The 111 House Democrats NOT Supporting HR676/Medicare For All

[CousinIT]

TIME TO CALL THEM: 202-224-3121 or http://www.house.gov/representatives/

[mvd]

1. Do you mean they are against it, or just haven't signed on yet?

I e-mailed Jerry Brown's office after his recent stupid statement about single payer. It makes a difference if I know they are against it.

[CousinIT]

2. I suspect it's "haven't signed on" in some cases, opposed in some. They need to hear...

...from their constituents on this. Actually, Dems OUGHT to out there pushing this HARD. RIGHT. NOW. since *resident Dipshit just failed with his Wealthcare crap.

[mvd]

3. Agree 100%. Thanks for the thread!

I will K&R and save the link.

[PatrickforO]

7. EXACTLY!!!!

You said it.

[Hortensis]

41. Why would they expend political capital on something

with absolutely no chance of passing and that would serve as an easy tool to use against them in the next election?

We should not be impressed by those who vote for this either. Since it has no chance of passing, practically by definition they are people for whom it will look good on their resumes and can't hurt.

This isn't some game for amateurs. A lot of strategy goes into these votes.

[mvd]

43. Disagreed on all counts

It's actually popular in opinion polls and we must work toward it. I think it can be a positive come election time. If we don't even try to fight for it, we'll never get it.

I am willing to be patient, but I am firm in having it as a goal.

[Hortensis]

46. Patience. It isn't time for that. THIS is the time

when we let the hyenas the Republicans unloosed in government demonstrate what a horrible mistake their voters made. We do NOT want to distract from that.

THIS is the time when we let the right lose its delusions about what they thought they were going to get and learn what was really behind curtain #3. Doling out evidence of corruption gradually so that ultimately no one can miss it, no matter how long they try to.

THIS is the time when we quietly encourage the right to turn on THEMSELVES and tear each other apart.

THIS is the time when we ask people it would affect (in some cases ourselves?) what they would have done with a minimum wage increase to $15/hour?

Or to speculate what programs they or their relatives might have signed up for if college had only become newly affordable? What new jobs they might have had next year? If only.

Or to congratulate them on having unlimited lifetime coverage for all medical conditions, with no exclusions, for a while longer--until the Republicans take it all away.

[mvd]

47. Yes but has nothing to do with this bill

I meant patience in getting single payer.

[Hortensis]

51. That's a pointless distraction at this time. Won't happen.

Not that the right is going to be noticing at this time. But given that the earliest we could have a move to single payer is AFTER the 2020 election, in 2021, wouldn't these passions be better focused on doing something that might actually help now?

We're going into the next of our hottest summers on record. There are going to be wildfires, floods, etc., etc, all commanding attention. Unfortunately, most conservatives are insulated, literally, from actually feeling the heat, but storms may cause power outages that take out the HVAC. Many people will have to give up their lawns because we're running out of fresh water. How about talking to them about that? Most Republicans now believe we should be combating climate change and will be quietly ashamed as the rest of the world tries to do it without us. Shame is good. Fan it.

Plus, while the ACA is still in effect, the argument for single payer is just not going to ping with most people. Wait until the Republicans threaten to leave them with nothing but worry. THEN it'll be time to ring this bell. Loud!

At this time, as worry starts building, you might, though, just happen to mention to whomever that our Democratic candidates had planned to lower the age for qualifying for Medicare to bring millions more into that single-payer fold. They lost just as hugely as we did and are facing the same grave dangers we are. They just don't know it.

[OnDoutside]

44. And yet the Republicans voted 60 (?) times to repeal Obamacare. It's important for the base.

[mvd]

45. Right on! It's about determination.

[tammywammy]

52. The republicans controlled the House and Senate

Just like they do now. Meaning they control what's brought up in committees and sent to the floor. That's how they were able to vote against ACA so many times. The democrats don't control the House or Senate and their committees. This bill will never be brought up in committee - why would the republicans bring it up? And it would take the republicans to bring it up.

[Hortensis]

55. The batshit-crazy HOUSE voted 60 times.

But go look at the latest figures for support for the ACA. A bare majority of Republicans now want to keep and improve it. Real improvements to work for them, not fake.

Rump's voters and the "Freedom caucus" voters are the same people, and guess what? Most Rump voters thought he would PROTECT their social programs, even as they've come to realize their congressmen are trying to destroy them. It was a big part of Rump's populist appeal to them: he was going to protect them from the Dark Money forces preying on them.

