We’ll soon have more to say about Thursday’s health care reform summit, but first wanted to share some good observations written by Ezra Klein of the Washington Post (a sharp, gifted young blogger-reporter who knows policy like a wonk but explains it in plain...
public option
Mr. President, Press Senate for Public Option Through Reconciliation
An open letter to President Obama on the eve of the bipartisan health care reform summit: February 24, 2010 Dear President Obama: I am writing to you as an Organizing for America volunteer to thank you for calling Thursday’s health reform summit, getting the ball...
“Winter of Our Discontent”
In the already-dark of the shortest day of the year, the first day of winter, rather than denying the obvious it feels appropriate to acknowledge a certain lowness of spirits, a mood that the holidays will warm temporarily but not dispel altogether. “Winter of our...
Senate Dems, Stop: Go to Reconciliation (51 Votes)
“Not Health, Not Care, Not Reform” Ed. Note: The writer of this post volunteered for about a half-dozen Organizing for America phone banks to ask voters to call their senators to press for a public option. The Senate Democrats’ over-compromised health reform...
“We Need Strong Leadership” on Health Care Reform
Talking Points Memo reports that Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), co-chairman of the House Progressive Caucus, released a statement Tuesday that calls “troubling” the White House and Senate Democrats’ compromises on the public option—by this point a mere shadow of the...
It’s Not About You—It’s All About Joe
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETAFMgGTMiQ&feature=player_embedded When long-serving Connecticut senator Joseph Isidore Lieberman lost the Democratic primary to telecommunications executive Ned Lamont in August 2006, rather than bow out as defeated candidates...
“Whose Side Is Senator Landrieu On?”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PwiO44cGPY&feature=player_embedded Public-Funded Health Care Has Been Good Enough for Landrieu Karen Gadbois of Squandered Heritage, besides being a celebrated citizen-blogger + whistle-blower about the New Orleans Affordable...
Read the Senators’ Mail—About Health Care Reform
We fax and mail a lot of letters to members of Congress—often demanding robust flood protection and coastal restoration for Louisiana, and in recent months pressing for health care reform with a strong public option. Sometimes they write back. Below are excerpts from...
Public-Supported Health Care Has Worked for You, Joe Lieberman
“. . . individual senators being able to hold up legislation, which in a sense is an extension of the filibuster . . . it’s just unfair.” —Joseph Lieberman, 1994 Following is a letter we’ve faxed and mailed to the WDC office of Senator Joseph I. Lieberman. (We tried...
Thanks, Harry! Now Let’s Push Harder
Damn liberals are never satisfied . . . Encouraged but not satisfied by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s announcement yesterday of the inclusion of an opt-out version of a public option in the Senate health reform bill that he will bring to a vote, we sent the...
“No Way” Rockefeller Will Support Baucus Plan
Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) announced this afternoon that “there is no way” he could support the health care reform plan drafted by Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and his “(Bipartisan) Gang of Six” to be presented tomorrow, Weds. Sept. 16. Senator...
Robert Reich on the Public Option
And How to Make It Happen
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBi8A_HutII “Unless you make a helluva racket” the status quo is going to win this thing. Former labor secretary Robert Reich explains the basic idea of the public option and urges everyone to pitch in to make it happen—Yes We...
Warming Up for Obama
Senators: Support Public Option, Kennedy’s HELP Committee Plan Tonight President Obama gives a rather important speech to a joint session of Congress. To say we wish him well would be an understatement. We spent most of the day warming up his audience by faxing and...