TONIGHT 8pm: Rep. Frank Pallone on Blue Jersey Radio

here's my question (4.00 / 2)

I understand that the House draft has a public plan but it does not begin until 2013.  (Besides reading it elsewhere, I skimmed the draft myself and this seems to be true.)  Isn't that a long way away? What's the reason?

I have to think of a witty signature about Frank LoBiondo

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by: Hopeful @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 01:42:00 AM CDT

I wasn't aware of that (0.00 / 0)

but we will certainly ask him about the time frame for implementation. Thanks Hopeful for pointing it out.

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by: Jason Springer @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 06:18:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Apparently the whole (4.00 / 1)

program takes affect in 2013.  He said thats how long they thought it would take to get things up and running.

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by: Jason Springer @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 05:27:00 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Question for Pallone - Message (4.00 / 2)

The congressman holds a key role in the House Democratic Caucus. He's Communications Chair of the Democratic Policy Committee. He's very much a player in developing and making known the Democratic Party's message.

On public option, there's a lot of evidence voters are in a reformist mood, and willing to pay to see it happen.

Does he think House members are more willing to reform the health care system, than the Senate is right now? Can he shed some light on the kinds of lobbying going on right now among members of Congress?  

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 Jun 23, 2009 at 10:01:37 AM CDT

Question for Pallone - Single Payer (4.00 / 2)

I'm for the public option, as a workable reform the public's ready to sacrifice for. But I know people who think it's a bad compromise, and still want single-payer.

Is single-payer just not being talked about in Congress? We don't see much coverage of it in media. Where is he on that? And does he think there's any will among voters, or in Congress, for single-payer?

Also ... does he see public option as "compromise?"

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 Jun 23, 2009 at 10:11:08 AM CDT

We asked about this (0.00 / 0)

and his answers were very candid.

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by: Jason Springer @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 05:25:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Where are our Senators? (0.00 / 0)

I'd like to know, and Rep. Pallone might know, where Menendez and Lautenberg stand on healthcare reform.  The Senate is where our problem is, and if our 2 guys are not lined up for a strong public option, we should be pushing them there.

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by: jimtobias @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 14:29:21 PM CDT

Our Senators (0.00 / 0)

They certainly both come up supporting public option here - at Stand with Dr. Dean.

But the question is how strongly they'll stand. We could be heading into rough waters in the Senate.  

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 Jun 23, 2009 at 15:13:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

We asked about (0.00 / 0)

the Senate side of things  He said he has focused more on the House side of the situation.  Thanks for the suggestion of a question.

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by: Jason Springer @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 05:26:15 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Howard Dean (0.00 / 0)

Last time I talked to the Congressman, about a month ago, I let him know Howard Dean was working with Democracy for America, which he founded, again, and advocating for the public option. (Pallone was DFA-NJ's Chair, 2004-05..

I think those two should talk - and if that hasn't happened in the last month, I'd like to make that happen.  

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 Jun 23, 2009 at 14:49:21 PM CDT