Today is a very good day. I hope you see the link between your hard work and the tangible results we are achieving.
To NYCEve, Jane, the blogging community and all who are on the side of real health care reform:
I have always been a strong supporter of the public option (including co-sponsoring single-payer) and pledged to you several weeks ago to fight like heck to make sure a public option will be included in any health care reform bill. But, having watched the debate evolve over the last week or so, I want to make sure all of you know that I have decided I will not vote for a health care bill in the House that doesn’t include a real public option and I Pledge to uphold the public option principles agreed upon by the Progressive Caucus. I will continue to work with universal health advocates--and Caucus and Conference allies--to bring about true and practical universal health care legislation.
Carolyn B. Maloney
Member of Congress
Thank you to everyone on Daily Kos and beyond for your work. And thank you, Carolyn Maloney for standing up for the American People
WHIP COUNT TALLY: 13 DOWN 27 TO GO
I'm pleased to also tell you that Congresswoman Chellie Pingree officially became a Health Care Hero. This good woman, representing the great state of Maine, released a statement as follows.
I'm not going to vote for any House bill that doesn't include a robust public option without any triggers or coops--that's a must-have for me. I also believe that it's vital that there be a vote on the bill before the August recess. Delaying will only give entrenched special interests time to do everything they can to defeat it
Like I've repeated over and over, all these victories are due to you, and your relentless work.
But there is much left to do, our work has only begun, and the days grow very short.
Please continue to use the Whip Count Tool and call your Congresspeople every single day.
During the recess (if it really happens, and it looks like it will), get over to the district office and demand that your Congressperson take the Whip Count Pledge.
By letting the Blue Dogs hold the bill hostage in Energy and Commerce, the legislation could get weaker during the recess as the insurance industry bombards the country with scare advertising. This reality--weak legislation--could expose Democrats to electoral vulnerability in 2010. As you might imagine, this particular scenerio is not making a lot of Democrats very happy. I don't think Chairman Waxman will tolerate this shit much longer.
AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!
Mike Stark (in a suit no less), delivering our petitions on the Congressional vacation to Congressman Clyburn.
We need your support to do this work.
Can we count on you to please continue to donate. Thank you for your ongoing generosity.
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