These people aren't ready to abandon their illusions yet, though. Just beginning to be worried but denying it through every orifice. Rump's approval rating among Republicans has dropped all the way from low 90s to low 80s.

IT's NOT TIME YET. They have a long way to go before they turn on him and those who rode him into power.

[MontanaMama]

4. K&R

NOW is the time to push for this. The public is more receptive than ever before. NOW. Before ChumpCare gets any traction on the rebound or there is some other awful distraction. People are ready to hear it.

[msongs]

5. calling hanabusa's office tomorrw here in honolulu nt

[zentrum]

6. Please observe Pelosi's

....name on this list. EOM.

[still_one]

12. So are you telling me this has already gone through Committee, and a date on the Calender been set?

because if it hasn't, accusing someone on the OP's list as being against it, is a false narrative

[zentrum]

16. I'm saying call her...

...and find out. She should be in the lead, given her position. There should be no doubt where she stands. She should set the Democratic model.

[still_one]

18. Do you know what happens if a bill doesn't get out of committee? Do you understand that the

House is controlled by the republicans?

The OP is a false narrative. NONE of these people in this list are necessarily against the bill, but the OP states they are. Until the bill gets out of Committee, and a calendar date set, that is when you find out where they stand.

However, if some want to use it as an excuse to bash some of the Democrats, then this is the perfect way to do

[zentrum]

22. Oh God.

Stop with the bashing Democrats narrative every time a Democratic leader is expected to be stronger.

She should be out front on this before, during and after any procedurals. Like Warren. Given that Pelosi is from California she'd get all the support she needs.

This is a special moment because of the Trump health care debacle where the Dems can swoop in with the single payer demand. Now is the moment. But I'll ask Mr. Committee if that would too impolite.

[still_one]

26. Do you realize how a bill becomes law? The time to contact your representative is if the bill

gets scheduled. That is when you want their support. Right now there is nothing to support

[Kentonio]

28. If a proposed bill has en entire party behind it

And is picking up major press coverage it is much more likely to proceed. This is EXACTLY the time to get people motivated and vocal.

[Ms. Toad]

32. Yes there is. Ask your representative to co-sponsor it. n/t

[zentrum]

35. Nothing to support?

Not talking about just having them support a proposal they can get scheduled in a committee.

That's LEADERSHIP too late and too weak.

They should right now be framing the issue to be the way we want and need it to be instead of waiting, and always only reacting, and always only being defensive.

They should frame pro-actively and get the Democratic party associated with the idea of single payer in the national mind.

Pelosi could be on a Sunday show this month talking about this. Or on Maddow. This is the time to educate the country.

The Repugs never wait. They fight from day one until finally everyone is talking about an issue the way they define it.

Waiting on committee procedure is a way to be irrelevant to a country that feels a sense of high anxiety and is in crisis.

Can you imagine if Pelosi held a Medicare For All rally? What a surprise! The whole momentum of the health care conversation would start shifting.

[PatrickforO]

8. Thank you for posting this!

I'm calling all three from my state tomorrow.

[still_one]

9. Has HR676 been through committee and a calendar date set?

[SaschaHM]

10. Lol No and it probably won't.

It's never too early for folks to start that "we couldn't get Medicare for ALL because xyz Democrat didn't back a dead bill" narrative going before the 2018 primaries.

I guess it was too much for some folks to let the Republicans publicly immolate themselves over healthcare. Might as well let Dems jump into the fire too.

[still_one]

11. That is what I thought, and it sets up a false narrative against these Democrats, who incidently

may not be in opposition to it, but there is very little that can be done unless the republicans in the house allow it.

[SaschaHM]

13. Right and given that the bill has a nice paragraph on taxes to pay for it...

that can easily be misconstrued, I wouldn't be surprised if the Republican party let it come up as a destined to fail amendment to take the heat off themselves.

[still_one]

15. That isn't going to happen Sascha

[SaschaHM]

20. I don't think it's going to, but if this bill picks up steam and heat...

the first republican/right wing media talking point out of the gate is going to be a mangled reason why the Dems want to tax the middle class and take away your freedom to choice an insurer, and it's going to be parroted by every talking head as if this bill ever had a chance to see the light of day.

[zentrum]

23. A lot can be done using a

…a bully pulpit.

