Not too long ago, there was a conversation between some of us political bloggers; it went on across the country and across state lines. We talked about this: How long do you think it will be before somebody on the right takes Ted Kennedy's memorial service, and what will inevitably be said there, and trashes it like they did Paul Wellstone's?
That struck me. I count two things as the engines behind everything I'm doing in politics right now. Howard Dean's What I want to know ...speech. And the massive arena celebration of the lives of Paul & Sheila Wellstone. Sen. Wellstone was not perfect; he was not angelic. But what he was, was brave. An ordinary, everyday guy with a Minnesota Senate seat.
Ted Kennedy was a very different guy. Tried most of his life to connect with the ordinary. And you bet there's going to be an effort to remind grieving congressional Democrats that health care was the cause of Kennedy's life. They'd better damn well pass it. And there's no way the right will not challenge that.
The answer to that question - How long? - is now. Today, Rush Limbaugh ridiculed Wellstone's memorial, that arena brimming with people who knew early that change was coming, and there was work to be done. Forward-thinkers, progressives, and fearless local organizers. There was more loss, and backlash, before there was winning. But that memorial - those people, those speeches - meant everything to me. And I can't just sit and listen to what was just said on the radio, without saying this:
Paul Wellstone didn't die. Not like they wanted him to.
What will John Adler's stunning opposition to the health care public option cost his own constituents? Here's a 2-minute action item: Call Rep. Adler's District Offices and let him know what his decisions might cost you: Toms River DO: (732) 608-7235, Marlton DO: (856) 985-2777. It's not too late for him to change his mind, if he hears from you.- - - promoted by Rosi
Throughout the recent health care debate, New Jersey's Democratic delegation has stood firmly on the side of progressive reform, committed to varying degrees to the public option. Representatives Pascrell, Holt, Payne and Sires - four men from very different parts of the Democratic coalition - have all signed on to the FireDogLake pledge, promising to vote against any bill that does not include a public option health plan which is "available nationwide, on day one, and accountable to Congress and the voters." Representative Rothman has clearly stated that the public option is the key to reform, in order to "to keep insurance companies honest." And Representatives Andrews and Pallone are co-sponsors of House bill 3200, which would write exactly such a public option into law, and as sub-committee chairmen, vital players in the reform debate.
This leaves only one Democratic Congressman unaccounted for. John Adler. And Adler isn't just quiet on the public option, or unwilling to take a specific pledge. He's come out as one of its leading Democratic opponents.
"The bill that's coming through the House, with or without the public option, isn't good for America," Adler said matter-of-factly. "We have Congressional Budget Office projections of a trillion-dollar increase in costs that will have to be borne by taxpayers or insurance purchasers; meaning businesses and households. Either way, that's a cost we can't afford."
An interesting analysis was released recently by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for each and every Congressional district in the United States that clearly spells out the benefits of the aforementioned House bill 3200, aka America's Affordable Health Choices Act. So in case you're wondering what John Adler's opposition to progressive health care reform is costing his constituents, this will give you an idea. Without this bill, in the third Congressional district alone...
• 14,600 small businesses will not get tax credits for 50% of their health insurance costs
• 12,000 seniors will remain stuck in the Medicare Part D "donut hole"
• 1,330 families will go bankrupt due to health care costs (2008 figure)
• $56,000,000 in unpaid medical bills will pile up for doctors and hospitals (2008 figure)
• 47,000 people will remain uninsured
This is the bill that John Adler tells us "isn't good for America." It's time for the people of the third Congressional district to tell John Adler that what isn't good for America is his work on behalf of his paymasters in the insurance, health, and pharmaceutical industries to derail real reform that millions of Americans are relying on, including tens of thousands who elected him to office last November.
Can there be any room for a centrist at a health care reform town hall meeting
Brian Donohue of Ledger Live, a self-described centrist, describes how attending Congressman Frank Pallone's Red Bank Town Hall on Health Care changed his mind about health care reform.
