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Sebelius: 'End-of-life' should be covered

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says she hopes coverage for end-of-life counseling emerges from health reform efforts.

Blasting Republican opponents who say such counseling amounts to government-appointed "death panels" that would condone euthanasia, Sebelius said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" families faced with painful decisions on dying loved ones deserve to have talks with doctors covered.

"Nothing could be further from the truth that there's somehow a 'death panel,'" Sebelius said. "If anything, you know, seniors should welcome the fact that doctors would have a payment provided to sit down with family members, if they choose, and have a discussion."

Sebelius cited the case of her mother, who she said "spent 10 weeks in three different hospitals before she died."

"I'm hoping that, at the end of the day, that it will be part of the overall package, because it's one of the most important conversations a family may ever have," she said. "I think it's really horrific that some opponents of the health reform bill have used this painful, personal moment to try and scare people about what is in the bill."

In an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," Sebelius said a "public option" touted by President Barack Obama as part of his healthcare reform efforts is not an "essential element."

"I think what's important is choice and competition," she said. "And I'm convinced at the end of the day, the plan will have both of those. But that is not the essential element."

Sebelius said the real focus of the healthcare reform should be providing "coverage for all Americans, lowering the crushing cost for everyone, making sure that we have new rules for insurance companies."

Rangel: Middle class won't face tax hike

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama "can and will" keep his pledge not to raise taxes on the middle class to pay for healthcare reform, a Democratic lawmaker says.

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Nation" that cost savings from cutting waste in the current health delivery system, coupled with a tax surcharge on the wealthiest Americans, will cover the costs to institute reforms.

Asked whether Obama can accomplish reform without raising taxes on people making less than $250,000 per year, Rangel said "Yes, he can and he will," stressing that rooting out costly inefficiencies in current healthcare system will save hundreds of billions of dollars and bring down costs for all healthcare consumers.

He said discussion of reform is being drowned out by the attention given to shouted protests at town hall meetings on healthcare.

"People are trying to use hatred as a substitute for discussion," Rangel said. "When people are paid to work up our town hall meetings, it's clear they're not looking for a solution, they're looking for a political 'out' of this serious question."

Suspect held in beating of Milwaukee mayor

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Police said Sunday they have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with an attack on Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Barrett was hospitalized with injuries suffered Saturday night when a man beat him with a metal pipe in the parking lot of State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis., the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Authorities said Barrett took out his cell phone when a woman who was being accosted screamed for help, and was dialing 911 when the suspect ran toward him and began striking him with the pipe. Barrett was with his family when the attack occurred.

Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn said at a news conference police arrested Anthony J. Peters about noon Sunday. Police said Peters' criminal record includes arrests in other assault cases, the Journal Sentinel reported.

"Last night, he was a totally violent and vicious thug, and that's how he behaved," Flynn said during the news conference at the home of John Barrett, the mayor's brother, who is also the circuit court clerk for Milwaukee County.

John Barrett said the mayor's injuries were serious but doctors expect him to recover.

The woman in the incident was said to be uninjured.

Claudette heads for Florida Panhandle

MIAMI, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Claudette was approaching the Florida Panhandle Sunday evening with sustained winds near 51 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

At 8 p.m. EDT, a tropical storm warning was in effect from the Alabama-Florida border east toward the Suwannee River. The center of Claudette was about 55 miles west of Apalachicola, Fla., and about 95 miles southeast of Pensacola, Fla.

Moving northwest at about 12 mph, Claudette is expected to make landfall early Monday morning.

The National Hurricane Center said there was a potential for some additional strengthening prior to landfall.

Three to 6 inches of rain were forecast for the Florida Panhandle, with some isolated spots of 10 inches.

In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Ana -- the first Tropical Storm of the 2009 hurricane season -- was expected to make landfall early Monday on the Leeward Islands as it moved toward Cuba, Caribbean360.com reported Sunday.

Ana was being followed by Tropical Storm Bill, moving west at 13 mph with sustained winds of 45 mph and located about 1,640 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.

Bill was expected to gain strength and become a major hurricane by midweek, AccuWeather.com reported Sunday.