Progressives Press Pelosi To Persevere With the Public Option, Dump The Blue Dogs
By Susie Madrak Tuesday Sep 22, 2009 6:00amI'm happy to see that despite what must be enormous pressure, the House progressive caucus is standing firm on the public option. Not only that, they're pushing Nancy Pelosi to dump the Blue Dogs. Via The PlumLine:
The latest: The two top House progressives have just fired off a letter to Pelosi that, in effect, urges her to stick with them and to ditch the Blue Dogs when the public option rubber hits the road. Progressives have reiterated not just their support for a robust public option, but their opposition to the Blue Dog's weakened version of it passed out of Energy and Commerce.
The letter, which was sent over by a source, makes this point by noting that the version of the public option in the House health care proposal negotiated by Blue Dogs — the version that emerged from Henry Waxman’s Energy and Commerce committee — pales beside the ones created by two other key House committees, which have a more robust public option.
The two progressives — Dem Reps. Lynn Woolsey and Raul Grijalva — ask Pelosi for a meeting to discuss these pertinent facts. They write flat out that the version negotiated by Blue Dogs is “unacceptable” to them, because it results in far less savings than the two other versions.
You should read the letter yourself. But suffice it to say that it’s another sign that when it comes to the public option, House liberals are preparing for a showdown with Blue Dogs — and showing no intention to budge.
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515Dear Madam Speaker:
We write to see how we can best work with you to ensure that a robust public plan with Medicare rates plus 5% is included in the final health reform bill.
In July, 60 Members signed a letter saying they could not support an agreement made in the Committee on Energy and Commerce that would require the public plan to use negotiated rates rather than Medicare plus 5% rates, which could delay the start of the public plan, reduce its savings, and reduce its ability to drive down costs. As you stated last week, the Congressional Budget Office scored the Committees on Education and Labor and Ways and Means bill with the Medicare plus 5% rates at $110 billion in savings compared to the Committee on Energy and Commerce at $25 billion in savings. The loss in savings the Committee on Energy and Commerce brought by this change was offset by reducing subsidies to low-and middle-income families, requiring them to pay a larger portion of their income for insurance premiums, is something we find unacceptable.
As we’re sure you agree, these numbers demonstrate the importance of a robust public plan tied to Medicare. We look forward to meeting with you to discuss how we can work together to include a robust public plan that will increase competition, bring down costs, and provide the necessary savings to ensure robust subsidies to those who need help paying for health insurance.
Sincerely,
Lynn Woolsey
Raul Grijalva
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Sounds good to me.
There will be a robust public option!
Boycott Tyson Foods of Arkansas who gave Mike Ross D-Arkansas $37,000 for his campaigns. Call lobbyist for Tyson Foods Chuck Penry 202 393 3921 and tell him politely that you refuse to buy Tyson chicken until Mike Ross D-Arkansas the leader of the Blue Dogs on health care gets the entire house and senate conservative Democrats to help get HR 676 enacted into law. Tell others to call. Send me email after you call to info@democratz.org
Boycott American Express who gave Max Baucus $50,000 for his campaigns. Call Joanna Lambert at 212 640 9668 and politely tell her you will not use any American Express cards until Max Baucus gets HR 676 enacted into law. Email me after you call.
I'll call them to support this ---Will you? 1.800.828.0498 or 1.866.220.0044!
Waxman certainly turned out to be a jerk and spineless offical..
Remember when Waxman was going to charge all these criminal republicans in Bush's administraion with their crimes and have hearings.
What happen to Rove and others , was Waxman brough or told to shutup.
Democrat party needs a complete overhaul..
Afterall who won the election and is in the majority? We don't need the Reslug-Dogs at all? We need the public option and I'm glad they are standing strong for Americans.
Will our government continue down the path to naked Corporatism, or will we regain a semblance of actual democracy? Will the $1.4 million per day being spent by the health insurance lobby on bribes be enough to make a difference?
For years the American people have been used and abused as nothing more than money-generating machines to insure corporate profits. It's time to govern for the American people, for whom the Constitution was actually written.
Will our government continue down the path to naked Corporatism, or will we regain a semblance of actual democracy? Will the $1.4 million per day being spent by the health insurance lobby on bribes be enough to make a difference?