Check out :55 seconds in. See the guy in the blue tee shirt? He's the guy I talked about in my diary, The Crucible yesterday. Whipping the room into a complete incoherent frenzy.
Says Donohue:
Anything those people are against, I should be for.
And check out 5:23! Donohue captures a lady outside, manic, wild-eyed, and wailing about the Death Plan of Obama.
When I checked the ActBlue page to see who took the pledge to support a public option, highly regarded progressive representative Frank Pallone isn't on there.
On Saturday following the Healthcare Town Hall from President Obama, Alicia Menendez appeared on MSNBC with GOP strategist Joe Watkins to provide analysis of the President's town hall and where we stand on the healthcare debate:Much of the talk today has centered around how the President may be ready to abandon the public option altogether from the bill and compromise it away. Governor Dean was on Morning Joe today speculating that he thought the Public option would be dropped in the Senate version, but will be in the House version and added back in during the reconciliation process to get it in the final bill. If you haven't called your member of Congress to tell them what you want included in the health insurance reform package, what are you waiting for? The President will continue with his Town Halls today in Phoenix.
While they still work to reach an agreement on a healthcare bill, Congressman Lance is ahead of the curve announcing his opposition. Lance says that the healthcare plan being discussed in Congress would do more harm than good:
Lance opposes the public insurance option, among other aspects of the plan, and cited it as a reason he disagrees with President Obama that no one who currently is satisfied with his or her health plan would be forced to change.
"My concern is that it will not be an even playing field," Lance said. "And although initially no one will be forced into it, over time, many Americans will be forced into it, particularly Americans who work for small businesses."
He said there would be rationing of services under a public plan. Private insurers already make decisions that can limit procedures and other services to which their customers have access, but Lance said public health-care systems in Canada and Western Europe suggest rationing would be worse under a government plan.
As if it's an even playing field now? And it's amazing how he can admit there is rationing currently, but claim that a program which doesn't exist yet could be worse, therefore he won't even consider the any facts to the contrary. Also, he says no one will be forced, but then tries to create a scenario by which he can reach his desired conclusion.
Lance said he has a policy of relying on CBO findings. He was one of only eight Republicans in the House to vote in favor of an energy bill in June that included a cap-and-trade system for cutting carbon emissions. He said he made the decision based in part on an assessment by the CBO that nationally people could expect to see a $175 increase in annual energy costs by 2020.
So I'm assuming this means Lance will now reconsider his opposition to the public option, given the latest CBO report that says private insurers could handle the competition from a government option. Maybe he just wants to keep the private rationing he already acknowledges we have.
Congressman Andrews joined Nicole Sandler to talk about healthcare on Air America Radio. She got a bit of a shock before the interview, which shaped the discussion that ensued. From her post previewing the interview with the Congressman:
I had him scheduled for an interview, and he called in for the taping at the tail end of a long-drawn out phone call with my daughter's (now former) health insurance company, during which I was informed that her policy had been canceled in December!
As I told you, I got a bit emotional while explaining what happened to him, but decided to leave the interview as it happened because it's real. What happened to us is happening to families all over the country, and it must stop.
We're hearing real, human stories like this... and we need to keep hearing them to put faces to the problems inherent in the sham of a system we have today, in order to effect the change we need!
Recently, I posted a diary that outlines an initiative we are undertaking here at Blue Jersey with respect to the upcoming health care legislation as it relates to the public option. While most of the NJ Congressional delegation supports a public option, only Rush Holt and Donald Payne have committed to NOT SUPPORT a bill that did not have a public option. And, as I said in that diary, as well as on Blue Jersey Radio last week, that is why we here at Blue Jersey are going to ask you - the Blue Jersey community - to help whip our fine Representatives into shape.
We will be focusing on each of the six other NJ House Democrats and then probably the three republicans (LoBiondo, Lance, Smith), and will go in order of District. We did a diary on Rep. Rob Andrews (NJ-1) last week, and another yesterday focusing on Rep. John Adler (NJ-3) (if you missed them, please read them and take action there as well). Today's focus is on Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6).
