what do i do what do i do?
October 23, 2009
Friday morning Oct 23 —
The House Democratic Caucus will meet and determine what version of the “public option” goes into the House bill.
As early as possible Friday morning, call the “leaning” Dems. You do not have to sound smart. You just have to sound like a voter. And stutter out “I vote, do public option.” And, if you want to sound a little more erudite? Tell them we needed single payer, we settled for public option, and if they blow public option too? Well screw them they are so out. But whatever you do and however you sound?
Pick up a phone and call :* Ron Klein (FL-22): 202-225-3026, 561-544-6910
* Dennis Moore (KS-03): 202-225-2865, 913-621-0832, 913-383-2013
* Stephen Lynch (MA-09): 202-225-8273, 617-428-2000
* Bob Etheridge (NC-02): 202-225-4531, 919-829-9122, 919-829-9122
* Dina Titus (NV-3): 202-225-3252, 702-387-4941
* John Boccieri (OH-16): 202-225-3876, 330-489-4414
* Steve Driehaus (OH-1): 202-225-2216, 513-684-2723
* Charles Wilson (OH-06): 202-225-5705, 740-633-5705, 330-533-7250
* Christopher Carney (PA-10): 202-225-3731, 570-585-9988, 570-327-1902
* John Sprat (SC-05): 202-225-5501, 803-327-1114
* Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15): 202-225-2531, 956-682-5545, 361-358-8400
* Solomon Ortiz (TX-27): 202-225-7742, 956-541-1242, 361-883-5868
For superstar points? Call committee chairs :* Steny Hoyer (MD-05): 202-225-4131, 301-474-0119, 301-843-1577
* Chris Van Hollen (MD-08): 202-225-5341, 301-424-3501
* Jim Clyburn (SC-06): 202-225-3315, 803-799-1100
* John Larson CT-01): 202-225-2265, 860-278-8888
* Chuck Rangel (NY-15): 202-225-4365, 212-663-3900
* Henry Waxman CA-30): 202-225-3976, 323-651-1040
Now suck down more caffeine and call your rep if he or she is on this list :* Artur Davis (AL-07): 202-225-2665, 205-254-1960, 334-877-4414
* Marion Berry (AR-1): 202-225-4076, 501-843-3043, 870-972-4600
* Harry Mitchell (AZ-05): 202-225-2190, 480-946-2411
* Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-1): 202-225-2215, 928-445-3434
* Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8): 202-225-2542, 520-459-3115, 520-881-3588
* Dennis Cardoza (CA-18): 202-225-6131, 209-383-4455, 209-527-1914
* Jim Costa (CA-20): 202-225-3341, 661-869-1620, 559-495-1620
* Grace Napolitano (CA-38): 202-225-5256, 562-801-2134
* George Miller (CA-7): 202-225-2095, 925-602-1880, 510-262-6500
* Loretta Sanchez (CA-47): 202-225-2965, 714-621-0102
* Betsy Markey (CO-04): 202-225-4676, 970-221-7110
* Jim Himes (CT-4): 202-225-5541, 866-453-0028
* Allen Boyd (FL-02): 202-225-5235, 850-561-3979
* Ron Klein (FL-22): 202-225-3026, 561-544-6910
* Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24): 202-225-2706, 407-208-1106, 386-756-9798
* Leonard Boswell (IA-3):): 202-225-3806, 515-282-1909
* Debbie Halvorson (IL-11): 202-225-3635, 815-726-4998, 309-808-1194
* Daniel Lipinski (IL-3): 202-225-5701, 312-886-0481
* Bill Foster (IL-4): 202-225-2976, 630-406-1114,
* Melissa Bean (IL-8): 202-225-3711, 847-517-2927
* Baron Hill (IN-09): 202-225-5315, 812-336-3000, 812-288-3999
* Joe Donnelly (IN-2): 202-225-3915, 574-288-2780
* Brad Ellsworth (IN-8): 202-225-4636, 812-465-6484, 812-232-0523
* Dennis Moore (KS-03): 202-225-2865, 913-621-0832, 913-383-2013
* Ben Chandler (KY-06): 202-225-4706, 859-219-1366
* Stephen Lynch (MA-09): 202-225-8273, 617-428-2000
* Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02): 202-225-3061, 410-628-2701
* Frank Kratovil (MD-1): 202-225-5311, 410-420-8822
