2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumI Speak My Mind, Because It’s the Only One I’ve Got
In one of Philip Dicks novels, I think possibly Our Friends from Frolix 8, two guys are sitting in a bar on another planet, talking to each other. The first one says to the second one that he remembers him fondly. The second one, embarrassed, confesses to the first one that he doesnt recognize him. The first one explains that thats because when they were together previously, he had a different head.
I had that on my mind when I was introduced on local TV recently by a news anchor who had invited me to do something that I often am asked to do, to wit, defend Obamacare. The anchor said that I had a reputation for speaking that aforesaid mind. With that in mind, the following speaking ensued:
Greg Warmoth: Hi folks, and welcome back to Central Florida Spotlight. Today, Im joined by Congressman Alan Grayson, an Orlando Democrat from Floridas 9th Congressional District with a reputation for speaking his mind, and being very clear about his position on the issues. Congressman, thanks for joining us again today. With that intro, would that be accurate?
AMG: Thanks. You know, I speak my mind because who elses mind would I speak, right? Its got to be my mind, nobody elses.
GW: Having that outspoken nature, has that gotten you good publicity? Bad publicity? The publicity you want?
AMG: I dont think that much about it, but I do think people appreciate someone whos a straight talker. That much is clear. I think that voters are entitled to know whats on your mind. If youre going to ask for their vote, they need to know whats honestly on your mind, what youre going to do for them. And people know that, when I make a promise, Im going to keep it.
GW: Lets talk about what happened [in Congress recently]. Congratulations on being re-elected, by the way.
AMG: Thanks -- by a double-digit margin, in a very bad year for my party.
GW: Thats my next point.
AMG: Yes.
GW: It was not a good year. Republicans are now solidly in control. How will you reach across the aisle?
AMG: The same way that I have [reached across the aisle]. Slate magazine said that I was the most effective Member of Congress, Democratic or Republican, in the past two years. And I passed more amendments on the Floor of the House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, than anyone [else], either Democratic or Republican. Over thirty amendments in the course of two years.
GW: It was not a good run for the Democrats. A lot of your fellow Democrats are not back in Washington now. [Was that] a wake-up call?
AMG: No, I dont think so. I think the other side successfully vilified the President and made it seem like the President had been ineffective, when in fact the country is better off than it was when it was on the precipice of a Great Depression six years ago. And now we have 10 million people who have health coverage who didnt have it a year ago. So there was a lot that was accomplished, but the Republicans, without putting forth any positive program of their own, nevertheless vilified the President, and they did so successfully.
GW: Lets talk about that, Obamacare. Some would call it successful, from your vantage point. Others would say its nothing but an expensive way of forcing people into health care, and yet theres a gap with millions of people still uninsured.
AMG: Well, lets look at some of the things that have been accomplished. There are 40 million people who had a pre-existing health condition and couldnt get private insurance. Now they can. We have 170 million women in the population; they used to have to pay more for their health coverage, because they are women. Now they dont have to pay more for their health care any longer. We have dramatically expanded Medicaid in those states that were open to it, and weve put, as I said earlier, 10 million people in a position where now they can see a doctor when theyre sick, and before, they couldnt afford to do so. I think those are very important accomplishments. If you can show me someone who has been forced to buy health care, Id like to meet that person. I think thats a bum rap.
(file footage of Die Quickly speech plays in background)
GW: You had that outspoken moment on the Hill with your sign, the Republicans [healthcare] plan. I saw you smile when I brought that back up. It became a viral moment for you.
AMG: Oh, without any question, sure. And the reason why it was is because it hit on a deep truth. Republicans need to learn that you cant fight something with nothing. And one of the most offensive elements of their continuing obsession with repealing Obamacare is the fact that they want to replace it with nothing. We need to make health care universal in this country. We need to make sure that sick people can see a doctor. We need to make it affordable. We need to make it comprehensive, so that it actually covers the things that you need to have covered.
GW: Youve also worked with taxes. How are you going to ensure the extension of certain tax provisions?
AMG: I think thats one of our big accomplishments, one of my big accomplishments. . . . I passed nine bills in the last week [of the Congressional term], unchanged from the form that I had submitted them, in a Republican-controlled legislature, to dramatically extend middle-class tax cuts for Americans. Let me give you an example: a lot of people dont realize this, but as of [Dec. 31, 2014], we were facing repeal of the tax break that you get on your taxes because [in Florida] we have state sales taxes but not income taxes. That was going to end as of December 31st. I extended that. Let me give you another example. Do you own a home?
GW: Yes.
AMG: Okay. Do you pay mortgage insurance?
GW: No.
AMG: Okay. Many people do. There is a deduction for mortgage insurance that was due to lapse, expire on December 31st. I extended that for a year.
GW: Thats the PMI?
AMG: Thats right. We passed a total of nine of these that I introduced back in January, after lobbied heavily with the Republican majority in order to get them extended. The Republicans were initially resistant; they wanted to have tax cuts only for businesses. Eventually they relented, and we saw nine of those passed in the order that I introduced them back in January, unchanged word for word. That was a tremendous accomplishment.
I mention these things as often as I can because Im trying to make a point: You can be a Progressive, and you can win. Not just win elections, but also make the world a better place.
You wont find me feeling sorry after a bad election. You will find me scratching and clawing, with all ten fingers, to improve the lives of ordinary people, any way that I can.
Courage,
Rep. Alan Grayson
SamKnause
(13,039 posts)safeinOhio
(32,527 posts)keep up the good work.
virgdem
(2,119 posts)and for being one of the lone voices of sanity in the insane asylum that is the House of Representatives.