Please call his office and thank him support for a strong public option and for "Standing with Dr. Dean" on health care reform. Most importantly, since Rep. Pallone is a strong supporter of REAL heath care reform, and has more of a hand in crafting whatever bill gets passed in reconciliation than most, if not all of the other NJ Representatives, he understands what is at stake here. Therefore, it is important to make sure that he would not only commit to vote against a watered down bill that may ultimately be produced in reconciliation that will either (1) not include a strong public option (as outlined in either HR 676 or the current House bill) or (2) will include a "trigger", but also to do all that he can to make sure that the ultimate bill includes a strong public option. A "strong public option" includes the following:
available nationwide;
on day one
and accountable to Congress and the voters
Please report your findings in the comments section below. Additionally, FireDogLake has a "whip tool" that you can fill out with the applicable information, if you are able to get anything definitive (either good, bad or neutral). Also, please get the name and title (and whatever other applicable information) from whomever you speak to.
A little bit about Representative Frank Pallone, Jr.
Thanks so much and we really appreciate your help and participation. I am sure the hundreds of thousands of uninsured and underinsured New Jerseyans thank you even more.
***************************
Our next diary will focus on Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-8).
Recently, I posted a diary that outlines an initiative we are undertaking here at Blue Jersey with respect to the upcoming health care legislation as it relates to the public option. While most of the NJ Congressional delegation supports a public option, only Rush Holt and Donald Payne have committed to NOT SUPPORT a bill that did not have a public option. And, as I said in that diary, as well as on Blue Jersey Radio last week, that is why we here at Blue Jersey are going to ask you - the Blue Jersey community - to help whip our fine Representatives into shape.
We will be focusing on each of the six other NJ House Democrats and then probably the three republicans (LoBiondo, Lance, Smith), and will go in order of District. We did Rep. Rob Andrews (NJ-1) last week, and today we are focusing on Rep. John Adler (NJ-3). We are also coordinating this effort with DFA-NJ, and with your participation, this could be a great way to show how the progressive community in NJ can work together to accomplish great things. Before I get into it though, I have one request: Please go to this diary and read the "rules" in terms of some general requests for when you call the Representatives.
What we need you to do
Rep. Adler's contact information is below:
DC Phone:202-225-4765
DC Fax:202-225-0778
Please call his office and thank him support for a strong public option and for "Standing with Dr. Dean" on health care reform. Most importantly, due to his lack of strong statements and his involvement in centrist Democratic policies and coalitions, we really want to try and get his staff (or him) on record to not just support a public option in its current form, but to vote against a watered down bill that may ultimately be produced in reconciliation that will either (1) not include a strong public option (as outlined in either HR 676 or the current House bill) or (2) will include a "trigger". A "strong public option" includes the following:
available nationwide;
on day one
and accountable to Congress and the voters
Please report your findings in the comments section below. Additionally, FireDogLake has a "whip tool" that you can fill out with the applicable information, if you are able to get anything definitive (either good, bad or neutral). Also, please get the name and title (and whatever other applicable information) from whomever you speak to.
And while you are calling, if you could also call Representative Rob Andrews (DC Phone: 202-225-6501) if you missed last week's diary, and report the responses at this link , that would be doubly great.
Thanks so much and we really appreciate your help and participation. I am sure the hundreds of thousands of uninsured and underinsured New Jerseyans thank you even more.
***************************
Our next diary will focus on Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-6).
Here is some video of Senator Menendez holding a press conference with fellow Finance Committee members Schumer and Stabenow to call on health insurance companies to do their part in health care reform.
The last point the Senator makes is about the importance of having a public option. We haven't seen him say he'd vote against a bill without a public option in it, but are currently working on keeping track with the Blue Jersey Public Option Whip count. You can help us get the members of Congress on the record.
