Today, we've got to keep on supporting nyceve and Jane Hamsher over at FireDogLake in standing in line today for today's Education and Labor Committee mark-up of health care reform! We'll be making phone calls to Democratic members of the Education and Labor Committee to thank them for supporting the House health care bill, and to ask them NOT to vote for any amendments that would weaken the bill, especially the public option and the national insurance exchange.
This is really the time to hold the line on health care reform. Remember, the committee mark-up process presents all sorts of opportunities for lobbyists to insert poison pill amendments to kill the public option or the national insurance exchange.
This is Nyceve's urgent call for volunteers below:
URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
PLEASE SIGN UP HERE. CAN YOU COME TO WASHINGTON? THERE ARE OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO, PLEASE GO TO THE SIGN UP SHEET AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU CAN HELP. AND THANK YOU! ALL THESE RESPONSES ARE GOING DIRECTLY TO JANE HAMSHER.
If you can't come to Washington, D.C., please help DONATE so that we can cover the costs of hotel and travel for Natalie Sarkysian's parents to come to D.C. to sit in the committee room so everyone can see what the true cost of a health insurance denial is. Her parents had to fight CIGNA for a liver transplant for their sick teenage daughter. CIGNA denied the liver transplant to Natalie until it was too late, and then Natalie died.
These committee members should see and remember the faces of Natalie Sarkysian's parents. This is what happens when we are left at the mercy of private insurance companies and their lobbyists--it's why we have to fight today to influence the mark-up process.
And it's why I need you to keep on making phone calls today. I've inserted a link that has the numbers of ALL the members of the Education and Labor Committee, so please USE that link below when you call!
PLEASE CALL THESE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY!
You can use the talking points below when you call these Democratic Committee Members of Education and Labor:
I'm calling to thank [Name of Member] for supporting the House health care plan, and for supporting the public option and the national insurance exchange. As an American who's faced denials of claims and has been facing higher insurance premiums, the public option and the national insurance exchange is NECESSARY to hold down the costs of private insurance and give us the kind of care we need. Please DO NOT vote for any amendments during the mark-up process that would weaken the public option and the national insurance exchange! I'm an American who needs the choice of the national insurance exchange and the public option.
This is the committee schedule for those WHO CAN COME TO DC to support us in this fight! Don't forget to sign up if you can come!
Wednesday, July 15
Education and Labor
3:00 p.m.
2175 Rayburn * Opening statements only.
Thursday, July 16
Ways and Means
9:00 a.m.
1100 Longworth House Office Bldg.
Education and Labor
10:00 a.m.
2175 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
*Consideration of amendments will begin.
Energy and Commerce
2:00 p.m.
2123 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
*Opening statements.
Friday, July 17
Energy and Commerce
Time TBA (We'll keep you posted)
2123 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
*Will focus on Division C of bill (public health sections and least controversial items)
PLEASE RECOMMEND THIS DIARY SO OTHERS CAN SEE THE PHONE NUMBERS AND CALL TODAY!
UPDATE: There's a staffer from Education and Labor Committee answering questions right now about the health care reform bill. Go over to this diary and ask questions while you still can!