As joanneleon reported recently, Catfood II crossed a new threshold, the other day, abandoning transparency for secret meetings. John Kerry refused to comment. Gah.
Thousands are not taking the 'work' of this committee lying down, but are taking the initiative to let those suckers know to leave our safety net alone:
Both sides are mounting huge grass-roots efforts. But consumer advocates have employed more high-profile tactics.
AARP, which represents 37 million older Americans, is running a multimillion-dollar TV ad opposing any cuts to Medicare and Social Security. The group is also encouraging people to record personal messages to the super committee.
A network of more than 340 organizations called the National Medicaid Coalition plans to have members phone lawmakers just before an October 14 deadline for congressional panels that deal with healthcare issues to submit deficit-cutting ideas to the super committee.
Now that's what I'm talking about.
Election blowback?
The clash could have consequences for the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives in the 2012 elections, if cuts to the popular programs become a rallying cry for angry senior citizens and other impacted voters, analysts say.
Medicare and Medicaid are the government-run programs for the elderly and the poor, respectively, and together provide health coverage for about 100 million Americans.
Deadlock The Death Panel !
Healthcare lobbyists of all stripes agree that the best outcome would be a deadlock if Republicans remain unwilling to raise tax revenues. A deadlock would trigger automatic cuts that would spare Medicaid and impose only moderate reductions on Medicare.
Revenues first!
"Our mantra is revenues first," said Patricia Nemore of the Center for Medicare Advocacy.
But in case the panel reaches agreement, both sides are aggressively pushing ideas that would minimize the pain.
Where industry groups want Congress to raise the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 67, consumer advocates would lower the requirement to 55 so that younger, healthier people could add revenue to the program.
Yes!
Let's occupy the damn Catfood Committee! Ring their phone lines off the wall, kossacks! Target date is just before the 14th, but for those who cannot wait can starthere.
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Occupy Wall Street to K Street (Heh)
From Healthcare-NOW
Oct. 6 – Join Us in Freedom Plaza
September 28, 2011 by Healthcare-NOW!
Are you going to the October 6, 2011 rally at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C.?
Healthcare-NOW! will be there to demand human needs over corporate greed, including life-saving, money-saving improved Medicare for all.
Help us build the single-payer contingent by coming to Freedom Plaza on October 6th. Please email Vanessa@healthcare-NOW.org if you and/or your organization are planning to attend.
The October 2011 movement stands for placing human needs over corporate greed; for stopping the machine and creating a new world. If you want economic justice, human rights, peace, a healthy environment, and an end to corporate criminals’ control of the political process, then you belong in Freedom Plaza on October 6th. Please join us!
If you want to get involved but cannot make it to D.C., check with the organizer in your state to see if a solidarity event is being planned.
Here's a link for those who can't go. Find out what's happening in your state:
Occupy Together
http://www.occupytogether.org/