Last week, Senator Barack Obama threw his hat into the presidential ring for 2008. Today, you have a chance to hear what Sen. Obama has to say about one of the issues Kossacks care most about: Health Care.

Sen. Obama will be addressing the topic of health care at our Health Action 2007 conference--the biggest conference for health care advocates in America--today at 9 AM EST. You can watch the speech LIVE through our webcast. Click here to watch Sen. Obama live at 9 AM EST.

In addition, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will be speaking at our conference this afternoon. You can watch Senator Brown live today at 2:45 PM EST via the same link. And while she won't be on the webcast, Daily Kos’ own nyceve will be a panelist at a workshop on blogging and health care. We're very excited to have her at our conference!

We hope you'll watch--or better yet, live-blog it! More after the jump.

Bottom line: there are too many uninsured kids in America. By our numbers, there are currently more than 9 million uninsured kids in this country; in other words, one out of every nine kids has no health insurance. Moreover, for the first time since 1998, the number of uninsured kids has gone up, from 10.8% to 11.2%.

If you just can't wait to take action, click here. Otherwise, make the jump.

In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.

If you guessed 'Ronald Reagan', you're right (sorry, no prize!). If you guessed any number of other conservatives, you had good reason to do so. Over the last 40 years, conservatives have worked hard to try to convince the American people that, no matter what problem they face, government can do little, if anything, to help. Recent developments in children's health care, however, undermine this notion and clearly show that, when harnessed creatively, government CAN make a difference.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a new report last week about the state of uninsured kids in America. The report shows a 20% decrease in uninsured children since 1997, thanks to the government-funded State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). So much for government being the problem!

More on the flip.

When you think of the uninsured in America, what image comes to mind? Is this the face you think of?

If it's not, you're not alone: In a recent survey sponsored by the Catholic Health Association on public attitudes about the uninsured, only 13% of respondents thought first of children as the group most likely to be uninsured. In fact, 20% (approximately 1 in 5) of the 46 million uninsured Americans are children. That means more than 9 million children have no health insurance. This means that millions of children in America can't see a doctor on a regular basis, can't afford prescription drugs, and can't get preventive care, among other services. They are less likely to do well in school, and more likely to encounter problems with their social and emotional development.

It doesn't have to be this way. Make the jump to learn more about why we must cover all kids and to see what you can do about it.

This  is a very dangerous bill that is moving stealthily through Congress this summer. Among other things, the SOS bill would give President Bush even more power by providing him with a line-item veto over future healthcare and other domestic spending increases. By up-ending the congresssional budget process, this bill could also bring about drastic cuts to virtually all entitlement programs--or even their elimination--with little congressional debate.

If you just can't wait to take action, here's a link to our action alert. Otherwise, make the jump.

As we've said before, this bill would've jeopardized vital health care protections for 85 million Americans--and we couldn't have won this fight without your help. Thanks to you, we flooded the Senate with more than 21,000 calls and thousands of e-mails. Your efforts, along with those of other advocates and organizations, made all the difference.

Special thanks to georgia10, nyceve, and other Kossacks who've put a spotlight on this issue. We look forward to posting here more often about healthcare issues and working with Kossacks for comprehensive healthcare reform.

We've been beating the drum on this here for two weeks, but today may be our last chance to stop this bill from passing. If you're anywhere near a phone, please pick it up, call your Senators and tell them to oppose the Enzi bill by voting against ending debate (against cloture). Here's our toll-free number: 1-800-828-0498. Don't wanna call? Then email your Senators here.

See our previous diaries or our Enzi Center for more info--but above else, take action!

When Ron Pollack of Families USA starts screaming, Republicans must be doing something right about health care.

On the contrary: When the Wall Street Journal attacks us for opposing the Enzi bill, we know we are doing something right. The Enzi bill--the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Act (HIMMA, S.1955)--is such a bad piece of legislation that it merits (no, demands) screaming: It would override state laws that guarantee coverage for crucial services such as cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancer screenings, mammograms, and many others. In addition, it would increase healthcare costs for many small businesses. If this bill passes, more than 85 million Americans will lose important consumer protection they now enjoy.

But we're not the only ones doing the screaming: See what others are saying below the fold.

Last Wednesday, Families USA and other national groups sponsored a National Call-In Day to Stop the Enzi bill that was wildly successful:  More than 13,000 Americans (including many Kossacks) called their Senators to oppose the bill. So next Monday, May 8th, we'll hold a Second Nat'l Call-In Day. Keep the number handy--1-800-828-0498--and make sure to call your Senators! If calling's not for you, check out our action alert instead.

In other news, the CBO has released a damning report on the Enzi bill. More on the flip.

As part of the wide front of opposition forming against this bill, 41 state attorneys general signed a letter opposing it. Now Enzi backers are striking back, attacking the state attorneys general for doing their job--protecting your healthcare. If your state AG signed this letter, s/he needs your support! More on the flip.

Call Your Senators, Toll-Free
1-800-828-0498

As we said yesterday in our diary, the Enzi bill is a very dangerous piece of legislation that would undermine health coverage for 85 million Americans by overriding existing state laws that guarantee coverage of such crucial services as cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancer screenings, as well as mammograms, mental health, well-child care, and many others. More on the flip.

From the folks who brought you Medicare Part D(isaster), here's yet another bad idea for health care reform: the so-called Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act (S.1955), known here in the Beltway as the "Enzi Bill." From the bill's intro:

...to expand health care access and reduce costs through the creation of small business health plans and through modernization of the health insurance marketplace.

Sounds harmless enough, right? In reality, this is an extremely dangerous bill that, if passed, could jeopardize the health care of 85 million Americans. Find out why after the jump. If you can't wait to do something, a coalition of national organizations is sponsoring a national call-in day tomorrow, May 3rd. Please take a minute tomorrow to call your Senators, toll free--1-800-828-0498--and tell them to vote NO on the Enzi bill.

So disgraceful is this budget that the House had to pass it at 5:45 AM this morning in order to avoid the disinfectant effect of sunlight and public scrutiny. The Senate might vote on it as early as today. We need progressives to flood the Senate with calls denouncing this sham of a budget and urging Senators to vote NO on the budget deal. Please call this toll-free number to contact your Senators: 1-800-828-0498.

More on the flip

The House leadership has scheduled a new vote on the budget for today. We need progressives to flood Capitol Hill with calls to House members and urge them to oppose this budget. Our toll-free number is still up and running. Call your Representative, toll-free: 1-800-828-0498.

More after the jump.

We have set up an action alert so that activists can contact their members of Congress in anticipation of the House vote. You can also call using our toll-free number: 1-800-828-0498.

Please contact your Representative before the vote tonight!

More info on the jump.

To draw attention to this outrageous choice of profits over people, Families USA has produced a Flash animation called People or Profits: The Game Show. It is a satirical look at the choice many in Congress seem willing to make: protecting Big Pharma's profits while cutting health care for millions of vulnerable Americans. You can view the animation here:

http://www.familiesusa.org/peopleorprofits

Please take action and pass it on to everyone you know!

Luis Hestres, Families USA

It may not seem like it, but this is a very special week--not only for progressives but for all Americans as well. On Saturday, July 30, we'll celebrate the 40th birthday of Medicaid, America's health care program for the most vulnerable among us. To commemorate the occasion, Families USA has produced a Flash e-card celebrating Medicaid's accomplishments. At the end if the animation, you'll have a chance to take action to protect Medicaid from harmful cuts pending in Congress. Follow this link to view the e-card and take action:

http://www.familiesusa.org/HappyBirthdayMedicaid

More on Medicaid's birthday after the jump.