Freshman State Rep. Dianne Primavera’s story is an inspirational one. Not only has she dealt with serious health issues on a very personal level through her own battles with cancer, but, she has also fought hard to improve health care for all of Colorado’s families. Even before her election to the Colorado House, she worked in the health care field, and throughout her career, she has received numerous awards-– including the Governor’s Peak Performance Award for Citizen Satisfaction. It is difficult to cover all of the health care bills that Representative Primavera has sponsored. Here are just a few.

She sponsored 2 of 11 key bills signed by the governor this June as part of his “Building Blocks to Health Care Reform” plan. HB 1385 creates a guide on the website of the Colorado Division of Insurance in order for residents to compare available health plans in a standardized, systematic way to make the best possible decision when they purchase insurance.

Primavera was also a sponsor of HB 1372, a groundbreaking bill which creates the Colorado Stem Cells Cure Fund. It creates a check-off option on the state income tax form in order to contribute to the fund. The bill enables Colorado’s new mothers the chance to donate the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood after birth – which could help research on treatment for adult diseases such as Alzheimer’s. You can read her editorial on HB 1372 in the Rocky Mountain News. Click here and here for more information on both of these bills.

Rep. Primavera is also helping uninsured Colorado children through her co-sponsorship SB 161, which will simplify the difficult application process for children’s health insurance under Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus.

I have written previously about Democratic efforts around the country to require health-insurance coverage for autism and bills addressing autism by legislators such as Chris Edwards of Oregon. Rep. Primavera is also working to help families that are grappling with autism. She was a co-sponsor of SB 163 to streamline, simplify, and unify services for those with autism.

Primavera was also a sponsor of HB 1301, an important bill to set aside $1.5 million from the state's tobacco settlement to pay for cervical cancer vaccinations for girls who don't have health insurance. You can read about this bill in the Rocky Mountain News. She has also sponsored a tax check-off bill for cancer education.

Rep. Primavera has been described as a “tireless” healthcare advocate. But in this case, that adjective is inadequate in describing the incredible, heroic efforts of this Colorado legislator.

Earlier this year, I wrote about how Democrats in Wisconsin and Oklahoma are fighting for insurance coverage for autism.

In the Oregon House, Democratic Rep. Chris Edwards, a freshman, is also working hard on this issue. Edwards, whose young son has autism, has been chosen to lead an autism project work group in preparation for the 2009 session.

He was also a sponsor of a key health coverage bill during the 2007 session, HB 2918. This legislation prohibits a health plan from denying various therapies to children under 18 solely because of a developmental disorder like autism. The governor signed the bill on July 31, 2007.

The Eugene legislator is a member of the House’s Five Under 35 group which has established an ambitious legislative agenda that includes support for such key bills as the Family and Medical Leave measure (HB 2575) and the Protecting Children from Online Predators bill (HB 3515).

Edwards is a great example of how young Democratic lawmakers are energized and fighting for a strong legislative agenda for working families.

On Monday, I wrote about Democrats taking the lead on state legislation to promote children’s health through nutrition and physical-education legislation. Today, I would like to touch upon three more crucial issues in children’s health care: insurance coverage for autism, getting rid of toxic toys, and second-hand smoke in cars.

COVERAGE FOR AUTISM

On July 14, the Chicago Sun Times ran a story about another key children’s health care issue for which Democrats are fighting. Illinois Democratic Gov. Blagojevich added language to House Bill 4225 to create landmark legislation, making his state provide the most comprehensive autism coverage in the nation.

According to the organization Autism Speaks, one in 150 children is diagnosed with autism; a new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes; and it is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the country.

A recent story in Stateline provides a great overview of state laws on insurance coverage for autism. According to the piece, 12 states already require insurance coverage for autism, one state has passed legislation this year, and 12 states have legislation pending.

In Wisconsin, Democrats were blocked in their efforts to pass an autism bill. Democratic Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink wrote a newspaper column about how – after passing the Senate – SB 178 by Democratic Sen. Judy Robson (and co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Russ Decker, among others), died in the Assembly. According to a story in the Daily Cardinal, the Autism Society of Wisconsin supported Democratic SB 178 over Republican AB 901.

