You are herecontent / Ask These Reps to Oppose Healthcare Bill Unless States Rights (Single-Payer) Language Restored
Ask These Reps to Oppose Healthcare Bill Unless States Rights (Single-Payer) Language Restored
Ask 14 congress members to withhold support for a healthcare bill unless language is restored allowing states to create healthcare solutions.
Several states' legislatures are close to enacting single-payer healthcare bills. This is a complete healthcare solution that eliminates the for-profit insurance industry, lowers the cost of pharmaceuticals, reduces bureaucracy, and provides universal coverage. As President Obama explains: "Now, the truth is that, unless you have a — what’s called a single-payer system, in which everybody is automatically covered, then you’re probably not going to reach every single individual."
We're not creating such a system in Washington. We're creating something far more limited and compromised, expensive and wasteful. The healthcare bill now in play in Congress may constitute a tremendous step forward, or a tiny one, or a public bailout of the sickness industry that will do more harm than good. The bill includes some good measures but empowers profiteers who are crafting most of the details and whose stocks rise every time passage appears possible.
One good measure that is no longer included was the so-called public option, which -- in its final form -- was to be controlled by privately determined rates and reach fewer than 5 percent of Americans, according to the President, or less than that, according to the Congressional Budget Office. With that fight now lost, should the more progressive members of Congress simply vote for a bill that may do more harm than good, and allow the pattern of ignoring progressive demands to be more firmly established?
What if there were something far less controversial than the public option that could bring healthcare to far more people? And what if this something had already passed in committee and been unceremoniously stripped out of the bill without a fight? Would it be worth a winnable fight right now to put this measure back in?
When the first state passes single-payer healthcare, none of the other 49 states will lose anything they've gained through Congress. But the lucky state whose legislature tries to do something more won't see any immediate benefit, because the insurance companies will sue. And there are federal laws that may allow such suits to prevail and deny states the right to provide their residents with healthcare.
Last July the House Committee on Education and Labor voted 25 to 19, with bipartisan support, to pass an amendment proposed by Congressman Dennis Kucinich to waive federal restrictions and allow states to provide healthcare if they choose. Nothing in any other versions of the healthcare bill from other committees conflicted with this language, but it was quietly removed nonetheless. (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the White House told her to remove it.) And the Senate bill added language forbidding state healthcare solutions through 2017, and not - despite what the President told Kucinich - including the waivers that had been in Kucinich's amendment.
Republicans can be expected to vote No on any healthcare bill, no matter how limited or corrupt. But these 14 Democrats voted yes in committee on the Kucinich Amendment:
Dennis J. Kucinich (OH-10) phone (202)225-5871, fax (202)225-5745, Email. Facebook. Twitter.
Donald M. Payne (NJ-10) phone (202)225-3436, fax (202)225-4160, Email. Email for constituents.
Robert C. Scott (VA-03) phone (202)225-8351, fax (202)225-8354, Email. Email for constituents.
Lynn C. Woolsey (CA-06) phone (202)225-5161, fax (202)225-5163, Email for constituents. Twitter.
Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) phone (202)225-2435, fax (202)225-1541, Email. Email for constituents. Twitter.
CPC Email for Woolsey and Grijalva: Email form. Email: progressive@mail.house.gov.
John F. Tierney (MA-06) phone (202)225-8020, fax (202)225-5915, Email. Facebook.
David Wu (OR-01) phone (202)225-0855, fax (202)225-9497, Email. Email: david@wuforcongress.com. Email for constituents.
Rush D. Holt (NJ-12) phone (202)225-5801, fax (202)225-6025, Email. Email: mail@RushHolt.com. Email for constituents. Facebook.
Dave Loebsack (IA-02) phone (202)225-6576, fax (202)226-0757, Email. Facebook.
Yvette Clarke (NY-11) phone (202)225-6231, fax (202)226-0112, Email: clarkeforcongress@gmail.com. Email for constituents.
Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) phone (202)225-5456, fax (202)225-5822, Email.
