At the second of a two-day hearing on how reduced Medicaid funding may impact trauma center emergency response, Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) says that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has been “conflating the issues of Medicaid reimbursements and terrorism preparedness” which “simultaneously simplifies and obscures both issues.” (0:59)

 

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At the second of a two-day hearing on how reduced Medicaid funding may impact trauma center emergency response, Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) says that “if the unthinkable happens,” whether or not emergency care is readily available will determine how many lives are lost and saved in the “golden hour” of such a situation. He says that the Federal government “should not be taking actions that undermine the prospect of an effective emergency response” by cutting Medicaid funding. (0:45)

 

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The Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held the second of a two-day hearing on “the impact of the Administration’s Medicaid regulations on the ability of our nation’s emergency rooms to respond to a sudden influx of casualties from a terrorist attack,” said Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). Waxman said that based on the first hearing, he was concerned about trauma centers that have “little or no surge capacity.” He said that the Bush Administration’s plans to cut Medicaid funding for hospitals would make trauma centers even more incapable of responding to a large-scale emergency situation similar to Hurricane Katrina, the Minneapolis bridge collapse, the Madrid train bombings, or other potential threats.

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Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell gave a quick availability after a ceremony with the Secretary of Defense laying a wreath on a memorial for Mexican WWII veterans. Despite the desire from Pentagon public affairs that emphasis be placed on the trip to Mexico, the subject stayed squarely on the Middle East.

Morell said that everyone from the Secretary of Defense to the Chairman if the Joint Chiefs of Staff has acknowledged what a problem Iranian involvement in Iraq is and is determined to deal with it inside Iraq.

Morrell said that he is not aware of ramping up or revision of war plans for Iran. The focus of U.S. efforts is that Iranian arms and training of terrorists by Iran be dealt with within the confines of Iraq, Morrell said. He warned against the perception of an uptick in Iranian actions in Iraq, though he said, “We are seeing evidence that it continues.”

He also said that since the Basra incursion the Iraqi military has made great strides since the fighting a few weeks ago. One example of progress was the development of a concerned local citizens group called “sons of Basra,” paid by the Iraqi government to protect their neighborhoods.

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During a press availability during his trip to Mexico City, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that the Iraqi government is unifying behind Prime Minister Maliki for his decision to go after illegal Shiite militias in Iraq. (1:32)

 

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During a press availability during his trip to Mexico City, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says that an increased Navy presence in the Gulf does not represent escalation against Iran, but might serve as a reminder. (0:31)

 

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At a news conference held in the Capitol, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) says we have too look at other options [in dealing with the food crisis]. One, to permanently increase crop yields so that nations can feed themselves. Second, to reduce the costs of overseas food networks, so that more of the food that is donated will feed the hungry instead of spoiling in warehouses. (0:32)

 

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At a news conference held in the Capitol, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) says the instability that this [the food crisis] can create in countries around the world, can be just as damaging as terrorism. If we don’t deal with this in a direct way, we run the risk of needing more peacekeeping forces. (0:23)

 

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Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen says that Iran has increased sponsoring terrorism, killing coalition forces, and interfering in Iraq. He says that tensions continue to rise and that Iran is “ratcheting up” it’s involvement of terrorism. Mullen says that military options should not be off the table. (1:14)

 

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At the Center for American Progress’s discussion on the “State of Homeland Security,” Congressman and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) says that preserving civil liberties is “an issue” for the department, and discusses his experience being “spied on” by the FBI during his youth as a civil rights activist. He said the committee is in the process of vetting every program that the department produces “to make sure that a nation of laws is also one that protects its citizens.” (1:17)

 

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