* Michael Michaud (ME-02): 202-225-6306, 207-782-3704, 207-942-6935
* Bart Stupak (MI-01): 202-225-4735, 989-356-0690
* Gary Peters (MI-09): 202-225-5802, 248-273-4227
* Collin Peterson (MN-7): 202-225-2165, 218-847-5056, 320-235-1061
* Ike Skelton (MO-04): 202-225-2876, 816-228-4242, 573-635-3499
* Heath Shuler (NC-11): 202-225-6401, 828-252-1651
* Bob Etheridge (NC-2): 202-225-4531, 910-814-0335, 919-829-9122
* David Price (NC-4): 202-225-1784, 919-859-5999, 919-688-3004
* Mike McIntyre (NC-7): 202-225-2731, 910-323-0260, 910-735-0610
* Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL): 202-225-2611, 701-224-0355, 701-235-9760
* Paul Hodes (NH-02): 202-225-5206, 603-223-9814
* Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1): 202-225-5456, 603-743-4813, 603-641-9536
* Albio Sires (NJ-13): 202-225-7919, 201-222-2828, 201-558-0800
* John Adler (NJ-3): 202-225-4765, 856-985-2777, 732-608-7235
* Steven Rothman (NJ-9): 202-225-5061, 201-646-0808
* Harry Teague (NM-02): 202-225-2365, 575-523-8751
* Shelley Berkley (NV-1): 202-225-5965, 702-220-9823
* Dina Titus (NV-3): 202-225-3252, 702-387-4941
* Timothy Bishop (NY-1): 202-225-3826, 631-696-6500
* Michael McMahon (NY-13): 202-225-3371, 718-351-1062
* Scott Murphy (NY-20): 202-225-5614, 518-581-8247
* Michael Arcuri (NY-24): 202-225-3665, 315-793-8146
* Eric Massa (NY-29): 202-225-3161, 585-218-0040
* Charles Wilson (OH-06): 202-225-5705, 740-633-5705, 330-533-7250
* Steve Driehaus (OH-1): 202-225-2216, 513-684-2723
* John Boccieri (OH-16): 202-225-3876, 330-489-4414
* Zachary Space (OH-18): 202-225-6265, 330-364-4300, 740-779-1636
* Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-5): 202-225-2015, 614-294-2196
* Marcy Kaptur (OH-9): 202-225-4146, 419-259-7500
* Curt Schraeder (OR-05): 202-225-5711, 503-588-9100
* Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03): 202-225-5406, 814-456-2038
* Jason Altmire (PA-04): 202-225-2565, 724-378-0928
* Christopher Carney (PA-10): 202-225-3731, 570-585-9988, 570-327-1902
* Paul Kanjorski (PA-11): 202-225-6511, 570-825-2200
* Tim Holden (PA-17): 202-225-5546, 717-234-5904, 610-921-3502
* Patrick Murphy (PA-8): 202-225-4276, 215-829-1963, 215-348-1194
* John Sprat (SC-05): 202-225-5501, 803-327-1114
* Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL): 202-225-2801, 605-367-8371
* Lincoln Davis (TN-04): 202-225-6831, 931-490-8699, 931-473-7251
* Bart Gordon (TN-06): 202-225-4231, 615-896-1986
* John Tanner (TN-08): 202-225-4714, 731-423-4848, 731-885-7070
* Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15): 202-225-2531, 956-682-5545, 361-358-8400
* Chet Edwards (TX-17): 202-225-6105, 254-752-9600
* Solomon Ortiz (TX-27): 202-225-7742, 956-541-1242, 361-883-5868
* Henry Cuellar (TX-28): 202-225-1640, 956-725-0639, 210-271-2851
* Tom Perriello (VA-05): 202-225-4711, 434-293-9631
* Glenn Nye (VA-2): 202-225-4215, 757-326-6201
* Rick Boucher (VA-9): 202-225-3861, 276-628-1145
* Adam Smith (WA-09): 202-225-8901, 253-896-3775
* Rick Larsen (WA-2): 202-225-2605, 425-252-3188, 360-733-4500
* Brian Baird (WA-3): 202-225-3536, 360-695-6292
* Alan Mollohan (WV-01): 202-225-4172, 304-623-4422
* Nick Rahall (WV-03): 202-225-3452, 304-252-5000
Don’t Know Who Your Rep Is? :
Don’t know what single payer is? :
where the art work comes from :
that is from king of the wild frontier
grayson on maher
October 17, 2009
*let’s see how long this one stays up on youtube
have you called your representative today?
