Weiner Amendment Back on Table! Call Congress Today For Single Payer

[clear eye]

Thanks to all the calls, Rep. Pelosi said the Weiner amendment will be up for a vote today or tomorrow.

Even if you haven't done so before, Call your member of Congress now (yes, NOW) to ask that they vote YES to the best system for health financing known. If you can't get through on the DC number, call the local district office.

If you've got a couple of extra minutes, email them, too, using the contact feature on their website. The Urls for congresspeople are "last name.house.gov".

If you're reading this after-hours, leave a message. Let them FEEL how this vote won't slip by their constituents unnoticed.

[clear eye]

1. So many people are calling that the DC lines are tied up. Call the local #

instead if you can't get through. One member of Congress in NYS has his entire website unavailable due to excess traffic.

If you can't get the phone # by bringing up the website, Google the name and word "telephone" and lots of results w/ the numbers will come up. The numbers are also in most phone books.

[clear eye]

2. BTW, please keep this kicked to let everyone know

that the Weiner amendment is going to get its vote!

Remember, the point of calling is to let Representatives know that we're watching, and that there is political fallout for a "no" vote.

[clear eye]

3. We succeeded in getting Pelosi to reverse herself. (again)

Now we have to bring it home.

[CTyankee]

5. Am I the only one that thinks this is all kabuki theater?

I'm wondering if much of this is just a show...that these "developments" are part of a well thought out plan...

[clear eye]

6. So what?

It doesn't matter what their strategy for putting this up is. (We already know we're up against corporate lobbying and their PACs.) The calls to members will show them we're watching and we aren't fooled.

[CTyankee]

22. Oh, I've made my calls, believe me. I was just wondering how much of this is staged

and how much is real life drama. Which it may very well be. But we know that deals are made behind the scenes...

[bdamomma]

4. kick

[clear eye]

8. Thanks.

Please, supporters of SP, the volume of response from citizens today MATTERS. And each member we get to commit for this, will be one we can count on in the future.

So, keep this kicked.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. K&R

[Cleita]

9. Meh, my Congressman is a Republican and he has stated he will vote

no to any government health plan. He knows I don't vote for him, so he doesn't care what I think. I will I guess leave a message on Nancy Pelosi's voice mail and email her. I can also call Lois Capps, the democratic Congresswoman in the next district. Her telephone and other information are in my local phone directory.

[Vidar]

10. K&R

[Laelth]

11. The Weiner amendment is useless hot air. It's the Kucinich Amendment that matters.

I could care less wheteher single-payer gets a debate on the house floor. It's going to fail. There's no point in insisting on a vote for it.

The Kucinich Amendment, however, really matters. Here's why:

California will pass single-on its own in 2011. The Kucinich Amendment will give California a waiver from Federal ERISA law that will allow the state to do it. All California will need, then, is a Democratic Governor. The legislature has already passed the bill. Schwarzenegger vetoed it. Once California has single-payer, most (if not all) states will follow suit.

It's likely that if we pass a new law now, the new law will preempt single-payer, i.e. the Federal law will preempt state law and prevent states from enacting a single-payer system.

THIS is what the health insurance companies fear. THIS is what brought them to the bargaining table. THIS is why they are not fighting Obama's tepid reforms, and THIS is why it is extremely important that we do not pass any health insurance reform bill this year.

Let's not settle for a bail-out of the health insurance industry. Let's insist on the eradication of it. In all likelihood, California will lead the way in 2011 ... if we can just give them time.

:dem:

-Laelth

[clear eye]

14. It's not one or the other.

The Kucinich amendment passing would be really important. I've been calling for it to be restored, along w/ asking for a vote on Weiner, all week. Apparently, Pelosi's corporate masters told her "no Kucinich amendment in bill", so she's not wavering on that. But just because it didn't look likely, didn't make me stop calling her office to get her to allow it.

Since you want single-payer, you should realize that defeating yourself before the opposition does, is not a useful tactic. And dividing supporters by insisting they support single-payer only the way you want them to support it, isn't either.

The vote will get at least some Reps. on record in support. This will matter in future efforts. And I suspect there will be more yesses than expected. For instance, NY Rep. John Hall, who didn't co-sponsor H.R. 676, said that if Weiner's amendment got a floor vote he will vote yes. His constituents are calling to hold him to it. Do you think they shouldn't?

[Laelth]

19. I think the vote should not come to the floor.

The Republicans will use it to prove that "Americans don't really want single-payer." "See," they will say, "it could not even pass in the 'liberal' House of Representatives led by Nancy Pelosi."

It would be better not to have this vote on the record.

:dem:

-Laelth

[jtrockville]

12. FWIW, I just contacted vanhollen.house.gov

[clear eye]

16. Whatever happens, at least you didn't give up beforehand. n/t

[jtrockville]

18. I won't give up afterwards either.

Single-payer is the only cost-effective solution. Plus it eliminates the profit-driven-middle-man who currently sits between me and my health care provider.

I'm not under any illusion that we'll get it now - the health insurance industry and pharma own our congress. But we have to try. And we have to keep trying until we get it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Done. Called a local office.

[redqueen]

15. It seems the amendment has been withdrawn. (nt)

[jtrockville]

20. Weiner withdrew it!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/anthony-weiner/2009/11/

...
"I have decided not to offer a single payer alternative to the health reform bill at this time," says Weiner in a statement. "Given how fluid the negotiations are on the final push to get comprehensive health care reform that covers millions of Americans and contains costs through a public option, I became concerned that my amendment might undermine that important goal."

I guess someone convinced Weiner that industry-ability-to-gouge is the important goal.

[Wilms]

17. k&r n/t

[Javaman]

21. did you hear that? the weiner is on the table! oh wait...nt

[FourScore]

23. kick