Budget Boot Camp II

 As we come to the end of this term and my service in the House, I find myself looking back to the start of my first term and some of the changes that have happened since I began. When you are elected, you have to choose between being on Appropriations or Policy committees. My interest was in budgets and fiscal responsibility, and I talked to both Senator Gast and Senator Proos before making my choice. They confirmed my choice of being on Appropriations, and Harry invited me and my staffer Adam Carlson out to the farm. At his kitchen table in a pile of budgets and fiscal agency reports, along with smoke from some Pall Malls, we went through the state budget for several hours. You could not pay for a class and learn more about the state budget. State Senator John Proos walked us through all of the current issues facing both the budget and the state. Harry and John were great resources that allowed us to hit the ground running.  As Harry pointed out, each number represented something, and all of the numbers are connected in some fashion. I was named Chairman of the LARA budget my freshman year, which included hundreds of millions in federal money, and a smaller amount in state General Fund money. That first year we needed to cut about $1.2 billion to balance the budget. The state had been using federal stimulus funds as general funds and those dollars were going away. We hit the goal, balanced the budget, and got it done in June for the first time in 30 years.  I wish I could report we found some massive government misspending or scandal. We did not. We went through every item in the budget, line by line. In my subcommittee, we eliminated a cable TV show and a program that tried to catch bootleggers at the state line. We did save taxpayer money and we did what you do everyday – we prioritized our spending. In the end it was about common sense and relationships. If you have ideas about state government call us at 888-656-0079 or by e-mail at alpscholka@house.mi.gov.

EDWARD JONES

Stay away from frightful investment moves

 Halloween is almost here. When you’re passing out candy, you’ll see many “scary” costumes that will probably just make you smile. But in real life, you can easily find some things that truly are frightening – such as bad investment moves. Here are a few that you’ll want to avoid:  Chasing after “hot” stocks – Many so-called “experts” – not to mention your friends, neighbors, relatives and co-workers – are more than willing to provide you with “tips” on “hot” stocks. But by the time you hear about these stocks, they may already be cooling off – and, in any case, they may not have been appropriate for your needs in the first place.  Investing too aggressively or too conservatively – If you constantly worry about the value of your investment portfolio, and you lose sleep whenever the market drops sharply, you might be taking on too much risk for your own comfort – so you may need to invest somewhat less aggressively. Conversely, if you invest primarily in conservative, low-yielding investments because you think they will help you avoid losses, you might not achieve the long-term growth potential you need to help you reach your important financial goals, such as a comfortable retirement. When you invest, try to balance your need for growth with your personal tolerance for risk.  Failing to diversify – If you only own one type of financial asset, and a market downturn hits that asset class strongly, your portfolio will likely take a big hit. You can greatly reduce the effects of market volatility – and give yourself more chances for success – by spreading your money among a range of investments. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification can’t always guarantee profits or protect against all losses.)  Paying too much attention to today’s news – Unfortunately, many of the news items of today – or of any day – are more negative than positive. But as an investor, you don’t want to be forced into a “sky-is-falling” mentality, because such a mind-set could lead you to make rash, unwise decisions, such as selling quality investments too soon or staying out of the market altogether. Generally, no single event has truly long-term consequences for investors. Consider the recent “Brexit” vote – in the immediate aftermath, the markets fell sharply, but just a few weeks later, they hit all-time highs. That won’t happen with every newsworthy occurrence, but historically, the markets have shown resilience. So, stay invested and follow a smart, long-term investment strategy that’s suitable for your situation – and look beyond today’s headlines.  Ignoring opportunities – Are you taking full advantage of all the investment opportunities available to you? For example, are you contributing as much as you can afford to your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan? If not, you are underutilizing one of the best retirement savings vehicles around. At a minimum, put in enough to earn your employer’s matching contribution, if one is offered. You won’t always have the chance to participate in this type of tax-advantaged retirement plan – so make the most of it while it’s available. Halloween usually ends with few tricks and many treats. Steering clear of the scary investment moves described above can help you make steady progress toward your financial objectives.  This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Breast Cancer

