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nu ne California Communities United Institute Newsletter
www.CalComUI.org
Activism With A Heart Justice |
July, 2012
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Join California Communities United Institute
To join California Communities United Insitute, click
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AIDS And The Challenge of Aging | 
The first HIV infections in this country were diagnosed in 1981, when just a few cases were detected. Since then, the number of HIV infections in the US have grown to a huge number. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now estimates that there are now roughly 1.2 million Americans living with HIV.
And, the CDC believes that fully 20% of them are unaware that they are infected. This, of course, means that many of them will spread HIV to others without knowing it.
Part of the reason for the vast increase in the number of people living with HIV is that the medical system has gotten much better at treating it. In the early years, being diagnosed as HIV positive was an almost instant death sentence. Now, with the advances in treatment options, for most people, HIV infection is a manageable chronic infection.
People are growing old with HIV. But there is growing evidence that the typical ailments of the elderly are occurring earlier in HIV positive people than in the general population.
To read the rest of this article, click here.
Boyce Hinman
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FDA Approves Home HIV Test Kit | 
The US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved the first HIV test kit that can be used at home.
It will be possible to purchase the kit over the counter, without a prescription. The kit will allow people to test their HIV status using a sample of saliva. The test results will be available in just 20 to 40 minutes, and nothing needs to be sent to a laboratory for testing. It should be as easy to use as a home pregnancy test.
Consumers will have to be 17 years old, or older in order to purchase the kit. The brand name of the kit will be OraQuick. It should be available to consumers in October of this year.
To read more on this subject, click here.
Boyce Hinman
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What The Affordable Care Act Does For You |
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President Obama |
Now that the US Supreme Court has upheld most of the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care), it is important for people to know what the act does for them. This is the first in a series of articles on that subject. We hope you will find it helpful.
Let's begin with an overview of the main benefits of the legislation.
In 2010, health insurance companies were no longer permitted to deny coverage for children because of pre-existing conditions. Starting in 2014 they will be forbidden from refusing adults because of pre-existing conditions.
Between now and 2014, adults who have been refused health insurance because of pre-existing conditions can get coverage through the state of California's federally funded high risk pool program.
If you have health insurance that provides coverage for dependents, those plans must cover your children until age 26, unless the child already has employer provided health insurance. Children under age 26 can qualify for this coverage even if they do not live with their parents and are not financially dependent on their parents.
To read more about these benefits, click here.
Boyce Hinman
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Some Seek To Deny The Right To Vote | 
A number of states have been considering laws requiring people to provide a government issued picture ID in order to vote.
According to Ballotopedia, 15 states already require voters to show a government issued picture at the polling place. Thirty five states require at least a non-photo government issued ID at the polling place.
The problem is that most states require applicants to provide evidence of their date of birth and proof of legal residence when applying for an ID card, either with or without a picture. California, for example, requires all applicants for ID cards, or driver's licenses, to submit this evidence.
Supporters of these laws say the restrictions are needed to prevent fraudulent voting. But, surely, in these times of very contentious politics, if there were significant problems with voter fraud, we would be made well aware of that fact.
To read more on this subject, click here.
Boyce Hinman
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Roberts Decision Stirs Outrage |
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Chief Justice Roberts |
Late last month the US Supreme Court upheld most of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).
Four liberal justices on the court voted to uphold the law. Four conservative justices voted to strike it down. However, conservative Chief Justice John Roberts provided the tie breaking vote in favor of the law.
That means the Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land.
Immediately cries of outrage came forth from conservatives. Many said Roberts had betrayed them. Many also said that, when deciding whether or not a law is constitutional, the court should only approve laws that the founding fathers would have thought are permitted by the constitution they approved in 1787.
The problem is you have to ask which founding fathers. For the truth is, they frequently disagreed over what the constitution permitted.
To read more on this subject, click here.
Boyce Hinman
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??Republicans And Obama Agree On DOMA?? |
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US Supreme Court |
Who says the Republicans and President Obama can't work together?
Recently the Republican run Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG), of the US House of Representatives, and the Obama administration, separately petitioned the US Supreme Court to quickly review and rule on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
DOMA forbids the federal government from recognizing same sex marriages even when those marriages occurr legally in states that recognize same sex marriages.
To read more on this subject, click here.
Boyce Hinman
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