This doesn't happen everyday. Secret Service men and helicopters are everywhere. Scranton Times Tribune home HOUSE CALL By Mary Jo Feldstein 01/16/2003 A quick stop in a small city particularly affected by a growing nationwide problem has morphed into a national event laced with political jabs and jockeying. President Bush comes to town today to talk about rising malpractice premiums. For some, it may feel like he's been here for days. Helicopters swirling over Courthouse Square. Limousines with the presidential seal filling up at the Sunoco station on Mulberry Street. National media sitting with seniors eating Texas wieners. Air Force One is expected to touch down at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport at 10:25 this morning. Mr. Bush and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson are scheduled to meet with physicians at an intimate roundtable discussion at Mercy Hospital. Expected to be on a top-secret guest list: Mercy CEO Jim May, at least one Scranton physician and physicians from West Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere in Pennsylvania. Mr. Bush then heads to the University of Scranton to discuss plans to limit jury awards and lower malpractice premiums. More than 1,000 tickets for the speech were gone in less than one day. Confirmed attendees include local politicos, physicians and community leaders. Gov. Mark Schweiker declined his invitation in favor of a "long-standing family commitment." Rendell snubbed? An invitation was not extended to Gov.-elect Ed Rendell, his spokesman said. "Will Mr. Rendell be invited to the event?" a reporter asked White House spokesman Scott Stanzel. "We have invited the current governor," Mr. Stanzel said. "But will Mr. Rendell be in- vited to the event?" the reporter repeated. "We have invited the current governor," Mr. Stanzel repeated. "Why are you inviting only Governor Schweiker?" "We have invited the current governor," Mr. Stanzel said. Ken Snyder, a spokesman for Mr. Rendell, said even if the governor-elect received a last-minute invitation, he would not be able to join Mr. Bush because he'll be busy in Harrisburg this morning announcing several new cabinet appointments. "Given the shortage of time and given his schedule, it would be awful difficult to participate at this late date," Mr. Snyder said. "Had we known earlier, we might have been able to change things." Afterward, Mr. Rendell plans to hop on his campaign bus and head to Scranton to host a news conference at Moses Taylor Hospital. He and state Sen. Robert Mellow, D-Peckville, will answer questions about Mr. Bush's remarks. Mr. Rendell isn't upset about the snub, Mr. Snyder said. "The governor-elect doesn't feel put out at all," he said. "He welcomes the president to Pennsylvania and he's excited to have the president address an important issue and he's eager to hear what the president has to say." Lawyers left out Local trial lawyers and their patients said they were also not asked to attend any of Mr. Bush's events. They held a rally Wednesday to protest limits on damages in malpractice cases and emphasize the need for insurance reform. "He's not interested in victims, little people," said Scranton attorney Tom Foley Jr. "He's interested in the health care industry who are big contributors to his campaigns." When asked why lawyers were not included in the discussion, Mr. Stanzel said U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, an attorney, will be at the University of Scranton speech. "The president wants to talk to people who are most affected by medical liability reform," Mr. Stanzel said. Moving around Area residents will have a difficult time getting a glimpse of the president, according to a White House official. "There are no open events," said Peter Watkins of the White House Press Office. The motorcade route is not being made available to the public, but city police have banned all parking on Jefferson Avenue from the Spruce Street Complex to Mercy Hospital. Other restrictions will also be evident. No landings or takeoffs will be permitted shortly before and after Mr. Bush's plane arrives and departs, said Joe Refice, director of security at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport. Mr. Refice added the airport is not foreseeing any delays. Officials at Mercy Hospital said it will be "pretty much business as usual" with hospital operations. The emergency room will be open, as will other medical services. Having their say Anti-war activists and a group protesting medical malpractice caps will be among those trying to catch the attention of the president. A spokeswoman for a group protesting possible war with Iraq says they will stand along Spruce Street as Mr. Bush heads toward Mercy Hospital. "He'll have to travel right by us," said Susan Hanley, a coordinator with the Scranton chapter of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Meanwhile, Citizens for Consumer Justice, a Philadelphia activist group, plans to gather "a few hundred" people to protest the caps Mr. Bush is expected to propose on malpractice awards, according to the group's executive director, Lauren Townsend. The group plans to hold its demonstration on the University of Scranton campus.
