Political campaigns and policy discussions are having a tough time co-existing in today’s world. I am old enough to remember a time when what a candidate said during his campaign is what the candidate believed. I am not sure anymore.

Last week Richard Nadeau, a former respected founding board member of HCF, passed away at his home. Richard led a full life even though he was partially blind. He was an avid art collector and mental health advocate and practitioner. In the early days of the foundation he fought hard to have mental health as a major funding priority of this foundation. I can remember him stating that HCF should provide services to the chronically and persistent mental ill including those who are incarcerated. He was a strong advocate for those of us some others may find expendable or non productive.

Proposition C is on the Missouri Ballot on August 3. Most legal scholars, political pundits and even proponents agree that the vote on this referendum is mostly symbolic. Even if the bill passes with a majority of YES votes, it is anticipated that the courts will rule that state law cannot precede federal law. The only winner that will likely benefit from a YES vote are the attorneys who will be involved in the legal battle that will surely take place at the expense of Missouri taxpayers.

With the new health reform bill recently passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, over 32 million currently uninsured folks are estimated to be insured by 2014. While that is great news – the obvious question is who will be providing health services to these newly insured Americans.

The federal health reform bill was signed into law in March of this year after months of difficult and very messy negotiations and partisan political activity. It was not a pretty sight to watch even if you liked the final outcome. It certainly did not inspire confidence in our elected officials.

Missouri is Number 50! That is the reputation the state has earned when last week the state of South Carolina raised its tobacco tax. Now Missouri has the lowest tobacco tax in the United States. Not surprisingly, Missouri has one of the highest smoking rates in the United States.

Research tells us that the higher the prices of cigarettes, the less people buy them—especially young people. Now that Missouri has received this distinction, hopefully voters and/or the Missouri law makers will get serious and pass a meaningful cigarette tax increase.

The last few weeks have been truly historic… the Clean Indoor Air bill was signed into law in Kansas and President Obama signed into law a massive federal health reform bill. Both of these historic events were accomplished after many years of hard work. It was not a sure thing either bill would pass until the final vote was counted. But what a difference these two pieces of legislation will make.