October 13, 2009
Left messages for —
Henry Waxman & Barbara Boxer today supporting H.R. 676 and the Weiner amendment to supplant H.R. 3200 with same in the House vote this week.
Let me say that again. House. Vote. This Week. Call. NOW.
Feinstein’s phone doesn’t take messages during “office closed” hours & during “office open” hours has a message that says lines are busy call back later. [Weak, Feinstein, very weak.]
Have you called your rep today?
And, do you know what Single-Payer aka Universal Health Care aka “Medicare for All” aka H.R. 676 is?
It is not Public Option. Public Option is a government created and run insurance program you buy insurance from the same way you buy insurance from an insurance company.
H.R. 676 is real universal government paid health care, much like France has universal health care and Canada and Britain have universal health care and Denmark and Sweden have universal health care and — well, every first world developed country on the the globe has universal health care.
Except the U.S.
:::understanding hr676:::
what you should know about hr 676
October 13, 2009
The big question —
What is H.R. 676?
H.R. 676, also called the United States National Health Insurance Act, is a bill to create a single-payer, publicly-financed, privately-delivered universal health care program that would cover all Americans without charging co-pays or deductibles. It guarantees access to the highest quality and most affordable health care services regardless of employment, ability to pay or pre-existing health conditions.
What is “single-payer”?
The term single-payer describes the kind of financing system that H.R. 676 uses. It means that one entity–in this case, established by the government–handles all billing and payment for health care services. Right now, there are thousands upon thousands of “payers”– HMOs, PPOs, bill collection agencies, etc. The sheer volume of paperwork required by our current system means that administrative waste accounts for roughly 31% of the money spent on health care. The single-payer system would eliminate the wasteful paperwork and administrative costs, redirecting more of our health care dollars to providing care.
Medicare is perhaps the best known single-payer system. Essentially, H.R. 676 would improve Medicare and expand it, so that it covers all Americans, regardless of their income.
Who will be eligible for health care coverage under H.R. 676?
All Americans will be eligible for health care coverage. Every person who enrolls in the program and receive a United States National Health Insurance Card and individual ID number, and that is all anyone will need to receive care.
What health care services are covered?
The program established by H.R. 676 will cover all medically-necessary services without charging co-pays or deductibles. The services covered will include: primary care; inpatient, outpatient and emergency hospital care; prescription drugs; durable medical equipment; hearing, dental and vision care; chiropratic treatment; mental health services; and long-term care.
What about “catastrophic” care? Will I ever reach a limit for coverage?
No. There are no limits on coverage. Just as you will never pay a co-pay or a deductible under the universal national health care program, you will never reach a ceiling on your coverage.
Will I be able to choose my doctor?
Yes. Patients will have their choice of physicians, providers, hospitals and clinics. The financing will be public, but the providers will all remain private.
No co-pays or deductibles– what’s the catch? Will I actually pay less for health care?
There is no catch. Both families and employers will pay significantly less for health care.
Currently, the average family of four covered by an employer-provided health care plan spends roughly $4,225 on health care each year, including premiums, services, prescription drugs and supplies. This figure does not include the annual Medicare payroll tax, currently at 1.45%. Under the plan created by H.R. 676, a family of four making the median income of $56,200 would pay about $2,700 in payroll tax for all health care costs. No deductibles, no co-pays, no worrying about catastrophic coverage.
