For years, candidates for, and members of, Congress told us that we needed to elect and re-elect them in order to lower health care costs and provide universal coverage. And so, for years, we dutifully worked our collective asses off, delivering wide majorities for Democrats--who said they would lower health care costs and provide universal coverage--in both branches of Congress.
Now, when it comes time for them to deliver on health care by providing a public option--the bare minimum required to reduce costs and provide universal coverage--what we are getting instead are backroom deals, flip-flops, and cop-outs.
We know what time it is. We have waited long enough. Now is the time for quality, affordable health care we can all count on.
The insurance industry knows what time it is too. So in pursuit of real health care reform, we find ourselves wading into muddy waters. Insurance companies--the opponents of real reform--have gone to great lengths to dress up their counter-proposals to appear beneficial to the health of the American people rather than to the health of corporate bottom lines. They say they want reform, and create "grassroots" organizations to push for it, but what they really want are profit protections.
This makes Lieberman the only member of Connecticut's Congressional Delegation who does not support the public option. More than anybody else, Joe Lieberman needs to hear from his constituents. Send him an e-mail asking him to explain his opposition to the public option to you himself.
The Senate is poised to be--in the words of Chris Bowers--"the biggest hurdle on health care." We need to find out where our Senators stand on the public option now, so that we know who to thank, and who to persuade. In the extended text, you can see all of the tools for contacting your Senators.
Joe Lieberman is up to his old tricks, undermining the Democratic Congress's efforts to pass an effective stimulus bill. Lieberman is supporting a version of the bill that would end up killing jobs, raising property taxes, reducing investment in green building, and cutting off vital infrastructure projects. The stimulus bill that was passed in the House is getting beaten down in the Senate, and Lieberman is carrying one of the clubs.
Just days ago CT's Congressional delegation and economic leaders championed the many benefits this bill would deliver:
Larry Summers, director of the National Economic Council, said Tuesday that the White House stimulus package could create up to 44,000 jobs in Connecticut, the majority of which would be in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
"The program will include the largest investment in the backbone of the American economy, our basic infrastructure --roads, transit, broadband, schools -- since the interstate highway system," Summers said in a meeting with reporters in the Old Executive Office Building.
Himes said when it comes to infrastructure, transit is the most important issue facing Norwalk and Fairfield County, but there are issues with government buildings and utilities that cannot be ignored.
"The schools are crumbling and the sewage systems are not up to snuff," Himes said in a telephone interview.
[T]he group had drafted a list of nearly $90 billion in cuts, including $40 billion in aid for states, more than $14 billion for various education programs, $4.1 billion to make federal buildings energy efficient and $1.5 billion for broadband Internet service in rural areas.
So, just when state residents were starting to feel hopeful about getting through this crisis without too much pain, Lieberman pulls the rug. It seriously makes you wonder if Lieberman enjoys watching bridges collapse and schools fall apart.
UPDATE Republicans Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe are voting more consistently with Democrats on the stimulus bill than Lieberman is. See the chart. (h/t Jonk, CTBlue)
This message went out to our members this morning, but I know that members of the MLN community are as eager to take action as anyone. Call Joe today!
Call Sen. Lieberman and Demand Quality, Affordable Health Care for All
Dear Friend,
The insurance industry is pushing for less regulation. They want more leeway to drop people with pre-existing conditions and deny you care. Today, people around the country are standing up and calling Congress to stop them.
Call Joe Lieberman and stop the insurance lobbyists! Dial 1-888-436-8427
For months now the insurance industry has been on tour, pushing for more industry-friendly policies. And even though massive deregulation is what caused the current financial crisis that threatens our economy, the insurance industry wants more deregulation so they can take more of your money and give you less in return.
The industry has said that they are fundamentally against the real solutions we need: A guarantee of quality, affordable health care for everyone in America. So today across America, we're engaging all of our partners and supporters to have thousands of people call Congress and demand real health care reform. The insurance industry has made it clear where they stand, but do your Members of Congress know where you stand?
Give Senator Joe Lieberman a call. Demand quality, affordable health care for all! Dial 1-888-436-8427
With health care costs rising and wages falling, causing one bankruptcy every nineteen seconds, it's clear any solution to America's economic crisis has to include health care reform. Even if you've called your Members of Congress before, please do so again. So far, we have over 100 Members of Congress on board (and four from CT) with our effort, but that isn't enough to win health care reform yet.
We need your voice!
Congress works for you! Call Senator Joe Lieberman today and demand health care reform. Dial 1-888-436-8427
We are not going to allow our health care system to the point that our banking system did. Please make your voice heard.
To Your Health,
Phil Sherwood
Deputy Director, CT Citizen Action Group
P.S. Please forward this action alert to your family, friends and neighbors.
Disclosure: I am the Online Organizer for Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG)
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