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> > > >> THE MANHASSET PRESS (....10/24/6....) >>...................................................................... >>..................................................................... >> >>B ERN I E 'S B A N T E R by Bernard >>Klainberg >> >> A SORROWFUL TALE >> (The Chosen People, and King's Folly >> >> The Pope and the Chosen People >> Vatican sources acknowledged this week that the Pontiff was >>suffering from >>Parkinson Disease. They did it reticently, although it had been >>noticed and rumored >>about for months. The official announcement may aid PD victims >>worldwide ; over a >>million in the U.S. alone, and perhaps accelerate research in this >>field. >> The Pope joins a long list of "Parkies" , notably among them >>Billy Graham, >>Muhammad Ali, and me. >> Lumped together with His Holiness and Rev. Graham, gives one >>the impression >>that a celestial decree has chosen the best among us to enjoy this >>affliction, thus >>making us '' the chosen people. '' >> PD is a neurological illness akin to Alzheimer's, or Lou >>Gehrig's Disease, >>except as you can tell from my 9 year experience, that it leaves >>the mind clear and >>sharp and as perceptive as ever. >> >> Sorrowful Discoveries >> .In spite of great medical strides, there is a plethora of >>diseases out there. New >>ones are reported monthly in medical publications, and some like >>PD are presently >>incurable. Many maladies are represented in our town , and some >>may have >>originated with environmental problems, and this led me to several >>sad discoveries. >> >> Udall Bill >> The first item covered a bill hibernating in Congress called >>the "Udall Bill for >>Parkinson Research ." Cong. Udall , a very active representative , >>had retired a few >>years ago due to his advanced PD. The legislation requested that >>the NIH (National >>Institute of Health) in Bethesda, set up an ongoing PD research plan >>with $100.million >>dollars. >> To insure its passage PD activists asked members of Congress to >>sponsor it. >>Over the months it gathered the endorsement of over 60 members of the >>Senate, and >>over 250 in the House. (not bad). After years of efforts passage >>seemed assured. >> At the end of this year's term the Senate approved it, but in >>the House, the >>Gingrich Grinches would not allow it come up for voting. This in >>spite of the fact that >>it was agreed to change the funding to a laughable $20 million >>dollars. >> Looking further ,we were surprised that our Senator was one >>of the minority >>who did not sponsor this bill. What really shocked was the news that >>Cong. Peter >>King, he of our gerrymandered district , was one of the few >>Republicans who had not >>endorsed or worked for this bill. >> We questioned King's office by E-mail, and phone, and did not >>get a reply, >>although to be fair, we should have spent more time and applied more >>pressure to get >>an answer. >> >> In 1995 his score on conservation bills was zero (0), zilch, >>nada while Cong. >>Ackerman was 100, and other N.Y. Republicans : Lazio 77 , Boehlert >>92, Kelly 54. He >>has not done much better in 1996. >> King voted against anything to benefit conservation . Example; >>HR 1905, >>funding to find renewable energy sources, to reduce pollution, >>create jobs, and reduce >>the flow of imported oil. He voted for crippling the EPA (HR 2099), >>and for Safeguards >>Rollback, HR 1022, which set up roadblocks against environmental >>regulations. >> In 1996, King voted against Federal Land Acquisition (HR 3662) >>within National >>Parks, and to allow the logging of redwood forests, voted for >>stopping the EPA >>(HR3322) from researching global changes due to burning of fossil >>fuels, etc...... >> >> Not in Tune with the World >> On July 25, 1996, the House voted 279-135 (HR 3816), to allow >>continued >> And , lest I forget, those who are shaking, tremoring, >>shuffling, and dribbling, >>(the Pope among them) sure would appreciate Mr. King's conversion >>to help his >>fellow man, and support medical research on PD, and the breast >>cancer epidemic in >>this area, and multiple sclerosis, etc..regardless of cost. >> >> >> >> >> > >