 Each year, over 100 women in Berrien County are diagnosed with breast cancer.  While cancer can be deadly, early detection is key to survival. The five-year survival rate among women whose breast cancer has not spread beyond the breast at the time of diagnosis is 97%.  However, that rate drops to below 50% if the cancer has already spread.  There are many types of treatments available depending on how soon the cancer is discovered, so the important thing to remember is that the sooner the cancer is detected, the better the outcome.  To assure early detection, all women over 20 should perform monthly self breast exams and get yearly clinical breast exams, and women over 40 should have yearly mammograms.  All women are at risk of breast cancer, but some women are at a higher risk, including women after menopause, those with a family history of breast cancer, and those who have never given birth.   Fortunately, the Berrien County Health Department offers the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) that provides clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams and pap smears to eligible women 50-64 years of age. You may be eligible for the program if you are a woman age 50 or over, do not have Medicare, HMO, or PPO insurance, and meet certain income limits.  You can lower your risk of breast cancer by taking care of your health in the following ways: Keep a healthy weight; Exercise regularly (at least four hours a week); Limit alcoholic drinks to no more than one per day; Breastfeed any children you may have, if possible.  Staying healthy throughout your life will lower your risk of developing cancer, and improve your chances of surviving cancer if it occurs.  For more information on breast cancer prevention, call the Health Department at 269-926-7121 or visit www.bchdmi.org.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Michigan women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Nearly every family, including my own, has been impacted by this terrible disease.  Early detection of breast cancer is critical to improving the chance of survival, yet few women ages 40 and older get annual mammograms.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I encourage all at-risk women to take the life-saving step of getting a breast screening. I also urge eligible uninsured women to take advantage of a program that provides free screenings.  The Southwest Michigan Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BCCCNP) provides cancer screening and diagnostic services, as it has for 23 years. Through 2015, the program has screened more than 10,000 Southwest Michigan women.  To be eligible for a free screening, a woman must be uninsured, be age 40 to 64 and meet certain income guidelines.  To locate a participating clinic in Southwest Michigan or for more information about the program, residents can call BCCCNP at 269-373-5213 or toll-free at 1-888-243-4087. Details are also available at kalcounty.com/hcs/bcccnp.  As we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let us celebrate those who have won their fight with breast cancer, stand in full support of those currently battling this serious disease and remember the friends and loved ones we have lost.  As always, I look forward to hearing your comments and feedback on the important issues facing Michigan. You can contact me at 517-373-6960.

Ensuring accessible, quality healthcare for all Americans

 One of my top goals is working in a bipartisan way to make healthcare more accessible, and lowering healthcare costs for all. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over health issues, we have recently seen two big pieces of legislation that help in this aim.  The first was a bipartisan, bicameral effort to fix the Medicare payment formula known as the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). This flawed formula had threatened seniors’ access to their Medicare physicians for years. As I met with a number of area doctors to discuss the SGR, it became clear that it was not working for anyone involved as the steep cuts would have caused some doctors to stop accepting Medicare patients. So we plotted a course to fix it. Our Committee passed a common-sense solution by a 51 to 0 vote that secured stable payments for doctors while promoting the highest quality of care for Michigan seniors. It was then passed by the House and the Senate and signed into law by the president.   The second is something you have probably heard me talk about before, 21st Century Cures. In 2014, I teamed up with U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, on this bipartisan legislation that will boost funding for medical research by billions of dollars and safely speed up the delivery of medical cures. In addition, 21st Century Cures will help reduce the costs of medications and life-saving drugs by promoting better competition and helping to clear the backlog of approvals. Our legislation was advanced in the House by an overwhelmingly bipartisan 344 to 77 vote. And recently, both leadership in the House and Senate have signaled their support for getting our legislation to the president’s desk before the year is out.  There is a real need of reform in our health care system to reduce costs and expand access to quality care for all Americans. I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner towards these goals.  To learn more about this and other important legislative issues, please visit my website: upton.house.gov.