For years the American people have been used and abused as nothing more than money-generating machines to insure corporate profits. It's time to govern for the American people, for whom the Constitution was actually written.
Where is the signature of Dennis Kucinich on this letter. What gives?
on Single Payer. This would be a step backwards for him.
The Statist Corporatism will continue until statism dies.
The "American people" for whom the "Constitution" was written for are all dead. The "United States Government" is an illegitimate concept.
Strong public option at "minimum"!! Single payer at best!!
Then where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
I am pretty sure these Clowns and Fools that represent the Socilist Corporate interest realize that their days are numbered, if anything these Anti American Scum Bags should keep being given the strongest ddiscontent and reactions of their constituents. with a daily postings of the Health Industries contributies justifying why they need profits over affordable health care.
Stand firm Nancy. This could go a long way towards helping folks forget your error in NOT impeaching President Scumbag and Slimey Dick. Could be your legacy.
Never forget Miss "Impeachment is off the table" Pelosi. No way. She'll get kudos for this, if she actually means what she says. But she'll never wipe out the stain of complicity and her acceptance of crimes against the constitution.
We don't know how we're going to pay for it, the US is insolvent, but yes by all means go forward with it and figure out where the money is going to come from later. That is the same approach the FDIC which insure bank deposits is doing right now, they too are insolvent. Fresh out of money they are going to go borrow the money from the banks *cough* they insure in case they run out of money.
GOOooooooood strategy!
Unfortunately the people that make up the "U.S. government" have control of the biggest guns. Therefore, they have the option of robbing the rest of the world to pay for their incompetence.
Incompetence, there is a wealth of it in DC these days, maybe we can pay the debt off with that.
should be separated in the sac for the patient to be diagnosed as normal.
both of these demographics are growing at an alarming rate. guess what when they can't/won't pay their bill(s) that cost is shifted to the paying pool. essentially a HIDDEN TAX.
in las vegas there's a high unemployment rate probably higher than advertised consequently
people can't pay medical bill(s) and losing their homes that are way UNDERwater so they must file bankruptcy. that's a local/regional burden on TAX payers. so NOW the city is NOT collecting taxation due to empty homes this reduces/hurts public services that include medical services for adults and chidren. we can't afford not to do something.HEALTH care ins. will double in cost(again) in less than ten yrs. employers will continue to rid/reduce health care ins. for employess.everyone is concerned about the cost of doing reform and some of us are concerned about the cost of doing nothing. welcome to america wait until it's completely broken and expensive to fix it.
Same way the US Govt spends a Trillion a Year on "defense" and a couple of hundred billion more on ill-conceived wars that do very little to make us safe.
Instead of "squandering" maybe a hundred billion a year on making us all healthy.
Exactly. If this government can spend obscene amounts of money to kill people through war, then this government can certainly spend money to help and heal its people by shifting that money to the people's priorities and not the corporatists priorities.
After Terry Schiavo the country finally gave up on the Republicans.
If there is no public option passed, the Democrats have finally lost me.
I sat by and watched them drift more and more to the right. The only reason they are called "Liberal" is because they are to the left of the Republicans, not because they actually are liberal.
If we get a giant give away to insurance companies with no public option then I am done voting democrat. They are not pursuing policy that benefit my own self-interests.
If they do not pass the public option they will most probably get voted out because the Democratic base is going to be alienated -- and I won't be coming back for a long long time.
The Terry Schiavo incident showed how manipulative and batshit crazy the GOP really was.
Note to the House and the Senate.
Simple majority is all that is needed.
Slice it any way you want...we have the votes. PERIOD.
All that's needed are the stones.
taken out behind the shed, and shot.
We have enough trouble with the Republicans, without worrying about Democrats-in-name-only types. You know, like Lieberman, who I don't think ever met a republican policy he didn't like.
Weiner's amendment to HR3200 would have scrapped the entire bill and substituted HR 676 (Expanded and Improved Medicare for All).
HR 676 is the best answer - Single Payer Medicare For All.
Do you know when they are going to be allowed to introduce HR676 on the House floor? I know Pelosi agreed to this, but if and when is still a question.
Blue Dogs? Sorry, these aren't Democrats.
Republirats!
The Democratic Majority's approach to legislation is simple..."All Assholes Left Behind".
Pelosi (and Reid) should get the boot.
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