2012 Presidential Campaign News:
January 3 Update
ABC News: 'Ahead of Iowa Caucus, 9-Year-Old Questions Candidates About Autism Advocacy'
Posted by Sarah Parnass
"As reporters and candidates canvas the Hawkeye State, one boy has been scouring Iowa to ask Republicans what they would do to help children with learning disabilities.
"Nine-year-old Sam Wessels has stood up before the presidential hopefuls time and again this election season. In five YouTube videos with five different candidates, Wessels identifies himself as having autism and asks what each candidate would do as president to help children with special needs." Read more here.
Gingrich Unveils Brain Science Initiative
Excerpted from the National Review Online
Iowa City, IA – "Following a meeting with doctors and researchers at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, Newt Gingrich outlined a new Brain Science Initiative that would improve the lives of millions of Americans while saving money and creating jobs.
"The Brain Science Initiative builds upon Gingrich’s commitment in the 21st Century Contract with America to reform government in ways that maximize the speed and impact of medical breakthroughs.
“ 'Maximizing brain science breakthroughs can offer hope to millions of Americans impacted by Alzheimer’s, autism, Parkinson’s, traumatic brain injuries and more, while potentially saving trillions of dollars and creating thousands of new American jobs',” said Gingrich.
"Gingrich pointed out that Alzheimer’s disease represents a $20 trillion combined public and private liability through 2050 and that postponing the onset of the disease by just 5 years could save $6 to $8 trillion.
“ 'There is no single reform that could lower the cost of Medicare and Medicaid on the scale that breakthroughs in brain science could',” said Gingrich.
"There are over five million Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, Alzheimer’s doesn’t just affect the patient. Caregivers in Alzheimer’s families are twice as likely to have health problems from the stress of taking care of loved ones over a long period of time.
"The Brain Science Initiative has four components:
1. A public-private research initiative to map the brain and maximize our understanding of how it works and what effects it.
2. A fundamentally reformed, 21st century Food and Drug Administration which has the mission of understanding emerging new science and accelerating its development from the laboratory to the patient.
3. The elimination of the capital gains tax so hundreds of billions of dollars in new investments pour into the United States, creating a generation of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates in founding and growing companies that deliver brain-related medical treatments worldwide.
4. Developing an integrated public-private partnership to use new technologies to minimize the stress of caregiving and maximize the potential for independent living for those with brain disorders.
"This four-part initiative will be developed in detail over the next few months in collaboration with brain scientists, doctors, dedicated institutions, and advocates."
Kaiser Health News: 'Tracking The GOP Presidential Candidates’ Health Care Maneuvers'
Kaiser Health News tracks what bloggers are saying about the Republican primary candidates' positions on health care. Read the article here.
Concord (NH) Monitor: 'Newt's niche issue: Neuroscience'
In a profile of former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the Concord Monitor examined how Gingrich is the only Republican candidate addressing the issue of brain science and finding cures for disorders, such as autism. Read more here.
Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich Renews Call for Brain Science Initiative
In an interview with Newsmax.com, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich discussed his proposal to create a Brain Science initiative that would focus on a number of disorders, including autism.
“The opportunities in brain science are truly enormous. We could in the next 10 to 20 years have breakthroughs that will affect Alzheimer’s, autism, Parkinson’s, mental health, a tremendous array of things. The impact on human lives and on the federal budget would be enormous.
“Alzheimer’s is estimated to be a $20 trillion cost from now to 2050. That’s one and a half times the entire federal debt. If you could postpone the onset of Alzheimer’s by five years, you save $6-$8 trillion.
“I’m prepared to unveil a program that would invest in brain research and accelerate knowledge getting from the laboratory to the patient.”
Gingrich Cites Autism in GOP Debate, on CNN Piers MorganTonight
On November 9, CNBC hosted a Republican Presidential Debate at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Moderator Maria Bartiromo questioned each of the candidates about health care. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich cited three steps he would take with regards to health care, referencing autism in his third:
"Let me just say it very straight. One, you go back to a doctor-patient relationship and you involve the family in those periods where the patient by themselves can't make key decisions. But you re-localize it.
"Two, as several people said, including (Texas) Governor (Rick) Perry, you put Medicaid back at the state level and allow the states to really experiment because it's clear we don't know what we are doing nationally.
"Three, you focus very intensely on a brand-new program on brain science because the fact is the largest single out-year set of costs we are faced with are Alzheimer's, autism, Parkinson's, mental health, and things which come directly from the brain."
Read the debate transcript.
Speaker Gingrich issued similar remarks the previous evening as a guest on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight show. Speaker Gingrich was asked how he planned to defeat Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney:
"But my goal is not to go out and figure out how a way to beat Mitt Romney. My goal is to go out and find a way to talk to every American who cares about Alzheimer's, every American who cares about Parkinson's, every American who cares about mental health, every American who cares about autism, bring them together in a positive way, talking about a brain science solution that's really different from normal politics."
Read the interview transcript.
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