Whip Congress For A Public Option


I received an email about Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Polis who stood up to demand the Senate pass a public option using budget reconciliation.

Follow this link to see the Pingree/Polis letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

In the link to the current set of 64 supporters, I found some interesting names from the state where I now live and from the state where I lived before this one.

Rep. Michael Capuano    MA-08   Supporter
Rep. Bill Delahunt      MA-10   Supporter
Rep. Barney Frank       MA-04   Supporter
Rep. Ed Markey          MA-07   Supporter
Rep. Jim McGovern       MA-03   Supporter
Rep. John Olver         MA-01   Supporter

Rep. Earl Blumenauer    OR-03   Supporter
Rep. Peter DeFazio      OR-04   Supporter
Rep. David Wu           OR-01   Supporter

Way to go Michael Capuano, my preference for the Democrat who should have won the primary for Massachusetts Senator in the recent special election.

I note that David Wu was my representative when we lived in Oregon.

In the post Going Nuclear – Path To Passing Health Care Reform, I noted my telephone call to Richard Neal.

Rep. Richard Neal       MA-02   Unknown

I just made another phone call. In a voice mail message to Rep. Neil’s chief of staff, Anna Jablon, I noted the Massachusetts Democrats who had already signed on.  I said I would like to see Rep. Neal’s name on the list.

Here is the email I mentioned above:

Steven –

Just two days ago, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Polis stood up to demand the Senate pass a public option using “budget reconciliation.” To make sure they’re voices are heard with as much force as possible, they’re asking House Democrats to join them by signing on to a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid demanding it.

Thanks to their leadership and the thousands of phone calls from members of Democracy for America, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and CREDO Action, now 64 House Democrats are demanding the Senate take action.

These 64 Healthcare Heroes are a powerful force, but we must not stop now. We need to call every single House Democrat and get them on board.

CHECK OUT THE LIST OF SIGNERS – AND MAKE YOUR CALL RIGHT NOW

Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the House Democrats don’t have the votes to pass the Senate healthcare bill without changes. The media continues to report that Democrats in Washington can’t figure out the way forward since the loss of Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat.

But these 64th House Democrats are fighting for a plan that would get the job done and deliver the votes needed to pass real reform. The strategy is working. This morning’s 64 signer to the letter was Representative Scott Murphy from New York, who voted against the House bill last year, proving we’re not just fighting for real reform — we’re delivering the votes to win.

MAKE YOUR CALL RIGHT NOW

We hear people all the time wondering if making a phone call even works. It’s a good question; fortunately the answer is a resounding YES. Don’t believe me? After California Congressman John Garamendi signed onto the letter, his office had this to say to the press:

“When the phone calls started pouring in, it helped alert us to this letter. Now it’s yet another way for the Congressman to fight for the public option.”
– Spokesman for Congressman Garamendi

Our strategy is working. Keep building on the momentum. Please make your call now.

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America

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