Employers who provide health insurance currently pay, on average, 74% of employee health premiums. For a family of four, the average employer share is $8,510 per year. Under H.R. 676, the employer pays a 4.75% payroll tax, not a premium to health insurance companies. For an employee making the median family income of $56,200 annually, the employer would pay roughly $2,700.
Estimates taken from: Employer Health Benefits 2006 Annual Survey, Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust; Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; and Study by the Center for Economic Research and Policy.
How will the transition to the new system work?
The full conversion to a non-profit, single-payer universal health care program will not take place overnight once the bill is passed. The total transition time will be roughly a 15-year period. Important elements of the transition will include:
• Private health insurance companies will be prohibited from selling coverage that duplicates any benefits included in the universal national health care program. The private companies will, however, still be able to sell coverage for services that are not deemed medically necessary, such as many cosmetic surgery procedures.
• Private insurance company workers who are displaced as a result of the transition will be the first to be hired and retained by the new single-payer entity. Any of the displaced workers who are not rehired will receive two years of unemployment benefits.
How will the universal program be paid for?
First, switching to a single-payer system will lead to billions of dollars saved in reduced administrative costs. Those savings will be passed on through the system and allow coverage for all Americans. Additional savings in the overall cost of health care will come from annual reimbursement rate negotiations with physicians and negotiated prices for prescription drugs, medical supplies and equipment.
Second, a “Medicare For All Trust Fund” will be created to ensure a dedicated source of funding in addition to annual appropriations. Sources of funding will include:
• Maintain current federal and state funding for existing health care programs
• Closing corporate tax loopholes
• Repealing the Bush tax cuts for the highest income earners
• Establish employer/employee payroll tax of 4.75% [includes present 1.45% Medicare tax]
• Establish a 5% health tax on the top 5% of income earners; a 10% tax on top 1% of wage earners
• One quarter of one percent stock transaction tax
*source :::john conyers for congress:::
grayson : what it means to be a democrat
October 11, 2009
go grayson go!
October 1, 2009
I adore Alan Grayson. First he gives it to the Republicans — who are totally used to dishing it out but not at all used to getting it back. Then they get all het up and demand an apology and he apologizes — the Grayson way. Get ‘em, Grayson yay!
:::act blue support grayson:::
the limits of charisma
September 30, 2009
The more I see of Obama —
The more I dislike him. I am a Democrat. This is not supposed to happen. I voted for him. I talked other people into voting for him, people seriously heart broken when Clinton lost who were talking about not voting at all. I told them they had to vote. It was that important to put a Democrat in the White House. And I should like him. I should be swept away by the joy of actually seeing a president speak in public who can pronounce “nuclear.” Be awed by his sweeping plans for the future, his deft poses, head tilted just so, hand raised in stillness as if he can hear something the rest of us cannot. It is all very pretty. It is all very eloquent. But —
All I see these days when I look at Obama is a man who leaves whenever the real fighting starts, comes back when it looks like a masked crusader might get the biggest cheer, who has broken campaign promise after campaign promise and who spends an awful lot of time figuring out what people want to hear and saying it —
And spends no time figuring out how to do it.
This is not a popular opinion. Well, not among fellow Democrats. It also however is not just my opinion :
:::other promises not kept:::
even repubs are starting to freak over how fast obama quits
September 25, 2009
“The writer of this article —
“Is from the conservative part of the political firmament. However, he’s struck by what seems like a relative lack of backbone in the Obama administration. As far as my side of the ideological divide goes, hey, great. We’ll push as much as we can to either get what we want or make sure that the left doesn’t get what it wants.
“However, were this writer a Democrat, he might start getting a bit distraught over how quickly the Obama team caves on both principle and defense of its own supporters and colleagues.
“The latest… resignation accepted on Thursday of Yosi Sergeant, Communications Director of the National Endowment of the Arts —
::: continue reading:::
where that article comes from :
that is by robert a. george from nbc washington
where the art work comes from :
that is from presti non è qui
support our troops bring them home
September 25, 2009
hello?
September 21, 2009
So —
Is anybody reading any of this or is this all just a collosal waste of my time?
:::sigh:::
