Detroit News: Laid-off worker, leukemia patient among Michigan congressional speech guests

Washington — Josie Maisano is a laid-off St. Clair Shores resident hoping Congress restores emergency unemployment benefits to alleviate her fear of becoming homeless.

Julie Boonstra is a Dexter leukemia patient who is frustrated her insurance policy was canceled because of the Affordable Care Act.

The two women have different hopes from Washington, but both traveled here to watch President Barack Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday as guests of their members of Congress. It's a tradition for the annual address where members bring a wide range of guests to offer a personal perspective on the issues they have been slogging over at the Capitol.

Maisano is a guest of Rep. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak, who has been fighting to restore emergency unemployment benefits to about 1.3 million Americans and about 45,000 in Michigan who were cut off Dec. 28 when Congress failed to pass an extension. The benefits contribute up to 37 more weeks of unemployment aid in Michigan after residents exhaust their state-provided 20 weeks of assistance.

Maisano, 60, was laid off from a mortgage company in May. Previously she worked for 40 years as an administrative assistance in the auto industry.

"I spend all day on the computer applying to jobs, and I assure you looking for a job is a full-time job in itself," Maisano said. "I'm now two months behind on my mortgage payments. I send utility companies partial payments. I'm beyond being depressed, disillusioned and disgusted. I'm so afraid of becoming homeless and I know I'm this close to that actually happening."

"

Boonstra is a guest of Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, who along with fellow Republicans has been fighting to repeal and replace the president's health care law, commonly referred to as Obamacare.

Boonstra was diagnosed with leukemia five years ago and relies on daily oral chemotherapy. In October, Boonstra was among an estimated 225,000 Michigan residents who received notices the health insurance they purchased on the individual market would be discontinued for not meeting new standards under the law. She said she was covered under a Blue Care Network private plan with a $1,100-a-month premium but low out-of-pocket costs.

Boonstra was dogged by technical difficulties on the federal health care exchange website and panicked she would be unable to keep her University of Michigan doctors and lifesaving treatment. Ultimately, she enrolled in a new Blue Cross Blue Shield plan through an agent where her premiums were cut in half at $571, but she pays higher out of pocket costs. She's still seeing her U-M oncologist.

"I just want my plan back, I really do," said Boonstra, 49, a mother of two. "It was extremely expensive and there are things as far as oral chemotherapies that need to be done to reduce the cost. ... But I was covered and I made having a great health plan a priority for me and that was taken away from me."

Michigan also will have two guests sitting with first lady Michelle Obama in the House chamber gallery — General Motors Co. CEO Mary Barra and Rush Group Founder and Chair Andra Rush.

Others opted to avoid politics altogether. Some delegation members chose not to bring a guest, including Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland. Since Tuesday marks the last State of the Union address for Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, who is retiring after more than three decades of service, he was to be accompanied by his wife, Barbara.

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, invited his friend and constituent, GOP Lt. Gov. Brian Calley. U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, is shining a spotlight on investment in Detroit by bringing Brian Hermelin, a co-founder of Detroit Venture Partners, a venture capital firm.

Peters, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, wrote the 2010 State Small Business Credit Initiative that provides $1.5 billion in federal funds to improve lending and investment in small businesses and manufacturers, with the aim of spurring additional private-sector lending. Michigan has led the nation in the amount of federal dollars expended for the program, according to a U.S. Treasury Department report.

Two members of Congress honored veterans as their guests. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Howell, chose Peter Dixon, a reserve captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and CEO of Second Front Systems. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, invited Army Sgt. 1st Class Cameron Corder, 30, of Clio. Corder suffered a spinal cord injury in October while attempting to help an injured U.S. Marine board a military helicopter in Afghanistan. He continues to recover at Walter Reed National Military Center.

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, is accompanied by Michigan TV and radio host Michael Patrick Shiels, who will be broadcasting from Washington. Shiels said the invitation is an honor and to be present at the address is a "pinch-me moment.

To read the original article at the Detroit News, please click here.