Marcia Fudge (OH-11) phone (202)225-7032, fax (202)225-1339, Facebook.
Jared Polis (CO-2) phone (202)225-2161, fax (202)226-7840, Email for constituents. Facebook. Twitter. Legislative Director Rosalyn Kumar.
Paul Tonko (NY-21) phone (202)225-5076, fax (202)225-5077, Email for constituents. Facebook. Twitter.
Their work was rudely ignored. If they could be moved to withhold their support for a healthcare bill until it reinstates the missing amendment, progressives would find a voice and a lever of power, and the campaign for healthcare reform would be energized in those areas where it has a chance of truly transformational change, namely in the states.
Contact these 14 congress members with the phone numbers and website forms above.
What we are asking for: Please oppose the health insurance reform bill unless the amendment you voted for and passed in committee last July 17th is reinstated, permitting states to enact healthcare reforms if they choose to.
Tweetable version: Please oppose hcr bill unless amendment you passed on July 17th is reinstated permitting states to enact hcr reforms.
More from FireDogLake:
How to Get a State Single Payer Opt-Out as Part of Reconciliation
A related interview:
More from Seth Ackerman:
Why health care reform is not a "huge progressive victory"
See also: Bill Moyers' Journal.
Dennis Kucinich Explains Why He’s Voting Against the Senate Health Care Bill on Countdown
- Login to post comments
-
- Email this page
- Printer-friendly version
Thanks!
(Crickets here)
"The Obama administration is making a late push for health reform by seizing on a report. . . .” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made headlines attacking a 39% increase which was purposely “trying to maximize profits by purging its sickest customers while spending millions on exorbitant salaries and retreats for its executives. . . .” They say “profits will continue to soar under the status quo," and “that health insurance giant Wellpoint ‘would be a primary beneficiary’ if health care legislation failed.” “Political capital,” indeed. What they don’t say (or admit) while campaigning: Intermittent 39% (or even 79%) increases – across the board, will not subside – once an Individual Mandate without a Public Option (competition) is a reality. After the latter takes place, and related corporate entities receive the biggest gift they ever imagined (millions forced into their hands), “profits will continue to soar” – even more. As a result, Wellpoint will also ‘be a primary beneficiary’ when health care legislation Passes. Just like the insurers, the Obama administration is attempting to reap this both ways: Pass something so intentionally watered down that it directly oppresses those who could have been helped. But, at the same time, call the Victory one for the common people. With an Individual Mandate, and Without a “Robust” Public Option, our status quo will definitely change. However, the change will not be the one they endlessly sold us on.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/07/white-house-seizes-on-gol_n_489...
http://seaclearly.wordpress.com
A loud noise requires loud, effective action: NATIONAL STRIKE AGAINST CONGRESS, BOTH PARTIES....FOR JOBS, HEALTH CARE, HUMAN RIGHTS, END TO EMPIRE, ENDLESS WARS
...will this "National Strike" be accomplished with a dumbed-down, apathetic, complacent, uninformed, and LAZY population???
Complacent, uninformed, apathetic majorities are the norm during declining, though stable class despotism. When, suddenly, the whole of the public finds a collapsing world economy, without resources, these same complacent, apathetic majorities, will be ready to look outside this stinking two corporate party class thuggery.
At that point, what took hundreds of years to point out, the inherent failures of class systems, like Capitalism, will take only a matter of a few weeks or days. It will however be a race for correct strategies, social action, national strikes, that must produce results, or Fascism rears its ugly head, especially the worthless corporate democrats who appease this process.
I'm so disgusted that progressive groups stopped fighting for Single-Payer healthcare--echoed on Ed Shultz, Keith Olbermann, and Rachel's programs. They started this push for a public option--which is no better than handing these health insurers your money, in person. People don't seem to get, that even with a public option, we're still FORCED, by mandate, to purchse healthcare--this should be a moral issue, NOT, a political issue. We've spent so much money on these heinous wars, that there's no money left, to cover our basic rights, as citizens!! Where's the uproar???????
