The Domenici bill that put mental health coverage in parity with physical

[question everything]

illness.

We all applaud this, yet, as I was reading the report, I found out that Domenici pushed for this parity because he has a daughter who suffers from schizophrenia. And I thought: Aha, this is why. And this is the problem with all of them, like Jesse Helms who supported stem cells research because he had a diabetic child.

They don't feel generous all of a sudden. No. When something come close to home, then they push for bills that most other Republicans would oppose as... "over regulation."

[tosh]

1. Or like Sarah Palin. Special needs child.

Still, though, in the case of mental health coverage, it was a long time coming.

I'm so sorry for Domenici's daughter - schizophrenia is such a tough road.

Methinks we need to turn up the volume on awareness of our issues.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

2. A MN repub, Jim Ramstad, pushed for this bill, which he co-sponsored with

the late, great Paul Wellstone, at least in the House. I'm no great fan of Jim's but he is a throwback to moderate Republicans of 30 years ago. He's also a recovering alcoholic who consistently stood with Wellstone on this issue. That makes him a decent guy in my book. He's retiring this year and there's an excellent young Iraq vet Dem, Ashwin Madia, who may well win this seat.