New Jersey has a sizeable single-payer constituency, and this is for them. Blue Jersey's approach is different, but we thank you very much for stopping in here to advocate, Congressman - - - promoted by Rosi Efthim
Dear Blue Jersey - we've gotten to know each over the years - I've been a guest on Blue Jersey Radio and I got to meet many of you at the 2007 Garden State Equality Gala. Most importantly, I've been relying on BlueJersey to update me on Garden State activities.
I'm in the process of reaching out to blogs in every state. I'm writing today to ask you to urge your congressional delegation to support a single-payer healthcare option. We have the support of over 85 members of Congress, millions of Americans and countless physicians and nurses.
Below the thread is a message that I am pushing in all 50 states - a message that we sent out to our database of over 150,000 members - I hope you will consider calling your member of Congress today.
Up top again, for the night ... so you can see the action project we're launching. Next up, Rep. John Adler, after a news cycle dominated by President Barack Obama (yeah, I love saying that). Stay tuned.- - Rosi
Over the weekend, I posted a diary that outlines an initiative we are undertaking here at Blue Jersey with respect to the upcoming health care legislation as it relates to the public option. While most of the NJ Congressional delegation supports a public option, only Rush Holt and Donald Payne have committed to NOT SUPPORT a bill that did not have a public option.
And, as I said in that diary, as well as on Blue Jersey Radio last night, that is why we here at Blue Jersey are going to ask you - the Blue Jersey community - to help whip our fine Representatives into shape.
We will be focusing on each of the six other NJ House Democrats and then probably the three republicans (LoBiondo, Lance, Smith), and will go in order of District, which brings us to Rep. Rob Andrews (NJ-1). We are also coordinating this effort with DFA-NJ, and with your participation, this could be a great way to show how the progressive community in NJ can work together to accomplish great things.
Before I get into it though, I have two requests/rules - please please follow them, as they are not difficult at all:
When you call the Congressman?s (and eventually Senator's) office, please be very respectful. You will likely be talking to a staffer, and they will hopefully be getting a lot of calls about this issue, so we want to make sure that we are productive. If you can get a name, that would be excellent too, so we can compile everything.
Just as important, please keep the topic of the call to the public option and trying to get a pledge that the Representative will vote against a bill without a public option. I know that many people (myself included) feel that single payer is the best answer, however, President Obama does not want single payer now, nor does the current House bill contain anything regarding single payer. The Senate bill will most likely be more watered down, and any discussion on single payer, while noble, will only distract from the issue at hand, and will tie up Congressional staffers from receiving other calls regarding this initiative.
What we need you to do
Rep. Andrews' contact information is below:
DC Phone: 202-225-6501
DC Fax: 202-225-6583
Please call his office and most importantly, thank him for the work he and his committee has done in order to bring a strong health care bill to the House floor, as well as his support for a strong public option (if you want to thank him for his support of single payer, that's great too, but not the major purpose here). Secondly, we want to try and get his staff (or him) on record to not just support a public option in its current form, but to vote against a watered down bill that may ultimately be produced in reconciliation that will either (1) not include a strong public option or (2) will include a "trigger". A "strong public option" includes the following:
available nationwide;
on day one
and accountable to Congress and the voters
Please report your findings in the comments section below. Additionally, FireDogLake has a "whip tool" that you can fill out with the applicable information, if you are able to get anything definitive (either good, bad or neutral).
Thanks so much and we really appreciate your help and participation. I am sure the hundreds of thousands of uninsured and underinsured New Jerseyans thank you even more.
***************************
Our next diary will focus on Freshman Representative John Adler (NJ-3).
We're going to do what we can do to keep this issue up top, and we're going to ask your help to do that. Stay tuned .... promoted back up by Rosi
For those of you who missed the Blue Jersey Radio interview with Congressman Rush Holt a couple of weeks back, the good folks at FireDogLake took notice of the fact that he "took the pledge" to not just support a bill with a public option, but also to vote against a bill that did not have a public option.
