Hello... Is anyone awake out there? A lame duck, impeached, minority President, on trial in the Senate is not in the best position to make substantive changes in the health care delivery system. And there's a reason it's called the "Long-Term Care Initiative" and not the "Long-Term Care Law" -- a minor detail known as the legislative branch. (and they may have a thing or two to say about an obvious and flagrant photo-op from an impeached President) Besides, don't you think it's a bit odd that the cornerstone of this "initiative" is the "National Family Caregivers Support Program," a program ostensibly authorized and funded through the Older Americans Act. Did everyone forget the OAA failed to get re-authorized in the 105th session? In fact, a number of notable long-term care bills and resolutions were introduced during the 105th session of Congress --unfortunately, none of them made it out of committee to the floor of the House or Senate. With the exception of the accelerated premium percentage phase-in for qualified LTC insurance, congressional leadership has remained consistently impotent in its unwillingness to address the issue of long-term health care head-on. And this bears repeating; this is not a rank and file issue, it's a leadership issue. Nancy Johnson(Long-Term Care & Retirement Security Act), Christopher Shays(Promoting Individuals Under LTC Insurance), John Mica(Civil Service Long-Term Care Insurance Benefit Act), Christopher Smith('98 Long-Term Care Advancements Act) and Charles Grassley(Long-Term Care & Retirement Security Act) all introduced bona fide LTC bills or resolutions in the 105th Congress. But introducing a bill is *substantially* different from getting it to the floor for debate and a vote. Getting it to the floor takes vision, commitment and party leadership. All eyes are now on Messrs. Hastert & Lott as we gird our loins for the 106th session, and renew the promises we've made to our frail elders. Martin K. Bayne Email: [log in to unmask] 48/45 President, National Long-Term Care Policy Institute, Inc. Publisher, "Mr. Long-Term Care" http://www.mrltc.com