stating system of jurisprudence placement surgery. He informed her that by that her fall was due to be- permits a recovery in the resurfacing her left knee ing left unattended, sitting form of money—a poor she would have less pain, precariously in her bed. It substitute for health or avoid leg deformity and stated that her fall was due life. I referred the caller to be able to return to nor- to negligence caused by a law firm specializing in mal activities within three understaffing and the fail- nursing home litigation. Knee surgery, in this months. She underwent ure to comply with estabsurgery and two days of lished safety precautions. case, led to premature knee rehabilitation exer- It was on nursing home death. (Pro bono legal incises in the hospital. Her stationery. “What should we do?” formation and advice is surgeon prescribed an adavailable through the USD ditional 10 days of rehab he asked. Special certification is Senior Legal Helpline, to be provided within a mmyskilled nursing facility lo- required for a nursing home 1-800-747-1895; ers@usd.edu. Opinions cated on the hospital cam- to provide skilled care and pus. Medicare covers the be eligible for Medicare solely those of the author first 20 days of such care reimbursement. It must and not the University of South Dakota). The Golfer results of puzzle from January 8 |