If you didn't know, FireDogLake has been doing an outstanding job of whipping Democrats in Congress on the public option, and sadly, only two NJ Democrats are on the list of those who have committed to NOT SUPPORT a bill that did not have a public option. Those two are Holt and Donald Payne (NJ-10). Now, that is not to say that the other 6 NJ House Democrats (or the 5 House republicans - HAH!) would not only support a public option but would vote against a bill without one, but you can never be too careful or sure.
That is why we here at Blue Jersey are going to ask you - the Blue Jersey community - to help whip our fine Representatives into shape.
Stay tuned - we will be focusing on each of the six other NJ House Democrats but feel free to contact your Representative if he is a republican (other than myself, who knows that Garrett is beyond a lost cause) and let us know how you make out. We will be posting contact information for the Representatives, as well as information as to their comments and responses.
What we are looking for, as so eloquently stated on FDL, is as follows:
Progressive members of Congress need to draw a line in the sand and demand a public health insurance option -- something 76% of Americans want.
They need to Take the Pledge to vote against any health care bill that doesn't have a public plan which is:
available nationwide;
on day one
and accountable to Congress and the voters
Please call progressive members of Congress and ask them to Take the Pledge now.
At the link above ( this link), there is a space to input what you hear from the staffer or whoever else when you call.
We think this is a great way for the Blue Jersey community to come together and really take action for something that is so very important. Hopefully, we can do some great things here.
UPDATED BY JASON: We had a great conversation with the Congressman, who was extremely candid on both the healthcare issue and the Christie debacle. Have a listen and let us know what you think in the comments. We tried to ask all of the questions that were suggested to us. The audio is embedded to the right.
UPDATE: The Congressman's a great "get," and a lively guest. Health care debate's in full boil, and he's right in the middle of it. And in less than 48 hours, Chris Christie's finally - finally - testifying before Congress, and Pallone and Rep. Pascrell will be there. Got questions? Call in tonight 646-652-2773, or drop your questions in Comments. Show starts 8pm - - Rosi
Among the topics of discussion on the agenda are the health care plan released the other day and healthcare reform in general. We will also talk about the questions he would like answers to from Chris Christie, who will testify about deferred prosecution agreements on Thursday. If you can't call in, let us know in the thread what questions you would like answers to and we'll try to work them in.
As always, WE'LL DO IT LIVE! - from 8:00p-8:30p tonight, Tuesday, and you can too. Just call: 646-652-2773
Promoted by Jason Springer: There has been a good deal of talk about healthcare. What do you want to see included?
Last week marked 6 months on the job for President Obama and the 111th Congress. Together, we've already accomplished a lot when it comes to health care reform. Though we've taken the first major steps to reform our broken health care system, there are still many steps left until we finish the job.
This week President Obama addressed the American Medical Association and stressed the important role doctors will play in overhauling our health care system. As the New York Times opined just this past weekend, doctors largely decide what procedures or treatments are performed on patients. Everyone should know that the reforms will preserve the doctor-patient relationship. Those who want to keep the insurance they have and the doctors they have can do so. Nothing in the reforms will allow anyone or anything to come between doctors and patients in making health care decisions.
Bob Menendez is a member of the Senate Finance Committee. Right now the Senate Finance Committee is holding meetings on health care reform. The public option is on the table (a public health insurance plan to compete with private insurance companies). The problem is that many members of the Senate Finance Committee are bought and paid for by the insurance lobby, and the insurance lobby doesn't want the competition. Consequently, they are trying to kill the public option any way they can. We need to contact members of the Senate Finance Committee (that's B-o-b M-e-n-e-n-d-e-z) and tell them we want a public option and no "trigger plan".
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UPDATED BY JASON: We had a great conversation with the Congressman, who was extremely candid on both the healthcare issue and the Christie debacle. Have a listen and let us know what you think in the comments. We tried to ask all of the questions that were suggested to us. The audio is embedded to the right.
