Fellow Kossaks,
The health and vitality of a nation’s democracy can be measured by the willingness of the citizenry of a country to participate in the political process.
That is why I come to you today.
As you read this, the content of the omnibus appropriations bill is being hammered out. At this very moment, decisions are being made that will affect each and every one of us.
And I need your help.
Right now, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), leading the negotiations for the Senate Republicans, is trying to strike a bill from the legislative package that I sponsored, H.R. 493, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
GINA would prohibit insurers and employers from discriminating based solely on a person’s genetic information. No one is born with perfect genes and genetic discrimination is something that will affect every single person on the planet.
This bipartisan bill was passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year by a vote of 420-3 and was passed unanimously by the Senate in the 108th and 109th Congresses.
However, using arcane Senate rules, Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn (R) has single-handedly been able to put a hold on the bill, not allowing a vote in the Senate this year.
We were able to circumvent Senator Coburn’s hold by getting GINA into the omnibus appropriations bill scheduled to be voted on next week by the full House and Senate.
However, in the negotiations right now and throughout the weekend, Senator Mitch McConnell is trying to remove the bill so it will not get an up or down vote next week, and will continue to be held hostage by Senator Tom Coburn and Senate rules.
My friends, decisions are made by those who show up. However, in a democracy, the decision makers are influenced when dedicated, patriotic citizens pick up a phone, write an email, send a fax, and tell their friends to do the same.
The unique ability of the progressive blogosphere to hold both their friend’s and opponent’s feet to the fire is both renowned and feared by politicians in Washington and the talking heads on cable TV.
I am asking you to unleash that power today and throughout the weekend to flood the voicemail, email inbox, and fax machine of Senator Mitch McConnell, and to ask your friends to do the same, to tell him to that you support putting the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) in the omnibus appropriations bill.
Contact Information for Senator Mitch McConnell:
DC Leadership office: (202) 224-3135 (t), (202) 224-2541 (f)
London, KY office: (606) 864-2026 (t)
Fort Wright, KY office: (859) 578-0188 (t)
Louisville, KY office: (502) 582-6304 (t)
Lexington, KY office: (859) 224-8286 (t)
Bowling Green, KY office: (270) 781-1673 (t)
Paducah, KY office: (270) 442-4554 (t)
Email
Unfortunately, given these developments, I will not be able to engage you in the comments like I would normally do. It is going to be a very busy weekend.
Thank you for your help; together we will make a difference.
In solidarity,
Louise