This media like our country has been taken over by Corporate Fascism and until we deal with that our civil rights and the constitution are worthless. It starts with and ends with the big lie called 9/11 and their ultimate plan of a war similar to WWII. 9/11 was to keep the public intimidated, scared, and in shock long enough to ignite the war, but Bush/Cheney could not get it off the ground completely and Obama got elected. Its why Cheney keeps throwing the term 9/11 and keep that shocked effect on the surface so people won't investigate and throw him in prison, but more important they can get those people they made billionaires to work and ignite that war they have so long sought after and why no media is allowed to examine the facts surrounding 9/11. Because it is absolutely the worst cover-up in history. Many, many, many very educated respected people have produced mountains of evidence proving Bush/Cheney and Israeli military did the deed and have bound the entire media to silence labeling any opposition a nut to bring it up. That is until the democrats are forced from office(next term) and we leave Iraq, so the war can get under way. The only way I see this war is stopped is we get off our asses and indict Bush/Cheney. Until we are once again allowed to tell the truth and ask questions on or n the media your health is not worth crap! Even Ahmadinejad figured it out and is trying to stop the war by truth telling to 9/11, which means our Corporate Fascist are even worst the Ahmadinejad, that says something. We have FOX news who are complicit in this war strategy and the rest of the media simply assisting them by their constant denying the facts and the truth. BTW did you know George Bush's brother, Marvin, headed the company, Securecom, in charge of security for the twin towers and for both the United and Solace flights on 9/11. Or you can follow the indisputable physics and science provided by over a 1000 Architect and Engineers that prove how it was done, which provides the link to who could have and did do it. The Republican party has been hijacked. People have got to stand up to these Neo-Nazi Corporate Fascist this is exactly how they took over Germany and these are the same people. So the money spent so far on war is just the tip of the iceberg if things go the way that is planned!
Thomas Carroll
tcatt57@gmail.com
It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required.
Sir Winston Churchill
A requirement to buy health insurance from the private sector equals fascism. Fascism is the co-mingling of governmental and corporate interests, when it undermines the people's interests.
The distinction is an inter-generational sharing of life's risks and bounties, as in "socialism," by way of universal coverage and reasonable administrative costs, vs. a forced contribution to profit-driven enterprises where increased profits depend on the denial of insurance payments for services - insureds be screwed.
but aide didn't know what I was talking about, at all, but assured me he'd get the message. I think I should be working for him until I get his job :)
yes
Besides Dennis Kucinich, and a hand full of other elected officials, There is No-One in Washington D.C., that was elected by the voters, that even remembers what they were elected to do, and for whom they were supposed to represent.
I regret to say that I voted for our President, he mislead me into beleiving he was truthful when he said he would bring change and work for the people of this country. He is for Barrack Obama, period.
I only have one elected official that is a Democrat. All others are Republicans. My one Democratic official is simply a pawn on Nancy Pelosi's corrupt game board. She says jump, he does, vote no, he does, don't vote or commit until I tell you, he doesn't.
I feel than both the House and the Senate has many, many elected officials from both parties who dance and vote to the same tune.
The only mention of the people's needs we hear is what these elected people will allow us to have. And at their terms and conditions. Hell, they don't want any part of this plan for themselves. Yet these are the people who have been directed to draw-up the plan for "We the People". This plan shold not have a clear plan to cut, control, or curtail increasing costs. These provisions will remain in the hands of Corporate America. Who by the way, owns our Federal elected officials for the most part. They are invited to participate in healthcare reform for "We the People". representatives foR "We the People" are barred from any involvement in the process. Some even arrested by these officials for trying to have an interest for the people. Even the President invites the Private sector to the White House to discuss the healthcare program.
Today's movement by the President and selected members of the Government, adds up to another SCAM to be dropped on "We the People". Adding another TRILLION DOLLARS to our personal debt base.
We have to be very vocal, and stand up to these corrupt elected people and tell them to their faces, if you vote for this SCAM, you will not be re-elected.