I know, I know …. another petition to sign. But if we all sign enough of them it’s going to add up to a powerful voice that represents the will of the American people.
So, please sign all of them.
This is from AARP:
It’s been months – even years – in the making. But this week the House of Representatives will vote on a final health reform bill that includes crucial provisions that will improve the health and lives of our members.
That’s why we’ve chosen to support the legislation about to be voted on by the House – the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
[Maven], we’ve come this far because you’ve taken action. Now, as we’re facing one of the most critical moments in the fight for reform, your member of Congress must hear from you before the vote!
Amidst the daunting challenges facing our economy, we’re closer than ever to delivering real health insurance reform. It seems the American tradition of making our greatest leaps forward during our times of greatest trial is alive and well.
On Tuesday night I spoke on the Senate floor about health insurance reform. One of the things I talked about was a Harvard study that said almost 45,000 people die in our country every single year because they don’t have health insurance. That statistic is not just tragic, it’s a national travesty. And it’s devastating for our economy at a time when we can least afford it.
As I unfurled the ever shrinking Reno Gazette-Journal this morning I had to smile. There it was in bold letters on both the A and B sections …. the public option is, indeed, alive and well. We’ve come a long way from the life support drama days of just a few weeks ago, and that is due in large part to the progressive Democrats across the nation that weren’t going to just bend over and take ‘whatever’.
Senate Majority Leader, Reid, also deserves some credit here for listening to the voices of concerned Democrats … and I am referring to real Democrats, not the Blue Dogs and their pack.
There was also a great letter to the editor in this morning RGJ that had a line something like this: “… social justice isn’t the same thing as ‘socialism’ “.
Senator Reid knows this. The more Populist among Democrats also know this.
If you don’t, then you’ve spent too much time listening to Rush Limbaugh or the rightwingers next door.
GOP minority leader John Boehner, who’s party has no health care plan, just issued a challenge.
Yesterday, he told a reporter, “I’m still trying to find the first American to talk to who’s in favor of the public option, other than a member of Congress or a member of the administration. I’ve not talked one and I get to a lot of places. I’ve not had anyone come up to me — I know I’m inviting them — and lobby for the public option. This is about as unpopular as a garlic milkshake.”1
Let’s prove John Boehner wrong.
Sign your name to this petition saying, “Hey John Boehner! I’m an American and I support the public health insurance option.”Click here and we’ll automatically add your name to the petition.
Since this is now Breast Cancer Awareness Month - and I am a seven year survivor of advanced (Stage IIIa) breast cancer - you are going to hear a lot about breast cancer this month, in addition to my usual soapbox appeals for a comprehensive, modern system of affordable, accessible, fair health insurance for all Americans.
To this end, I’d like you to take a look at how the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) frames this debate and offers their position:
After spending billions lobbying Congress, the health care industry is trying to take over the entire health care reform process to ensure maximum profits no matter the cost. And the cost is the 100 Americans who will die this very day because they lack basic health insurance.*
How many more men, women and children must suffer and die before we say “Enough!” to the immoral corporate profits insurers reap by denying millions of Americans health insurance?
Single-payer, Medicare-for-all reform is the only way to drive that number to zero. That’s why Public Citizen needs your help to fight the insurance industry lobbyists.
Our Board of Directors has pledged $20,000 if 400 people join us in this fight by making a donation to Public Citizen by midnight tomorrow! Please join the 151 people who have already contributed. Your gift could earn us an additional $20,000!
I’m contacting Reid’s office right now, as should you. Senator Reid is hosting a conference call tomorrow - Wednesday, September 30, 1 p.m. PDT - with breast cancer survivors and cancer research advocates to talk about the importance of breast cancer awareness and the urgent need for health insurance reform.
Citing the need a ‘public option’ to compete with private insurers as a necessary part of any health insurance reform proposal, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.VA, has introduced an amendment to the Senate Finance Committee bill recently trotted out by Montana’s ever obedient Max Baucus. Baucus’s bill was roundly criticized by more progressive Democrats for leaving out the public option to appease moderate Democrats and Republicans. Baucus has been seen as a shill for such health insurance giants as Wellpoint.
“So, we want to introduce a non-profit health insurance company that doesn’t have to make money. Which can offer the same premiums at maybe 25 to 30% less cost. People don’t have to join it. Or, if they do, they can get out of it if they don’t like it. But, competition is everything”,Rockefeller told sources.
The Rockefeller amendment closely follows the intent of the House bill in regard to the inclusion of a public option and other details.
Nevada Senator Harry Reid will be hosting a tele-conference for everybody - including the media - interested in making their voices heard on health care reform.
The online registration for this tele-town hall on health insurance reform is now available at http://reid.senate.gov/. This call will be toll-free and open to any Nevadan who would like to participate in the September 24 discussion.
Nevadans from all parts of the state and all political affiliations will receive a phone call inviting them to join Senator Reid’s live tele-town hall meeting, including those who register online. After clicking the town hall button on Reid’s website, users will then be asked to provide their name, number, and email. Only those with Nevada numbers will receive calls to participate in the tele-town hall. The deadline to register is Wednesday, September 23, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. PT.
This is your opportunity to express your support, objections and concerns, while getting sound, accurate information on what the Obama administration and Congress hope to achieve.
“Our work to reform America’s broken health care system has been many months in the making and has involved input from thousands of people in Nevada and millions around the country,” Reid said. “As Congress gets closer to passing health insurance reform, it is important for me to continue getting input from Nevadans to ensure the final product represents their needs.” said Reid.
It’s also an opportunity to shed the mis-information, rumors and lies so we can move forward toward real action.
I would like to suggest a couple of things: if you are opposed to the current reform measures being floated, try to - just for a few minutes - reframe the debate vis a vis how ‘broken’ the current ‘system’ really is …. we can’t go on like this as individuals or as an economically strong nation. Secondly, please remember that this debate is about health INSURANCE reform, and NOT about how you and your doctor address or carry out your or your families health care needs.
The tele-conference is scheduled for Thursday, September 24th at 1:00 p.m.
The time for health insurance reformis now. Why are Senate Republicans putting insurance company profits over people? http://democrats.senate.gov…
BTW: on a late breaking, sort of, note. Sen. Max Baucus went back to the drawing board on the health insurance reform proposal from the Senate Finance Committee, and came back with some more sensible language in regard to Medicaid … courtesy of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Following efforts by NevadaSen. Harry Reid,Senator Max Baucus revealed his updated health insurance reform proposal with major improvements for Nevada. The state will receive a full 100 percent match for those added pursuant to the Medicaid expansions for five years. Furthermore, federal funding for Medicaid increases by 30 percent while Nevada will only have to increase funding 1.6 by percent.
As I say, it’s not perfect but it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 10:40 
