We need to do a BIG push for the Rockefeller public option amendment this week! It's known as the Rockefeller Amendment 187, which establishes a public option that is similar to the House version in the Ways and Means and the Education and Labor Committee. We also need to PUSH BACK against the Snowe trigger amendment, known as the Snowe Amendment 356, which would put a trigger called a "safety net" on the public option.
I just love how they try to come up with new words for the trigger on the public option. When you CALL the Senate Finance Committee Democrats and Senator Snowe below, please let them know what amendments you support and which ones you're against.
AMENDMENTS TO SUPPORT
- Rockefeller Amendment 187--establishes a public option that is tied to Medicare plus 5% rates with the ability to negotiate drug prices, and has an "opt-out" provider network.
- Wyden Amendment 248--ensures affordable access to health insurance exchange plans for all Americans. This basically would open up the public option to all Americans in addition to private plans in the exchange instead of the current firewall of uninsured Americans and small businesses.
- Rockefeller Amendment 185--creates one national exchange, and strikes state exchanges and regional exchanges.
AMENDMENTS TO BLOCK
- Snowe Amendment 356--puts a trigger on the public option.
- ALL REPUBLICAN AMENDMENTS to block the public option, create co-operatives, or reduce affordability credits for Americans.
Here's the list of Senate Finance Democrats to contact today!
MAX BAUCUS, MT
http://baucus.senate.gov/...
(202) 224-2651
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/...
Phone: 202-224-6472
KENT CONRAD, ND
https://conrad.senate.gov/...
http://conrad.senate.gov/...
Phone: (202) 224-2043
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM
senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov
http://bingaman.senate.gov/...
Phone: (202) 224-5521
JOHN F. KERRY, MA
http://kerry.senate.gov/...
Phone: (202) 224-2742 - Phone
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR
http://lincoln.senate.gov/...
Phone: (202) 224-4843
RON WYDEN, OR
http://wyden.senate.gov/...
Phone: (202) 224-5244
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, NY
http://schumer.senate.gov/...
twitter @SenSchumer
Phone: (202) 224-6542
DEBBIE STABENOW, MI
senator@stabenow.senate.gov
http://stabenow.senate.gov/...
Phone: (202) 224-4822.
MARIA CANTWELL, WA
http://cantwell.senate.gov/...
Phone: 202-224-3441
BILL NELSON, FL
http://billnelson.senate.gov/...
twitter @SenBillNelson
Phone: 202-224-5274
ROBERT MENENDEZ, NJ
ideas@menendez.senate.gov.
Phone: 202.224.4744
THOMAS CARPER, DE
http://carper.senate.gov/...
Phone: (202) 224-2441
And if you live in these states of these Senators, PLEASE WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR asking your Senator to support these specific amendments, and which ones to vote against, and explain why.
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