Medicare4All UPDATE: A stripped amendment and a neutered bill
Joanne O'Neill
Act Now to Pressure “Management”
Dear Joanne,
Today the House unveiled its healthcare reform package. And the news is all bad.
The Kucinich Amendment, which would give the states a clear path for enacting their own single-payer legislation, was stripped from the bill.
The Weiner Amendment, which would substitute the clean, clear language of HR 676 for the behemoth of a introduced, may not be given its vote in the House—in spite of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s promise.
While single payer hangs in the balance, PDA will continue to fight for single payer at the state level. Meanwhile, we have a small window of opportunity to get the Kucinich Amendment back in the bill and to make sure that Speaker Pelosi follows through on her promise to allow a vote on single-payer—the first ever in the House.
Democratic House leaders can insert what is called a “Manager’s Amendment” into legislation, even when it is closed to any other amendments. The managers are the majority and minority members who “manage” debate for the bill on each side. http://www.centerforpolicyanalysis.org/id47.html
Today, tomorrow, and beyond, we need to call these “managers” and insist that the Kucinich Amendment is restored into the healthcare bill. We also need to urge these leaders to exert pressure on Speaker Pelosi—and exert it on her ourselves—to follow through on her promise to put the Weiner Amendment to a vote.
The “gang” that holds our future in their hands includes:
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-4965; San Francisco office (415) 556-4862
- Majority Leader Steny Hoyer: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-4131; Greenbelt office (301) 474-0119; Waldorf office (301) 843-1577
- Rep. Henry Waxman: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-3976; Los Angeles office (323) 651-1040
- Rep. Charles Rangel: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-4365; New York office (212) 663-3900
- Rep. George Miller: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-2095; Concord office (925) 602-1880; Richmond office (510) 262-6500; Vallejo office (707) 645-1888
It’s crucial for everyone in PDA to make these calls, to make them more than once, and to tell others to make these calls. Act NOW!
In solidarity,
Tim Carpenter, National Director
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/489881/pelosi_s_not_so_robust_public_option
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If you can't get through on the phones remember you can still sent a Fax:
Nancy, it IS up to You. Call and Fax
Pelosi and Congress!
On
a recent call with the Progressive Democrats of America, Congressman Weiner
(D-NY 9th dist) said that there is a push for a strong public option in the
House leadership bill. He wants us to keep
pushing Single Payer Medicare For All -
(he has been talking to Co-Sponsors of HR 676 and younger members who had made
Health care a campaign issue.)
The work done by Single Payer advocates
has been crucial, and has kept the pressure to make
a strong public option the compromise rather than the starting point. A
strong public option is not what we want, but Rep. Wiener is sponsoring a single payer Medicare For All amendment to the
current House legislation and his effort is worthy of our support.
It goes automatically to House Speaker Pelosi as well as your own Representative. Click Here For Fax Page. http://www.1payer.net/faxapp/senders/add/cid:35
Right after
you do that, call your Congressman.
Tell your Congressman that Single Payer Medicare For All is the real reform we need.
Use the words "Medicare For All."
Congressmen are learning that those words mean Single Payer. They are also catching on: Americans know Medicare, want Medicare and the easiest way to pay for health care for everyone is to expand Medicare. Even Blue Dogs want to ride on the Medicare For All bandwagon.
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NJ ARRESTED ON MICHAEL MOORE's SITE :
