Save the Public Option

[t0dd]

Next week the fate of the public option will essentially be determined. The leadership of the Progressive Caucus intends to do a "whip count" to find out which members intend to stand firm in opposition to any bill that doesn't include a public option. Democrats hold 256 seats in Congress and need 218 to pass a bill. Assuming all Republicans vote nay, if 39 of the progressives below take a stand and vote together, they will block legislation that is nothing more than a gift to private insurance companies. After all, shares of U.S. health insurers rose this past Thursday after President Obama gave his speech. In addition to this, a UnitedHealth lobbyist recently announced a fundraiser for Nancy Pelosi after she appeared open to compromise on the public option. The level of corporate welfare is sickening, and it's up to the Progressive Caucus to take a stand once and for all.

None of these members are in danger of losing their seats. They are very popular in their home districts. Moreover, a strong majority of their constituents want them to demand the public option.

Please call or write to as many of these members as you can. Ask them to take a stand and continue to oppose any legislation that doesn't include a public option. Tell them we can't sacrifice real reform to appease a few conservative Democrats. Tell them their adamant defense of the public option will answer a broader question: will progressives continue to give into Blue Dogs and allow them to compromise ideals of the Democratic Party? Oh, and make sure to indicate a trigger is unacceptable.

If we can't save the public option, it will be a permanent victory for our immoral health insurance industry. Ask these Progressives to continue the fight. It will make all the difference.

On July 31, 2009, the Congressional Progressive Caucus sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi expressing their opposition to a weakening of the public option. The letter on behalf of the following 57 Progressive Democrats concludes, “In short, this agreement will result in the public, both as insurance purchasers and as taxpayers, paying ever higher rates to insurance companies. We simply cannot vote for such a proposal.” The text can be read here: http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/uploads/57%20member%20letter%20to%20PelosiWaxman%207%2030%2009.pdf

You can also contact the Progressive Caucus via email: [e-mail]

1) Rep. Woolsey http://woolsey.house.gov/ 202-225-5161
2) Rep. Grijalva http://grijalva.house.gov/index.html [phone]
3) Rep. Kilpatrick www.house.gov/kilpatrick/ [phone]
4) Rep. Nadler http://www.house.gov/nadler 202-225-5635
5) Rep. Hare http://hare.house.gov/ [phone]
6) Rep. Roybal-Allard http://roybal-allard.house.gov [phone]
7) Rep. Ellison http://ellison.house.gov/ [phone]
8) Rep. Blumenauer http://blumenauer.house.gov/
9) Rep. Watts http://watt.house.gov/ [phone]
10) Rep. Edwards http://edwards.house.gov/ 202-225-6105
11) Rep. Olver http://www.house.gov/olver/index.shtml 202-225-5335
12) Rep. Kucinich http://kucinich.house.gov/ [phone]
13) Rep. Richardson http://richardson.house.gov [phone]
14) Rep. Waters http://www.house.gov/waters/ [phone]
15) Rep. Conyers http://conyers.house.gov/ 202-225-5126
16) Rep. Chu http://chu.house.gov/ [phone]
17) Rep. Hinchey http://www.house.gov/hinchey/ [phone]
18) Rep. Johnson http://hankjohnson.house.gov/ [phone]
19) Rep. Watson http://www.house.gov/watson/ 202-225-7084
20) Rep. Spier http://speier.house.gov/index.html [phone]
21) Rep. Pascrell http://www.pascrell.house.gov/ [phone]
22) Rep. Doggett http://doggett.house.gov/ 202-225-4865
23) Rep. Kaptur http://www.kaptur.house.gov/ [phone]
24) Rep. Hirono http://hirono.house.gov/ [phone]
25) Rep. Filner http://www.house.gov/filner/ [phone]
26) Rep. Sanchez http://www.lorettasanchez.house.gov/ [phone]
27) Rep. Fudge http://fudge.house.gov/index.html [phone]
28) Rep. Lee http://lee.house.gov/index.html [phone]
29) Rep. Carson http://carson.house.gov/ 202-225-4011
30) Rep. Jackson Lee http://www.jacksonlee.house.gov/ [phone]
31) Rep. Honda http://honda.house.gov/ [phone]
32) Rep. McDermott http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/ [phone]
33) Rep. Clay http://lacyclay.house.gov/ [phone]
34) Rep. McGovern http://mcgovern.house.gov/index.html [phone]
35) Rep. Clarke http://clarke.house.gov/ [phone]
36) Rep. Massa http://massa.house.gov/index.html [phone]
37) Rep. Pingree http://pingree.house.gov/ [phone]
38) Rep. Jackson, Jr. http://jackson.house.gov/ [phone]
39) Rep. Cummings http://www.house.gov/cummings/ [phone]
40) Rep. Thompson http://mikethompson.house.gov/ [phone]
41) Rep. Moore http://www.house.gov/gwenmoore/ 202-225-4572
42) Rep. Payne http://www.house.gov/payne/ [phone]
43) Rep. Stark http://www.stark.house.gov/ 202-225-5065
44) Rep. Towns http://www.house.gov/towns/ [phone]
45) Rep. Brown http://www.house.gov/corrinebrown/ [phone]
46) Rep. Hastings http://alceehastings.house.gov/ [phone]
47) Rep. Valezquez http://www.house.gov/velazquez/ [phone]
48) Rep. Gutierrez http://luisgutierrez.house.gov/ [phone]
49) Rep. Napolitano http://www.napolitano.house.gov/ 202-225-5256
50) Rep. Sires http://www.sires.house.gov/ 202-225-7919
51) Rep. Tierney http://tierney.house.gov/ [phone]
52) Rep. Capuano http://www.house.gov/capuano/ [phone]
53) Rep. Fattah http://fattah.house.gov/index.html 202.225.4001
54) Rep. Serrano http://serrano.house.gov/ [phone]
55) Rep. Farr http://www.farr.house.gov/ 202-225-2861
56) Rep. Delahunt http://www.house.gov/delahunt/ 202-225-3111
57) Rep. Johnson http://ebjohnson.house.gov/index.html [phone]

[Swamp Rat]

1. k&r

[flamingdem]

2. The reason Obama uses the "fired up" story is to remind us that it's up to us nt

[winyanstaz]

3. K & R....

thank you for the post and the addresses and phone numbers.

[IRemember]

4. kick

:kick:

[bvar22]

5. The sad part is:

The "Public Option" they are having to fight for is pathetic (HR 3200), and STILL shovels $Billions into the pockets of the For Profits.

It will be a moral victory, and establish a precedent for having a "Public Option", but not much else.

Still, I STAND with the Progressive Caucus, and pray they don't back down.
A bill without a "Public Option" will be raw extortion.

[t0dd]

6. Thanks. Which house bill has the best public option? nt

[bvar22]

7. The BEST Public Option in The House is unquestionably HR 676,

....which allows anyone to buy into Medicare.

A far distant 2nd Place (and the one Obama referenced in his speech) is HR 3200, which is the ONLY bill that has been scored by the Congressional Budget Office.

Buying Health Insurance will be mandatory for ALL Americans.
It sets up something they call a "Public Option", but it is not available to The Public, only those currently without Health Insurance.
Provider (doctor) participation is "optional".
The "Public Option" is so limited and restricted that the CBO projects that LESS than 10 million people will be enrolled by 2019.

[IRemember]

8. kick. nt