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.
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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).
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).
