One More Push
by digby
The Progressive Congress Action Fund along with HCAN, Move On and a bunch of other groups are gearing up for a major push to get HCR over the line. They have organized a virtual march on Washington, hoping to flood the congress with calls demanding that they get this thing done.
If you have some energy left to try to get this over the finish line, you can sign up here for details. (I can guarantee that this is a legitimate action and they are not doing this simply to fish for your email address.)
Here’s more from DKos:
Procedures and what can you expect on February 24th. We need All Hands on February 24th. Can we all put aside our differences and join together in one common purpose, because our lives depend on it, to make healthcare a reality? The 1,000,000 Voices campaign will be rolled out to the media starting on Monday. We’ll keep you advised of all developments as they happen.On the MoveOn 1,000,000 Voices Virtual March on Washington web site, which will go live early in the morning of February 24th, you’ll be able to use their incredible tools to contact Congress and the Senate and to take the action of your choice–call, email, fax or write.…
Some of you have asked about what message to deliver. The overall message is very, very simple. PASS HEALTHCARE REFORM. Each organization will ask it’s members to call, email, fax, or write a letter. If you decide to call, you’ll be offered talking points. You’re free to use them or not, whatever moves you. Just take an action–call, email, fax, letter–it’s all about 1,000,000 contacts on February 24th. Since the Public Option may be gaining life again, if this is something you support, then please demand a public option. If you would prefer not to make that demand, that’s also fine. These are the talking points which resonate with us. You’re free to use them or not, it’s your choice.
The call-in effort will be to ask for these items below in the reconciliation fix, and directing these calls at the House and the Senate. * Inclusion of the public option
* The Medicare buy-in
* Fixing the excise tax
* Getting rid of the Nebraska Cornhusker Kickback deal
* National exchange
* Drug re-importation
* Drug price negotiation in Medicare Part D
* Increasing subsidies. Why are we aiming high? Because we need to do our best, and always fight to the end in making this Senate bill better.On the other hand, if you believe the best route to getting a bill passed is for the House to simply vote to pass the Senate Bill, you are free to make that your “ask”. And we thank you too, for participating. All we ask, is that you take an action.
It’s worth trying, for sure. The Democrats in congress are going to get hammered no matter what they do, so there’s no point in not passing it. And, as Krugman points out in his column this morning, the situation is getting worse. The private insurance market is in a death spiral as healthy, unemployed people are dropping their insurance because they can’t afford it. This is going to get worse and worse, especially if the economy stays flat. They have nothing to lose by passing this and it’s just possible that it may ameliorate at least some of the problems.
(My biggest fear is that health care will be passed in exchange for gutting social security. But hey, I’m sure all of us baby boomers can find work when we’re 80, right? One problem at a time…)
Update: You can also join the PCCC’s campaign to get the Senate to agree to pass the public option in reconciliation, which is gaining some momentum.
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