Democracy for New Mexico

RSVP Now for Wednesday SEIU Health Care 'Check Up' at Sen. Bingaman's ABQ Office

From the Committee of Interns and Residents, SEIU Healthcare: Skyrocketing healthcare costs are hurting our economy, putting businesses and families into bankruptcy, and placing quality coverage out of reach for more and more Americans. Meanwhile, the insurance and pharmaceutical industries are hard at work to maintain the status quo of "profits over people."

On July 2, Sen. Jeff Bingaman said, “This strong public option proposal will ensure that there is real competition between public and private insurance plans. It is an important safeguard, the goal of which is controlling escalating health care costs and extending coverage to millions of Americans for whom health insurance has been out of reach.”

This Wednesday, please join Doctors, Nurses and Health Care providers who stand with Senator Bingaman in his support of a strong public insurance option. We will present Senator Bingaman with a health care "check up" and recommendations to maintain a strong public option:

• When: Wednesday, July 15th
• Time: 12:30 PM
• Where: In front of Senator Bingaman’s Albuquerque office located 723 Silver Ave SW (On Silver between 6th and 7th). (map)
• Please RSVP to Oscar Lopez at (505) 414-8025 or olopez505@gmail.com

Last Chance to Express Your Views at Online Health Care Debate

Today is Day 4 and the last day of the debate on health care reform at the ABQ City Seeker page at the online Albuquerque Journal. I got a little pointed in my summary of the arguments of some of the other participants, and they're responding in good debate form. Join the fray, but keep it civil. Click to access today's thread. Click for Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 of the debate. If you read all the posts and comments I think you'll agree that the threads are thought-provoking and educational. Thanks to all who participated and those who'll add their thoughts today.

Weigh in on Day 3 of the Health Care Reform Debate

We're on Day 3 of the 4-day health care reform debate happening on the ABQ City Seeker page at the online Albuquerque Journal. Today's assignment was a tough one, as moderator Charlie Eisenhood came up with special questions for each of us to answer based on what we had argued on previous days. You can find today's posts here. Once again, we need your input in the comments section to spark the kind of back and forth that makes debates compelling.

I've been involved with health care policy wonk stuff in the past, so I've long known that the issues surrounding health care's many intersecting aspects make for complicated and and multi-layered analyses. This experience, however, has certainly underlined that view. It's easy to get into the weeds with complex details and ever-widening arguments. There's really no way to deal adequately with even some of the important issues in a mere four posts -- but I think we've all made good on trying. I hope you'll take the time to read what everyone has to say, even if you can't manage that right now.

Thanks to all of you who have participated so far. Visit again and keep the discussion going. If you haven't been over there yet, come on down. Click for Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 of the debate. Tomorrow we'll be posting our summaries.

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.

Join In: Day Two of Health Care Reform Debate

As I posted yesterday, the Albuquerque Journal's online ABQ City Seeker page is featuring a discussion on health care reform that will appear thru this Friday. A variety of folks were invited to post their views, including yours truly, Brian Colón, Todd Sandman, Dr. Vicki L. Perrigo and Paul Gessing. Today, conservative blogger Mario Burgos joined the mix. Unfortunately, the Republican Party of New Mexico declined an invitation to participate in the online debate.

You are encouraged to read yesterday's posts, and check out the comment thread at the bottom of the page to see how the debate is developing. There's a new crop of posts up today, which you can access here. After you've read thru yesterday's and today's posts, please express your opinion on what's being discussed in the comment thread. We need your input to keep the conversation lively and interactive. Everybody seems to have an opinion on health care reform. Make sure your's is in the mix.

Dems for Change to Host Educational Forum on Health Care Reform in Bernalillo

From Democrats for Change: We're hosting an educational forum on health care reform to be held from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Wednesday, July 22, at the Bernalillo Town Hall Council Chamber at 829 Camino del Pueblo in the town of Bernalillo NM. Click for a flyer (doc) and pass it on.

