Yesterday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she was willing to work through recess, and have the House stay in session to deal with the passage of health care reform. She just flip-flopped on that today.Senator Durbin also said that he didn't think that the Senate would stay in session to deal with health care reform. You know what I think of that? They shouldn't prioritize their vacations over the illnesses, the denials, and the medical bankruptcy we face in this uniquely American health system.
Please let Senator Durbin and Senator Reid know that you don't want them to go on vacation, and that you don't want them to delay health care reform. Ask them to put the pressure on Senator Baucus to mark up his legislation. After all, they're the leaders of the Democratic caucus, aren't they?
CALL Senator Durbin at (202) 224-2152
CALL Senator Reid at (202) 224-3542
Can you please sign this petition telling Congress not to go on vacation until they deal with the passage of health care reform? We've got over 25,000 signatures on the petition so far--let's make it 30,000!
Can you also please go to these state blogs that I've drawn up on this Google spreadsheet, sign up with these state blogs and start asking questions about the freshmen members of Congress that are "antsy" about the passage of health care reform?
They're scared that if they vote for this health care reform package, that the GOP will run ads against them, and they'll lose their seats in the next election. Well, they should be even more scared about losing their seats if they don't vote for the passage of the House Tri-Committee bill.
We really can't allow the Blue Dog Democrats to kill the public option, cut back subsidies for the middle-class, have state-based co-ops, and state-based insurance exchanges. That would cut down the effectiveness of this bill, and the Blue Dogs know it.
Here are the talking points below, and remember to thank the Member you're calling FIRST for supporting the House health care plan, and the public option and the national insurance exchange. I've been hearing that they've been getting hundreds of phone calls against the public option and very few phone calls in support of it. We need to let them know that we support them, because many of them don't.
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've been hearing that the Blue Dog Democrats want to cut back subsidies for my family, that they want a fake state-based co-op plan, and have a trigger on the national insurance exchange by having it as state-based insurance exchanges at first. What they want is unacceptable for me and my family. Don't give into their demands. I'm an American who needs the choice of the national insurance exchange and the public option.
CALL Speaker Nancy Pelosi at (202) 225-4965 and try her local office at (415) 556-4862 if you can't get through.
CALL House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer at (202) 225-3130
CALL House Majority Whip James Clyburn at (202) 226-3210
Can you please CALL these THREE chairmen in the House of Representatives, with your concerns about the Blue Dog Democrats trying to block health care reform and ask them NOT to listen to the Blue Dogs or give into their demandsl?
Ways and Means Committee Chair Charlie Rangel (202) 225-3625)
Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman (202) 225-2927)
Education and Labor Committee Chair George Miller (202) 225-3725)
And DON'T FORGET TO CALL THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE with the talking points above.
Right now, we really need you to CALL the White House with the talking points and tell them that the Blue Dog Democrats must UPHOLD the majority view of Americans who need a strong, robust Medicare-like public option, and not to give into their demands to weaken the public option in health care reform!
CALL The White House at 202-456-1111 and E-MAIL THEM with the talking points above, and ask for Congress to stay and work on health care reform instead of going off on vacation!
Can you also please help nyceve, Jane Hamsher, me, and others in this fight for health reform by donating? We're working so hard on this issue, day in and day out.
Nyceve has an excellent diary that's on the recommended list. Please go check it out to see why we need a public option in health care reform.
And donate to dotPAC as well? They're running Facebook ads against the Blue Dogs about their opposition to health care reform. They're doing a great service for us progressives in this fight.
Please RECOMMEND this diary so others can see the phone numbers and call today!
URGENT UPDATE: Speaker Pelosi just flip-flopped and said it's okay for Members to go on vacation without dealing with health care reform!
UPDATE #2: I've just heard that we passed 25,000 signatures on the FDL petition telling Congress not to go on vacation! Great job, kossacks! Can you help push it to 30,000 signatures by involving your friends and family?
UPDATE #3: Just got published at the Huffington Post about the delay in health care reform! Please go and comment if you can!
Also, don't forget to report back about your calls here if you can!