ACTION: "Whipping the public option" - Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-6)

Keep up the pressure (4.00 / 4)

It will be great to have Pallone on board. I know he knows real healthcare reform has to include a strong public option - not someday, now.

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by: Jeff Gardner @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 14:56:44 PM UTC

Underinsured (4.00 / 1)

I heard Rep. Pallone speak on the issue of underinsured persons in the state of New Jersey. He's very in touch with these facts and the impact that no coverage - or inadequate coverage - has on people's lives here.

I hope the Congressman agrees to vote down any bill not hitting those three keys:
   * available nationwide;
   * on day one
   * accountable to Congress and the voters

Because those keys represent strength, and that's what we need on this issue.  

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 15:33:16 PM UTC

I agree - Without health insurance (4.00 / 3)

my last hospital bill would have been $129,000 billed to ME.  I was very very lucky to have health insurance.  My insurance company paid nearly $30,000 because it was in-network  instead of the inflated amount HUMC tried to get.

I shudder to think what someone without health insurance would be doing right now to pay for such a long hospital stay.  Seeing a $129,000 bill would give most people a stroke and send them right back to HUMC.

Inadequate coverage means complete and utter devastation to a family's finances when they don't have insurance coverage, because hospitals, like HUMC can charge enormous amounts if you don't have coverage.  I will only have to pay a few thousand bucks, compared to the huge amount someone without insurance would be billed.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 16:44:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Carol (0.00 / 0)

I know you've had your struggles for good health. I'm glad you're insured, and that your insurance company is honoring their obligations. Thanks so much for weighing in here, and adding your support. Your perspective is very valuable.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 16:54:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Congressman Pallone (2.50 / 2)

Please agree to this.

You have more to do with setting the message of Democrats in the House than virtually anybody else. If you agree, it's a signal to the White House that the House is solid on public option.  

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by: MediumPetey @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 15:36:07 PM UTC

thanks for posting the comments (4.00 / 1)

and I hope that Rep. Pallone has a chance to check out the diary and comment, as he is a Blue Jersey community member.

But in case he has too much on his plate, if people could call him in addition to commenting, that would be even better.

thx!!


Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

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by: Adam L @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 15:57:44 PM UTC

A commitment to health care reform (3.50 / 2)

Frank Pallone has spent twenty-one years as one of the House of Representative's leading voices for health care reform.  Clearly, the issues confronting lawmakers are complex, but I trust Frank to stand for the best interests of American working families.

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by: vincent solomeno @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 17:35:57 PM UTC

No reform without public option (0.00 / 0)

As a former Pallone campaigner, I would be very disappointed if he didn't get behind the public option. Why let pharma, the health industry and Luntz talking points get in the way when so many Americans support it?

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by: Sharon Kasper @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 18:34:09 PM UTC

We need Pallone's Strength and Integrity (0.00 / 0)

Frank Pallone has always been a strong and intelligent voice on issues facing New Jersey and the nation.  He has worked for so long and so hard on healthcare issues that I hope he holds the line to get real reform accomplished, now that the issue is at the forefront.

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by: cbleitner @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 18:43:10 PM UTC

I trust Pallone here (0.00 / 0)

I do wish the public option would start before 2013.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 19:11:33 PM UTC

Committed to HR 3200 (4.00 / 2)

It truly is incredible to see grassroots activism like this in action, especially around an issue as important as health care reform.  As the above post says, I am a solid supporter of a strong public option. And I wanted to come here to let everyone at Blue Jersey know that I am firmly committed to HR 3200 and the strong public option, as defined above, which is outlined within that bill. 

But please do not let my stated support for the public option deter you from taking further action. Opponents of meaningful health care reform are gearing up to fight to keep the same failed status quo system that they've worked so hard to build. So keep up the good work -- your support and your voices are invaluable right now.

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by: Congressman Frank Pallone @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 19:40:21 PM UTC

thank you so much (4.00 / 1)

for stopping by, for all that you do to fight for health care reform (and for talking to us on Blue Jersey Radio a few weeks back).

Can you tell us what the feel is with respect to a strong public option possibly being watered down in reconciliation, or through additional "concessions" that either the White House or the Senate may ultimately try to push through?

Is a lack of a public option something that could pass?  How can we help you fight to make sure that doesn't happen?  

You know we have your back on this, and however we can help you take a stand to ensure that a strong public option stays in the legislation - we will do what we can!


Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

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by: Adam L @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 19:46:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

We Need A Public Option That Is The Functional..... (4.00 / 1)

.....equivalent of single payer.  

That means anyone who CHOOSES the public option gets comprehensive health care.   No exclusions for pre-existing conditions and no deductibles/co-pays.....and it's available (as Rosi said) on day one; not in some theoretical "2013".

(Which would put it past the 2012 presidential election and open to being canceled if any kind of "emergency" would [no doubt] "arise".  Meanwhile, the insurance industry would have 4 more years to sabotage any prospects for real change and to consolidate their stranglehold on our jugulars.)

Congressman Pallone, I'm sure you understand that the insurance industry wants to sabotage any real reforms.  Why?  Because real systemic reform will massively cut their profits and, eventually, eliminate their industry's "business model".

The health insurance industry does not provide any health care.  Not even a band aid!

The health insurance industry has one purpose and one purpose only...and that's to make money for it's shareholders and for the executives who "earn" obscenely outrageous incomes.  

The health insurance industry will do it's damndest to put every kind of complicating and delaying "poison pill" provisions in any legislation that emerges.   Every year they can put of single payer means, literally, billions of dollars in their pockets, no wonder they're willing to spend hundreds of millions to scare Americans (using "Public Relations" and focus group tested ads that terrify people), pay lobbyists,  and to buy legislators' votes.

Clammyc is 100% correct on the principle that we would be better off with no bill this session than one which gives us "reform" in name only while it actually merely perpetuates the existence of an industry that has proven itself over generations to be duplicitous and parasitic!

Congressman Pallone, I understand how smart and deeply sophisticated is your knowledge of these issues...and I also understand that, in practical politics, one musn't allow the "perfect (single payer) to be the enemy of the good (a REAL public option)......however, as you also know, the devil is in the details.  

Congressman Pallone, I urge you to be willing to just say no to anything less than the kind of real public option that, evidently, the insurance industry finds unacceptable.    

Frankly, we will, eventually have a real single payer system and the health insurance industry will go the way of the buggy whip.....they know that and that's why they are spending hundreds of millions of our premium dollars on lobbying and PR efforts to terrorize the American people into being afraid of reform.

The only reason the insurance industry has even been paying lip service to the idea of reforms is because they are afraid of single payer (which is currently supported by 59% of the American people.   Without the very REAL prospect of that stick being applied to their greedy asses there will be no real change.

We, the people must not get shafted/railroaded/stampeded once again like we were on the Medicare Part D bill which was a corrupt gift to big pharma.   We've seen that movie before.  

As for the Republicans, that party is just about 100% in the pockets of the insurance industry and has zero credibility on this whole issue.  We can beat them at the ballot box every time on this....so long as we don't equivocate and speak truth to power!!!  

 

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by: Nick Lento @ Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 21:01:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you! (0.00 / 0)

It is good to know that Dem leaders such as yourself are taking a stand in support of a viable and credible alternative to what we have now.

It is also good to know that the uber-progressives amongst us have not completely highjacked the debate with "single payer" or nothing at all.

Good luck to US.  

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by: Got Kids @ Sat Aug 08, 2009 at 06:14:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]