The purpose of this community meeting is to present and discuss the options for health care reform presently before the Congress. We believe the public must be engaged in the debate over health care reform. Our panelists will be:

• Robert Greenberg, MD
• Margaret Montoya, JD
• Bruce Trigg, MD
• Carolyn Roberts, MSN, RN, Executive Director of NMNA
• Leonel Garza, AARP Executive Council Member and State Advocacy Leader

Please join us for a stimulating discussion of the issues on health care reform. For more information, please contact Theresa Trujeque at ttrujeque@comcast.net or Raymond G. Sandoval, Esq. at rgsandoval@rgslegal.us.

Register Now for Moveon's Thursday Health Care Rallies in ABQ, Santa Fe

MoveOn is organizing health care rallies at local Senate offices across the nation -- including Albuquerque and Santa Fe -- on Thursday, July 9.

On Thursday at Noon in Albuquerque, activists will be rallying at Sen. Tom Udall's district office at 201 3rd Street NW, Suite 710 (map). Click to RSVP.

In Thursday in Santa Fe, folks will be gathering at Noon at Sen. Jeff Bingaman's district office at 119 East Marcy, Suite 101 (map). Click to RSVP.

Visit this page to find events in other locations.

From MoveOn PAC: While most Americans took time off to relax this past holiday weekend, news broke that insurance companies and special interests have intensified their campaign to destroy health care reform. They're now spending more than $1.4 million dollars a day1 to water down reform and kill President Obama's public health insurance option.

The only way we can compete with their money and influence is to show so much public support that Republicans and conservative Democrats know they can't negotiate the public option away behind closed doors.

That's why this Thursday, July 9, MoveOn members are holding health care rallies at local Senate offices across the country. These rallies are the best way to show that Americans across the country are demanding a strong public health insurance option.

At the rallies we'll hear from local residents affected by the health care crisis and deliver a massive petition in support of President Obama's public option. Our action will remind Senator Udall and the media that a strong public health insurance option is the key to real health care reform.

A strong public option would:

Save you money. The public health insurance plan will have lower overhead, so it will be more affordable. And the competition will force private insurers to lower their rates and provide better value.

Offer you a choice. If you like your current insurance, you can keep it. If not, you can switch to a new public health insurance plan and still receive high-quality care and choose your doctor.

Guarantee access to affordable health care. No matter what happens with your job or your health, the public health insurance option will be available to you and your family.

Passing health care reform with President Obama's public option would be a truly historic achievement that would improve millions of lives across the country. With this much at stake, we just can't afford to be silent.

(Updated) Help Me Out at Online Discussion on Health Care Reform

Update: The Republican Party of New Mexico was invited participate in the bi-partisan online health care reform discussion taking place this week hosted by the Albuquerque Journal. Upon learning of this, Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Brian S. Colón -- who IS participating -- said, "The Republican Party continues to prove that they are the party of no ideas. As health care costs spiral out of control and more than 23% of New Mexicans are without insurance, the state GOP has no ideas on how to fix a broken health care system.

"Voters made the right decision in November sending an all Democratic delegation to Washington. Our Party is working to implement the change voters so desperately need while the Republican Party continues to be the party of no ideas. Despite having multiple candidates who have announced for Congress, the NM GOP apparently still can't find anyone with an idea of how to fix our ailing health care system." I second that emotion.
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Charlie Eisenhood, an Albuquerque Journal reporter who produces the newspaper's online ABQ City Seeker page, invited me and four other Albuquerqueans to participate in a discussion on health care reform that started today and will continue through Friday. Joining me in the online conversation are Brian Colón, who chairs the Democratic Party of New Mexico; Todd Sandman, who serves as director of public and government relations for Presbyterian Healthcare Services; Dr. Vicki L. Perrigo, an Internist/Dermatologist; and Paul Gessing, President of the libertarian-leaning Rio Grande Foundation.

Today and every day thru Friday, each participant will be discussing what he or she believes is the best way to reform the health care system. Today each of us answered a series of questions posed by Eisenhood, but the remainder of the week's agenda will be determined by each other and by the commenters. That means you.

