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Thursday, July 09, 2009
Ask Reps. Luján and Heinrich to Take the Pledge to Vote Against Any Health Reform Bill Without a Real Public Option
No co-ops. No triggers. No localized or regional public option. No BS. Firedoglake is leading the effort to get progressive members of the House to COMMIT -- to PLEDGE -- that they will not vote for any health care reform bill that doesn't have a public plan which is:
- available nationwide
- on day one
- and accountable to Congress and the voters
You can read more about this effort here and track progress reports here. Also check out the most recent reports from Jane Hamsher about what's happening in Washington on this.
It's really, really important at this moment in time to call progressive members of Congress and ask them to Take the Pledge Now. Progressive members of Congress need to draw a line in the sand and demand a public health insurance option -- something 76% of Americans want. Get them to pledge -- or refuse to pledge -- and report your results at the FDL action page.
According to yesterday's whip count, Rep. Ben Ray Luján -- a member of both the Progressive and Hispanic Caucuses -- is leaning yes on the pledge to vote no on any bill without a genuine public option. I think it's wonderful that Rep. Luján is a co-sponsor of Rep. Conyer's single-payer bill, H.R. 676, even if it has little chance of passage. Mary Ellen and I had a chance to meet with him when he was in New Mexico during the 4th of July recess, and we were very impressed with his strong support for the right kind of public option. Now we want to know if he'll take the next step and pledge to vote No on any reform bill without one.
Rep. Martin Heinrich isn't included on Hamsher's whip list because he's NOT a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, believe it or not. But I think he needs to be pinned down on his views on the public option, regardless. Rep. Heinrich ran as a progressive Democrat and I think he could use some contact from constituents to make sure he votes like one on health care reform. The position statement on his website is entirely generic.
As for Rep. Harry Teague, nobody seems to know. If you live in Teague's district, give his office a call and find out where he stands. The health care position statement on his website expresses a good deal of compassion on the issue, but details are few and far between.
Capitol Office Numbers to call:
- NM-01 Martin Heinrich: (202) 225-6316
- NM-02 Harry Teague: (202) 225-2365
- NM-03 Ben Ray Luján: (202) 225-6190
If you make a call and get an answer, please report it in the comments section here as well as at Firedoglake's reporting page.
July 9, 2009 at 03:23 PM in Healthcare, NM Congressional Delegation, Progressivism, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, Rep. Harry Teague (NM-02), Rep. Martin Heinrich (NM-01) | Permalink
Comments
AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY!
It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed World.
STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare system in America.
And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and the public health.
Progressive democrats the Tri-Caucus and others should stand firm in their demand for a robust public option for all Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap healthcare reform and request that President Obama declare a state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For All).
Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry. Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority of the American people want. And this is what all objective experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost effective for the American people and our economy.
In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH IT DOES!
If President Obama has to declare a NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY to rescue the American people from our healthcare crisis, he will need all the sustained support you can give him. STICK WITH HIM! He’s doing a brilliant job.
THIS IS THE BIG ONE!
THE BATTLE OF GOOD Vs EVIL!
Join the fight.
Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE WORD!
God Bless You
Jacksmith – WORKING CLASS
Posted by: jacksmith | Jul 9, 2009 11:54:07 PM
I have commented on this before and I will say again until "we the people" stop subsidizing The Congress members health care and their families and their staff, they will never know what it is to be without comprhensive, affordable health care. They and the lobbyists, big insurance companies that insure re-election of those Senators and Congressmen that our arrogant in knowing they are taken care of are never going to allow health insurance that would include everybody. Do you all remember the "Million Man march" on Washington? The time the farmers drove their tractors in front of the White house. I don't think our voice is being heard because we do not act as if we need universal health care that badly. To me actions speak louder than words. Talk is cheap. But health care to them is far to expensive to grant us the same care that they receive and we pay for.Obama told us when he was running I will get you the same kind of care that Congress has.Like that will happen. Insurance companies powers are so strong that they can tell you your doctor is wrong about meds. We believe you only need one pill, that's all they are going to cover, rather than the two pills that were prescribed.If this be the case on the part of insurance companies maybe they should be arrested for practicing medicine without a license!We now have a democratic House and Senate and we don't seem to have anymore say so than we did under Bush/Cheney.Because it is business as usual with lobbyists and big donors to the greedy members of Congress. Changing the people that represent us doesn't change the way they continue to do business. A march on Washington by all those who are under insured or have no insurance would make a bigger statement than to keep listening to the "lip service" they keep giving us.
Posted by: Stephanie DuBois | Jul 10, 2009 12:37:28 PM
Hmmm? Heinrich is not a member of the Progressive Democrats caucus. And you guys were so sure you he was. I think I remember something about elected reps not hearing us because their ears are stuffed with money. By the filing report recently submitted by Heinrich, seems I was not far off the mark there.
Just because he won, it doesn't mean we won anything. Good for Ben Lujan though.
Posted by: Jason Call | Jul 18, 2009 12:35:32 PM
Who said Heinrich was? He has voted with us on everything so far though. He is cosponsor on ENDA and ending DADT. Of course he needs campaign funds. Do you want him to lose to the loser Jon Barelas?
Posted by: Downtown Dog | Jul 18, 2009 1:28:33 PM
