It’s Monday morning, and time to give Shuler another call.
ByNo, really. Call him one more time – 202-225-6401 in DC; if the number there is busy (which is likely), try the Asheville office – 828-252-1651. Subject: health care insurance reform.
It seems like nobody knows what’s about to go down in the last House committee to take up the health care reform bill—perhaps not even the committee members themselves—but it sounds like mainstream Democrats are about to attempt once more to hash out their differences with their Blue Dog colleagues.
That’s why it’s probably a good idea to call our local Blue Dog. So – after thanking him for his vote on the climate-change bill, how about you make three points:
1) You’d like Congressman Shuler to stand with the President in supporting a robust public option, and you’d like him to encourage his fellow Blue Dog coalition members to do the same, especially those on the Energy and Commerce committee;
2) Some Blue Dogs are coming out in support of a strong public option, and you’d like the congressman to do likewise;
3) Mix and match any three of the following data about how the “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act” will improve the lives of those in the eleventh district (provided courtesy of the Energy and Commerce Committee staff). You see, if HB 3200 passes as it is currently written:
17,200 small businesses in our district will get help paying for health insurance. 17,200 small businesses in our district qualify for tax credit of up to 50% of the costs of providing health insurance. That’s tax credits – this money will a direct offset for taxes owed, and they may get a rebate if they do not pay enough in taxes to offset the full amount.
12,000 seniors in our district will get more help buying the drugs they need. 12,000 seniors will see a 50% reduction on name-brand drug costs once they hit the “doughnut hole.” As things stand now, those 12,000 are paying full price for name-brand drugs after they reach their annual limit.
700 health-care related bankruptcies probably won’t happen. HB 3200 provides health insurance for almost every American and caps annual out-of-pocket costs at $10,000 per year.
$120 million will flow to local providers and hospitals. $120 million worth of uncompensated care was provided by health care providers and hospitals in our district last year; by providing near-universal health insurance, HB3200 makes “uncompensated care” a thing of the past.
134,000 people in our district will get health insurance who don’t already have it.
99.2% of 11th-district taxpayers won’t pay a dime extra. The cost of health care reform under this legislation is fully paid for through increased efficiencies in Medicare and Medicaid and through a surtax on the income of the wealthiest individuals. Only 2400 households in our district would have to pay that surtax, and 99.2% of taxpayers here would not have to pay any more tax as a result.
So pick up that phone. Dial that number. Give that overworked intern a cheerful “good morning.” And then, well, give Rep. Shuler a piece of your mind. You’ll be glad you did.
6 Comments
July 27th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Paul Krugman eviscerates the Blue Dogs on health care. Read the whole thing, but here’s an excerpt:
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July 27th, 2009 at 11:53 am
@ Gordon:
I came here specifically to post that Krugman article in the comments.
It’s critical people call in and tell Shuler how important a strong public option is. Remember: Not only is he a Blue Dog, but he camps out at C Street – a RW Christian organization that preaches whatever is good for the right-minded ruling classes, (Read, “Laissez Faire” capitalism) is good for the souls of the poor.
I wish I was making this up.
Those of us who are struggling under the current healthcare system are going to have to make more noise than corporate-Jesus.
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July 27th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Called at 1:25pm.
Phone-answerer said that she’s getting a lot of calls from both sides of the argument.
Call now.
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July 27th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY. (Thomas Paine)
We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.
I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. A trillion dollar taxpayer funded private health insurance bailout is all you really get without a robust government-run public option available on day one.
YOU CANT HAVE AN INSURANCE MANDATE WITHOUT A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION. MANDATING PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE WOULD BE UNETHICAL, CORRUPT, AND MORALLY REPUGNANT. AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.
These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!
Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it’s President Obama’s fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! And President Obama has done a brilliant job of turning things around, and working his heart out for all of us.
But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.
But you don’t have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.
Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. Doing this will give you something more to do to make things better in America. And it will help you feel better too.
There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this. But be nice. These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.
I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!
You have been AMAZING!!! my people. Don’t loose heart. You knew it wasn’t going to be easy saving the World.
God Bless You
jacksmith — Working Class
I REST MY CASE (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)
Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.
* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah
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July 27th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Join the Facebook group urging Congressman Shuler to support a STRONG PUBLIC OPTION: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=102601778010
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July 27th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Tom Sullivan visited rural Virginia to report on RAM (Remote Access Medical http://www.ramusa.org/) a non profit that provides free health care to those that cannot afford it.
His write up is on Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-sullivan/the-uninsured-line-up-for_b_245705.html
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