Our online exchange needs your participation to make it truly lively, diverse and though-provoking. Regardless of where you stand on the health care debate, visit the debate page at ABQ City Seeker, read what the main participants and the commenters have to say and add your views. Then check back often thru Friday as the interplay among the contributors and commenters picks up energy and expands -- but only if you do your part to liven up the debate.

(Updated) Rahm Pushes Public Option Trigger; Q Poll Shows 62% Support Public Option

Update: Be sure to read Americablog's post on the House progressive caucus sternly warning Obama against dropping the public option in health care reform after Rahm Emanuel undercut the reform effort to the Wall Street Journal. MoveOn jumped in too. Good to see House members standing tall against the perceived fade on the part of Rahm and Obama on this issue. We've only just begun to fight!
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Rahm Emanuel is at it again, pushing the dreaded "trigger" as an incredibly inadequate "compromise" despite strong public support for a real public option. Two tidbits from today's Progressive Breakfast post the on Campaign for America's Future site. Compare and contrast:

WH Chief of Staff expresses openness to "trigger" compromise. WSJ: "'The goal is to have a means and a mechanism to keep the private insurers honest,' he said in an interview. 'The goal is non-negotiable; the path is' negotiable ... On Monday, Mr. Emanuel said the trigger mechanism would also accomplish the White House's goals. Under this scenario, a public plan would kick in under certain circumstances when competition was judged to be lacking. Exactly what circumstances would trigger the option would have to be worked out."

The Walker Report analyzes Quinnipiac poll finding 62% support public plan option and 28% would choose it: "That is roughly 62 million Americans who want to sign up for an unknown and unproven public option right now ... Could you imagine that statistic for any other product. You think 28% of Americans would prefer to drink a government made soda, eat at a government run restaurant, or buy a government build DVD player? I doubt it. This shows just how little respect a segment of America has for private health insurance companies."

(Updated) Attendee Adds More on Teabagger Crowd at Teague's Event in Roswell

Update: Matt at New Mexico FBIHOP found a "patriotic" blogger bragging about being part of a similarly disrespectful, uninformed and boorish crowd that hounded Rep. Harry Teague at an event in Las Cruces this past Saturday. Read the right-winger's post for a taste of what these bullies are up to these days. Who needs action on greenhouse gases when they've learned from Rush Limbaugh that global warming is a myth?
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I wrote previously that someone going by the name "alfdom" had posted a photo tonight on Twitter of, "A loud rude group of about 25 intent on repeating gobal warning is from volcanos to Congressman Teague at Roswell.."

I contacted alfdom, who turned out to be Alfredo Dominguez III, a retiree who worked for the City of Roswell and now works part time for another employer. He submitted the following personal account of what occurred at the event in Roswell with Congressman Harry Teague (NM-02). It speaks for itself:

The crowd of about 35 people went to where Congressman Teague was. It was at Pepper's Bar and Grill on North Main st. I arrived about 3:45. There were some people waiting to talk to Mr. Teague privately. The Congressman was meeting with one or two people at a time.

About 30 people wanted Congressman Teague to stop talking to the individuals and address them as a group. The Congressman has had two such meetings before in Roswell without incident. The group was loud and disruptive. There were several people trying to instigate outrage at how the meetings were going on. I was approached by two separate women who voiced frustrations about how the meeting was being run and something about cap and trade. I could not understand why they were so angry.

I am from Roswell. I did not recognize most of the people there. About 4:00 Congressman Teague started to take questions from the crowd. One person asked if Mr. Teague truly felt the majority of his constituents would vote the same way [on the energy bill]. Mr. Teague answered yes to the question and the crowd started to boo. The group was more intent on being loud than listening to Mr. Teague.

I took a picture to make the people in the group start to think. If one thinks they can be anonymous they are very bold. When I stared to ask people who they were they calmed down a bit. One lady did give her name but her speech was slurred and I could not understand her.

The end result is that people who wanted to visit with the Congressman had their time taken by a group of people that just wanted to cause problems. I shook the Congressman's hand on the way out, and then followed him out to make sure he made it to the car safely.

Most of the group believed global waring was not real, that they would die because they would not be able to pay high utility bills and that Nancy Pelosi wanted to perform medical procedures on them.