about Kennedy:
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080620/NEWS02/806200383/1003/NEWS02Mass. officials seek new Medicaid waiver
June 20, 2008
By Andrew Miga Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Massachusetts politicians are pressing federal officials to quickly renew a Medicaid waiver program they say is vital to keeping the state's universal health insurance program on track.
State lawmakers said Wednesday that the program, which will expire at the end of the month, helps pay for coverage for low- and moderate-income residents. Losing the waiver could mean a reduction in federal money for the state.
Gov. Deval Patrick and senior aides to Democratic Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry plan to meet Friday in Washington with Mike Leavitt, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They have been pursuing a waiver extension for several months.
"Now the clock is ticking," Kerry said in a statement. "Without the Medicaid waiver we can't fund the state's health care initiative, which has brought quality insurance coverage to hundreds of thousands of people."
HHS, noting it has supported the state on previous waivers, said it was working with Massachusetts to expand health care coverage.
...
Kennedy played a leading role in negotiating a 2005 waiver, teaming up on a bipartisan effort with then-Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, to press the Bush administration for the waiver. Two of Kennedy's top aides who worked closely on the 2005 waiver will attend Friday's meeting in place of the senator, who underwent brain cancer surgery earlier this month.
"Senator Kennedy has been working with Governor Patrick to ensure that the Medicaid waiver is renewed and that those across Massachusetts who rely on the waiver are given the care they need," Kennedy spokeswoman Melissa Wagoner said in a statement. "He's hopeful that the renewal process will be completed soon."
In February, Kennedy and Patrick made their case for renewing the waiver in a meeting with Leavitt. Kerry also has met with Leavitt to press for an extension.
So, what we learn is that this is important to Kennedy (this is his bread and butter issue), and he led on it in 2005. I get the impression that right now it is more a team effort with everyone getting involved, and even a personal meeting JK had with Leavitt. So, you know, I think the BG story, was a general interest story about Teddy being sick but still working on things. It was a nice story. But the larger story, as in the more general AP report was that all Mass. officials, including Sen. Kerry, are involved.
I just want to make sure I understand: that you think Kerry should do more or that you just wish he had better articles written about him? Because I think things have to happen organically. Kerry is strong and doing well; the BG don't feel the need to throw him any softballs (although they essentially did with that wonderful article about Kerry's crew mates going after Pickens). I know you have talked about a PR firm doing something about this, but I am not sure that will work. Kerry just needs to be in state, do some good things, trumpet it once in a while, and you hope the yahoos at the BG will get a clue. Some day.
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