>Yahoo! They told us to forget Santorum, that he was a "budget cutter"
>and a "right to life" advocate.  Well today Pensylvania's other
>Senator, the Honorable Rick Santorum said those magic words "I'll
>sign on as a cosponsor of the Udall Bill.
 
Jim,
 
GREAT WORK.  That brings us one step closer.  I promised you when you
requested that I post my letter to my Congressman (Klug) and my 2 senators
Kohl and Feingold the letter is attached to this posting.  Lets have a lot
of us posting our letters here-  hopefully to get some momentum going as you
had suggested  Jim.  They can generate ideas for those who have difficulty
knowing what to say.
 
Who else from Wisconsin has attempted contacting these men?  And what kind
of response have you gotten?
 
I have been dragging my feet (or at least shuffling them) regarding the
personal contact with the Reps..  I have used as the excuse that I am
waiting  for their mail answer or that when our local PD group gets together
I would push the issue with them.  I guess I need to get off my behind and
get moving.( Inertia is a part of PD.  Maybe I can blame it on that,  but
this group won't let me get away with that excuse.)
 
Jim- and the Parkinsons Action Network.  I think I can safely say that there
are about 900 people greatful for what you have done.  But, we are not going
to get this Bill passed unless we can assure ourselves  that when it is
passed we can each look in the mirror and say I helped get thee Udall Bill
enaected into Law.
 
Now I'll get off my soapbox before I drown in my own suds.
 
Thanks again,
 
 
Charlie
 
 
Dear (sen Kohl, Feingold and Rep Klug)
 
I am writing to request your CO-SPONSORSHIP and active support for H.R. 1462
(House) and S. 684  (Senate) entitled "The Morris K. Udall  Parkinson`s
Research, Assistance, and Education Act of 1995".
 
I am a 50-year old physician residing and practicing psychiatry in Madison
since 1972 when my wife and I moved to Wisconsin in order for me to complete
psychiatric training. We never left.  We have contributed to the development
of our community,  raised three children,  and paid lots of taxes.  In
recent years I have been participating in the development of a high quality,
cost effective Mental Health Delivery System.  I treat four to five hundred
individuals annually for a variety of mental health problems. Under usual
circumstances I should be looking forward to another 15 or so years of
active practice- serving the community and paying taxes.
 
But, six years ago, at age 44,  I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.
The rapid advances in the field have allowed me to continue working to this
point,  but in the past two years I have had to give up hospital practice.
In the next year it will be necessary for me to reduce my workload, see
fewer patients. Probably in the next 2-4 years I will need to cease practice
entirely and draw Social Security Disability Benefits in addition to my
private income continuation insurance. I will be contributing much less to
Madison both with my skills and financially.  My wife will be limited in her
ability to contribute to the community  because I will need increased
assistance at home. Assuming I don't die of a fall or other complication of
the disease I can look forward to many years of nursing home care either
with or without the dementia that afflicts a large number of Parkinson's
patients.
 
You and the Congress have the ability to alter this prognosis possibly for
me and almost certainly for  newly diagnosed Parkinson's patients.  For some
reason research in this field has been seriously under-funded ($26 million
per year) compared to other diseases with lower prevalence.  It is estimated
that 40% of the 1.5 million Americans with Parkinson's are under 60.  The
illness costs the society about $6 billion annually.
 
Even with their incredibly small budgets,  researchers have made major
strides over the past 10 to 15 years which if they are adequately funded,
have a real chance of providing a cure for even me at my stage of the
disease. (Parenthetically,  the basic research from this area of study
almost certainly will provide  neurochemical and neurophysiologic knowledge
which will, have application in the mental health field and related
neurosciences.)
 
 I ask for your active support of the Udall Bill and  CO-SPONSORSHIP for
this Bipartisan effort named in honor of former representative Mo Udall who
as you probably are aware has been ravaged by the disease.  To date 60
members of the House and 20 in the Senate are listed as co- sponsors.
Representative Kleczka is so far the only cosponsor in either the Senate or
the House representing Wisconsin. Your progressive record on social issues
makes me almost certain that you would vote in favor of the Bill if it is
presented to you, but without active support of  persons like yourself it is
likely to be neglected in committee and die.
 
We need your help in getting this Bill enacted.  I would be pleased to talk
or meet with you or a member of your staff to provide further information on
Parkinson's disease and the Udall bill and could arrange a meeting with
members of the Madison Area Parkinson's support group if  you thought that
would be helpful.
 
I am looking forward to your reply indicating whether you support the Bill,
and if you do,  some indication as to how your office is willing to help.
Also, some ideas of what I might do to improve the chances of the enactment
of this Bill into Law would be very much appreciated.
 
Thank you for considering my request.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
 
Charles T. Meyer, MD
****************************************************************************
*************************************
 Charles T. Meyer
 Madison, WI
 
[log in to unmask]
****************************************************************************
************************************