12 Broadcaster Press March 5, 2013 www.broadcasteronline.com Greetings from Pierre: Medicare, prenatal care topics of debate By Ray Ring District 17 Soon after Gov. Daugaard took office, he appointed a Task Force on Infant Mortality. This diverse group, including several medical experts, issued its final report in December 2011. It reported that South Dakota county data showed a strong correlation between the percent of mothers receiving early prenatal care and the infant mortality rate. In the final report’s words, “Early and regular prenatal care has a strong association with infant survival.” In other words, early prenatal care saves babies’ lives. The Task Force’s first recommendation is to “improve access to early, comprehensive prenatal care.” These findings and the recommendation are relevant to the Legislature’s deliberations. House Bill 1214 would provide prenatal care to undocumented immigrant mothers in South Dakota. Their babies will be U.S. citizens when they are born. This proposal was the subject of intense debate on the House floor last week. Even though I think it is a profoundly pro-life bill that any pro-life person would readily and emphatically support, several people who usually vote pro-life spoke against it on the floor and voted against it. It seems that for some people economic issues pre-empt the right to life. The bill prevailed, 39-28, and now goes to the Senate. SB 140, “to expand Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women,” would If You Read This... You Know Advertising Pays! Call the Broadcaster at 605-624-4429 or stop by to place your ad today! 201 West Cherry St Vermillion, SD 624-4429 raise the maximum income a pregnant woman could receive and still receive health insurance. It has been tabled in the Senate, which means its fate is in doubt. Similar bills in past years have died in committee. This week the House and Senate Health and Human Services Committees held a joint hearing to receive testimony on expanding Medicaid. As I reported in an earlier column, South Dakota has the opportunity to expand Medicaid to include many more low-income adults at minimal cost to the state. Tim Tracy, CEO of Sanford Vermillion came from Vermillion to testify for the expansion, as did Denny Davis, a retiree from rural Vermillion. I was pleased to have both men represent the district in this important matter. As we approach the end of the session (two weeks left), the Joint Appropriations Committee will be making decisions on dividing up the state’s very limited resources. They have spent long hours hearing requests from state government agencies as well as representatives of local governments and other interested groups. I don’t envy their difficult task. Sen. Tom Jones from District 17 has done yeoman duty on this committee and I know he is representing us well. Please don’t forget the cracker barrel this Saturday, March 2, 10 a.m. in the Vermillion City Hall. I still need to hear your views on the many important issues still to come before the House. Contact me at Rep.Ring@state.sd.us or (605) 675-9379 (my cell). What everyone is reading. www.broadcasteronline.com www.broadcasteronline.com www.plaintalk.net Kindergarten Round-Up for Vermillion Public Schools Kindergarten Round-Up Any child who will have their 5th birthday on or before September 1st, 2013 and their parents When: Monday, March 18th Tuesday, March 19th Wednesday, March 20th Where: Austin Elementary School, 300 High Street Parents, if your child is going to be 5 on or before September 1st, 2013, please call Kazy at 677-7010 to register for a round-up session. Parents will have a question and answer time with school personnel while the incoming students will be screened. Please plan to spend the morning or afternoon with us. PLEASE BRING A CERTIFIED COPY OF YOUR CHILD’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO ROUND-UP. IF YOUR CHILD WAS BORN IN SOUTH DAKOTA, YOU MAY PURCHASE A CERTIFIED COPY FROM THE CLAY COUNTY COURT HOUSE FOR $15.00. HOSPITAL CERTIFICATES OF BIRTH WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. IF YOUR CHILD’S IMMUNIZATION RECORDS INCLUDE THE KINDERGARTEN SHOTS, PLEASE BRING THE COMPLETED IMMUNIZATION RECORD TO THE ROUND-UP. Please visit our website at www.vermillion@k12.sd.us for additional information, look under “Kindergarten What: Who: Screening Scheduled”. Getyourcopy today atone of these fne busi i nesses: Ace Hardware Dakota PC Warehouse Fast Auto Glass First Dakota National Bank First National Bank SD Hatch Furniture & Flooring Herren Schempp Inweave Fabric Johnson Electric, LLP Kaiser Heating & Cooling L&S Electric Larry’s Heating & Cooling Larsen Carpet Leisure World Lilycrest Midwest Custom Marble Midwest Ready Mix MT & RC Smith Insurance Smidt Furniture Stewart Carpet Center The Kitchen Place 2424 Broadway, Yankton 103 W. 3rd, Yankton 1216 E. Cherry St., Vermillion 222 West Main, Vermillion 111 Court Street, Vermillion 225 Cedar Street, Yankton 2105 Broadway Ave., Yankton 332 Broadway, Yankton 109 East Third, Yankton 1000 W. Cherry, St., Vermillion 823 Central Ave., Hawarden, IA 214 Capital St., Yankton 808 W. 23rd, Yankton 1600 E 39th, Yankton 920 Broadway, Yankton 212 Walnut, Yankton 1900 Broadway Ave., Yankton Downtown Yankton 215 Mulberry St., Yankton 1405 E. Hwy 50, Vermillion 204 West 4th, Yankton 911 E. 6th St., Freeman, SD 1803 Broadway, Yankton 309 W. 11th St., Yankton