Friday July 31, 2009, 6:58 am
Friday: Crucial Vote on Single Payer Healthcare...
Posted by davidswanson in General Discussion
Thu Jul 30th 2009, 11:41 PM...

One week ago, we eagerly anticipated a crucial vote on single-payer Medicare for All ( H.R.676 ) in the House Energy & Commerce Committee, sponsored by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY). But then seven BlueDogs waged a highly-publicized war against a "robust public option" and the vote was delayed for a full week.

We just learned the vote will be tomorrow ( Friday ). Based on all of your calls, we have nine single-payer Democrats: Tammy Baldwin, Michael Doyle, Eliot Engel, Anna Eshoo, Gene Green, Edward Markey, Janice Schakowsky, Anthony Weiner, and Peter Welch.

Lean Yes...

Diana DeGette CO01 202-225-4431
Jane Harman CA36 202-225-8220
Christopher Murphy CT05 202-225-4476
Frank Pallone NJ06 202-225-4671 @FrankPallone
Bobby Rush IL01 202-225-4372

Five more Democrats are leaning single-payer but still uncommitted. Please call each one and give them one crucial reason to support single-payer from our petition: ...

http://www.democrats.com/single-payer-peti...(visit site)...

(Be sure to sign our petition and forward it if you haven't already.)

Be concise and practice in advance so you can speak quickly (or leave a voicemail) because they are getting swamped. Report the results of your calls here:
http://www.democrats.com/single-payer-comm...

Public Option Only (or Won't Say)...

Rick Boucher VA09 202-225-3861
Bruce Braley IA01 202-225-2911
G.K. Butterfield NC01 202-225-3101
Lois Capps CA23 202-225-3601
Kathy Castor FL11 202-225-3376
John Dingell MI15 202-225-4071
Charles Gonzalez TX20 202-225-3236
Jay Inslee WA01 202-225-6311 @RepInsleeNews
Doris Matsui CA05 202-225-7163
Jerry McNerney CA11 202-225-1947
John Sarbanes MD03 202-225-4016
Bart Stupak MI01 202-225-4735
Betty Sutton OH13 202-225-3401
Henry Waxman (Chair) CA30 202-225-3976

If you have more time, these 14 Democrats support a "public option" at best. But that "public option" (a new government program to compete with private insurance) was disastrously weakened this week by the BlueDogs. They banned the use of Medicare pricing to reduce costs and thereby expand availability. Try to persuade these 14 to vote for single-payer instead of a worthless BlueDog "public option."

Don't let anyone tell you single-payer can't pass: the Kucinich Amendment for a single-payer "state option" passed by a shocking 25-19 bi-partisan majority in the House Education and Labor Committee on July 17. The Weiner Amendment will pass on Friday if enough Democrats vote for it!

A victory on the Weiner Amendment would make a huge difference. Please call as soon as you get this - night or day.

Thanks for all you do!

Bob Fertik (And Me!)

Friday July 31, 2009, 7:50 am
To be poor and sick in that freaking country, "the richest country on Earth"
must be like living in hell!

Friday July 31, 2009, 8:47 am
Thanks David, forwarded to everyone I know, and going to start calling these congress people.

Friday July 31, 2009, 8:56 am
"Rich" conjures up many odd thoughts Bengt...What is rich?...Rich in money, rich in mind..rich in ignorance of the real wold...AMERIKA?...I find it sad that so many real people are (aparrently, did the Democrats win or do the corporate Republicans rule them?) ruled by a majority of unreal people...RepubliCONNED into oblivion...

Republicans and the party line forever?...Gimme a break and get real people..You are being very mislead by the news that you choose! (if the news you choose is the biased rubbish people "on the outside" can see as rubbish?)...

Forget politics for a moment?...This is about healthcare for those who will surely go bankrupt or die because no-one cares about them...

Do you care at all?...If so, get non-political and vote as a non-partisan carer of those not so well off as you!..But for the grace of God go you!...One day, someday, will it be you?...Maybe?...Can you predict your future?

Friday July 31, 2009, 10:10 am
Thanks David, I have already signed.

Friday July 31, 2009, 12:42 pm
Thank you David, noted & forwarded.

I did sign the other day, here is the confirmation:
You have already signed this petition.

Let's hope for the best now...

In peace,
FreeSpirit...

Friday July 31, 2009, 3:24 pm
These Blue Dogs should shuffle off into the Reaper Party...Is there a secret plot on the part of the Reaper's to get the numbers of people in America down?Have they been taking money from funeral directors?

Friday July 31, 2009, 3:55 pm
Thanks,David I also have already signed!

Friday July 31, 2009, 4:53 pm
Already signed. Thanks David.

You have already signed this petition.

Friday July 31, 2009, 7:38 pm
Already signed this petition
Thanks David

Saturday August 1, 2009, 12:40 am
Noted and already signed. Many thanks David, keep up the great work you do

Saturday August 1, 2009, 11:06 am
Single Payer is the only choice, but Corrupt Capitalism is not going to let THEIR media, Their insurance companies, and Their exploitation of the sick, dying, and healthy end.

Just like we can't get any satisfaction from real accountability of the lies and corruption of the bush regime, because it was a puppet of the same Military Industrial Complex of Corporate America, we won't be able to get Socialized Medicine.

Short term is controlled by the media, propaganda mills, and status qua of our dysfunctional culture and uneducated population in the U.S. We can't educate people who are older than 18 easily. Especially, if they are mind melded to the corporate speak they have been brought up with.

Long term is our only chance for real democracy or representative government is with an educated and critically thinking independent and vigilant population. Obviously we don't have that today, so the consequences are the superficial polemical arguments of which personality do you like or which football team will be the "weener."

"Shoveling smoke with a pitchfork in the wind" J. Lennon

Saturday August 1, 2009, 12:51 pm
13 Republicans Voted To Allow Single-Payer Health Care In States
13 Republicans on the House Education and Labor Committee offered their support for an amendment, offered by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), that allowed states to set up single-payer health care systems.

Monday August 3, 2009, 11:06 pm
So, thanks to Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Speaker Pelosi says she will bring a vote to the floor on single-payer after the recess. Are you all ready to make those phone calls and write those letters?


Nancy's contact info..http://speaker.house.gov/contact/
Send our speaker an e-mail of encouragement.