In Oklahoma, Democrats were also blocked in their efforts to pass an autism bill. There have been at least 3 attempts this session to pass an autism insurance bill. SB 1537, written by Democratic Sen. Jay Paul Gumm and dubbed “Nick’s Law, did not even make it out of committee. HB 2531, which would require insurance coverage for autism, passed the Senate on a 30-18 vote, but -- despite the pleas of parents of autistic children -- House Republican leadership refused to hear the bill. SB 2118, another attempt to pass insurance coverage for autism, sailed through the Senate, but died in a House committee.

TOXIC TOYS

In Washington, Democratic Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson authored HB 2647, the “Children’s Safe Products Act of 2008,” which bans 3 toxins from children’s toys: lead, cadmium, and phthalates. This bill was signed by the governor on March 13.

In California, AB 1108 (2007) -- the “California Toxic Toys Bill” – was sponsored by Democratic Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and signed by the governor on October 14, 2007.

In New Jersey, Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and Democratic Sen. Loretta Weinberg have joined the fight for safe children’s toys this year with their introduction of bills for the “Toxic-free Children's Products Act” – AB 2332 and SB 1428.

In Maine, Rep. Hannah Pingree authored LD 2048, “An Act to Protect Children's Health and the Environment from Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children's Products,” which was signed by the governor on April 17, 2008.

In MARYLAND, Democratic Delegate James Hubbard sponsored HB 62, which prohibits children’s products containing lead. It was signed by the governor on May 13.

BANNING SMOKING IN AUTOMOBILES WHERE CHILDREN ARE PRESENT

Democrats are also going after adults who smoke in vehicles when children are passengers in those cars. For an excellent overview of state legislation through 2007, take a look at another story in Stateline. In 2008, we see the Democratically controlled legislatures in Maine and Washington State defending children’s health and safety in this area.

In Maine, LD 2012 -- which is a primary-offense prohibition smoking in a motor vehicle when a person under 16 years of age is present in that vehicle -- was signed by the governor on April 10, 2008. Democratic Rep. Patricia Blanchette sponsored a state-wide ban bill modeled on an ordinance in her town of Bangor, which protects children up to age 18. In the end, Blanchette’s version lost out to a Republican version which lowered the age from 18 to 16.

In Washington, HB 2519 (sponsored by Democratic Rep. Shay Schual-Berke) and SB 6287 (sponsored by Democratic Sen. Chris Marr) both ban smoking in cars with children inside. The House bill would cover children under 18, and the Senate version would include children under 14. Both bills make the violation a secondary offense. While neither bill made it into law this session, future success is very likely since the bills were supported by the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, and state law-enforcement agencies, troopers, and firefighters.

Editor's note: From time to time, we will offer our elected leaders the opportunity to write guest posts about issues in their states.

Simply disappear -- that is what Republican leaders in the Oklahoma House of Representatives want autistic children and those of us fighting for them to do.

Republican House Speaker Chris Benge not only refuses to support a measure to cover these children with health insurance, he wouldn’t even allow representatives to vote on the bill.

“Nick’s Law” -- named for one of the thousands of Oklahoma children suffering from autism -- was very simple. It would have required health insurance policies in Oklahoma to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism.

Experts tell us such a policy is the best way to give autistic children a chance at a full life when they become adults. It also provides a way to relieve the enormous financial pressures on families who are denied coverage by big insurance.

The Speaker twisted and danced all the way to the adjournment of the 2008 session. He single-handedly prevented a most family friendly policy, hoping that the end of session would be the end of the pressure. That is a serious miscalculation.

Of course, some of the special interest groups have honored those most responsible for killing “Nick’s Law” with awards for courage. There is nothing courageous about turning your back on children who have no voice. Oklahomans know what real courage is -- it is what parents of these children exhibit every day.

Still, despite all the fake awards, the Speaker’s miscalculation about relieving pressure continues to be shown in a stark light. Just last week, a national news program this week highlighted the growing epidemic of children with autism and the push by parents to force health insurance to cover diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.

NBC’s “The Today Show” aired a segment Thursday, June 12 as part of a continuing series of reports on autism. The story featured parents who are encouraging state legislatures across the nation to pass laws requiring coverage of autism diagnosis and treatment.

It is not like the Speaker did not have the chance to do the right thing. “Nick’s Law” passed the Senate on four separate occasions, each time on bipartisan votes. When the proposal arrived in the House of Representatives, it was killed each time when Speaker Benge refused to even allow the bill to be heard.

What the Speaker didn’t count on was the fact that this is a national battle. People are watching, and they expect a fair debate. The “Today Show” segment included a statement on the issue by the special interest group representing insurance companies; the statement is a “slick attempt” by big insurance to have it both ways.

The insurance lobby conceded in the statement that “medically related care should be covered by insurers.” The problem is, once “medically related care” is coded as “autism,” insurance companies refuse to pay claims.

Then the special interest group unveils its real agenda with the following statement: “For those who need assistance, we should be committing public resources to help fund cost--effective programs to care for those who are diagnosed with autism.”

The phrase “public resources” is a fancy way of saying “taxpayer dollars.” Their real agenda is to pass the cost of covering autism on to the taxpayers. That way, insurance companies protect both their robust profits and their ability to fund the political campaigns of politicians who protect them.

The “Today Show” segment gives both sides a chance to make their case, and clearly the momentum to pass bills like Nick’s Law is building. Even in deeply ‘red’ Republican states, lawmakers and governors of both parties are putting aside the special interests for the public interest. It’s too bad Oklahoma’s House leaders could not find it in their hearts or heads to do the same.

Not every House Republican supported their leadership on the issue; four Republican House members signed a “discharge petition” that would have forced a vote on “Nick’s Law.” Then, before they got the required number of signatures, House Republican leaders began enforcing party discipline.

It’s pretty clear Republican leaders dropped the hammer -- preventing members from doing what their conscience told them was the right thing. However, political power in Oklahoma rests with the people not the politicians, and I believe Oklahomans will rise up and force House leadership to get on this train or get run over by it.

They want us to simply disappear. These children will not go away, and their parents will never give up. When the Oklahoma Legislature returns in February, the case to pass Nick’s Law will be greater than ever.

To do nothing -- a course of action with which House leadership is content -- will condemn children who might be saved by diagnosis and treatment. This is just one case where the values of Oklahoma’s Republican House leadership are woefully out of step with the people they were truly elected to serve.

Oklahoma House Republicans may have preserved some campaign contributions, but they will have lost their souls -- and, unless they see the light soon, a good number of the seats they hold in the House of Representatives.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm represents Oklahoma's 6th Senate District

I started working at the DLCC three weeks ago, and part of my job is to track the accomplishments of our elected leaders. Last week, I took a look at the Pennsylvania legislature’s website and was immediately touched by the first story listed on the “Week in Review” page.

Gov. Ed Rendell just signed a Senate Bill into law establishing what’s known as the Cancer Drug Repository Program. This bill, identical to Rep. Tim Solobay’s H.B. 186, allows cancer patients to donate their unused prescription medications so that lower-income patients or those without insurance can buy them at a reduced price.

All-too-often cancer patients are prescribed medication in three-month dosages, and before that time is up, there is a change in the doctor’s treatment plan and the old medicine becomes useless. Under the new program those drugs would no longer be discarded, they would be used to benefit less fortunate patients, which to me, makes it not only economical but also potentially life-saving.

Rep. Solobay is becoming a pioneer in prescription thriftiness, drafting another bill that would incorporate prescription drugs of all varieties into this program. While prescription drugs are becoming more expensive and out of reach for those in need, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, literally! Rep. Solobay is on point with these ideas, and I am eager to see what he’ll accomplish next.

Megan Hannigan is a Klindt/Dye Intern for the 2008 Summer Semester