The Baggers are a minority but they control everything. They have grown in Congressional and Statehouse strength. Being a minority has not stopped them.

This is not the moment for politics as usual.

The country needs to see the Dems fighting like hell for every Democratic issue.

[still_one]

25. I understand your point, but that is why 2016 was so critical on so many levels.

The majority unfortunately has the bully pulpit.

In regard to this bill, unfortunately, this isn't going to see the light of day. If by some miracle the republicans actually allow it to be scheduled, that is the time to contact your representative

2018

[George II]

39. No, this whole thing provides "Justice Democrats" another opportunity.....

....to take a shot at "establishment" Democrats or, using the new terminology, "liberal elitists".

Based on false propaganda created to unfairly taint Congressional Democrats, perhaps they should reconsider labeling themselves "Justice" Democrats?

[radical noodle]

14. Justice Democrats

Tells me all I need to know about this attack on Democrats.

[still_one]

17. It is very unlikely that the bill will ever get out of committee, so characterizing these

Democrats in the OP as being against the bill is a false narrative

[radical noodle]

19. Yes, I know and that's why I called it an attack on Dems

which is essentially what it is. I've seen "Justice Democrats" elsewhere but I probably can't say where without getting in trouble.

[Eric J in MN]

31. The idea isn't that we should be angry at those Democrats. It's that if

...our Congressperson is one of them, then we should politely ask him or her to co-sponsor. If enough Democrats co-sponsor the bill, it will send a message that the Democratic Party wants everyone to have health care.

[radical noodle]

33. The Subject is totally misleading

and geared to make us angry at those Dems, just as the attack on Cory Booker was misleading a few weeks ago. Fortunately we didn't fall for it.

[George II]

40. If that was their intention, the graphics used might have been more polite in itself. Reread...

...it again, is that an objective presentation, with the "NOT" more than twice the size of "House Democrats" and "Currently Supporting"?

It's clearly intended to show those 111 in a negative manner. And as I said elsewhere, it's doing more harm than good, and it's highly unfair considering that some of the Democrats may just not have gotten around to fully read and pass judgement on the bill.

Remember, it has not been discussed in committee yet, it's just a proposed bill that, even if acted upon, won't happen for months.

[mvd]

50. Profit needs to have no impact on health care

And single payer is the easiest way to achieve this IMO. It's a good mission to call those who haven't signed on to let them know we care.

[herding cats]

21. I think you're (possibly) confusing "co-sponsoring" with supporting here.

Co-sponsors are usually few, but votes can be many. It's how legislation is done. Look at any random bill and see what I'm talking about.

A bunch of co-sponsorships on a dead bill is useless fluff. It's pure "bread and circuses" stuff.

[still_one]

27. Maybe that is it, because unless it gets scheduled there is nothing to support

[Ms. Toad]

54. It is a public statement of support - and often there are many co-sponsors

for that very reason. Even when the bill is not expected to go anywhere.

[synergie]

24. This is a bit of propaganda from "Justice Democrats"

They are a group formed to divide Democrats, funded by Cenk and his Right Wing funded group. Their attack screeds are not something we need to act upon.

[NurseJackie]

34. AhI rememberthe "Justice Democrats" are a shadowy, disreputable group with questionable motives.

Heaven help us from those who wish to divide us.

We must be vigilant.

Cenk is a total asshole... I'm not at all sure what it is that his groupies see in him. He doesn't impress me at all.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

49. I admit that I occasionally enjoy Cenk's TYT rants

when they're directed at Republicans but I tune him out when he starts blasting Democrats for being just as bad (or even worse) than Republicans. Let's not forget that, although he blasts most Democrats for taking corporate cash, his Justice Democrats groups is (I believe) literally taking money from a Republican(?). I also *think* that he used to be a Republican himself?

[George II]

29. The bill hasn't even been in committee yet or been up for debate or vote on the floor of the House.

The Democrats you're listing here merely have not co-sponsored the bill, it's not that they refused to support it or do not support it. Your subject line is incorrect, and I know for a fact that it's incorrect.

Does "Justice Democrats" know for a fact that all of the Democrats on this list have even been approached to co-sponsor it or even have gotten around to co-sponsoring it? I seriously doubt it.

Even so, there are a number of reasons that Congressmen don't co-sponsor, one of which is to remain unattached to the bill so they can debate in FAVOR of it when it goes to committee or the floor for debate and final vote.

By the way, my Congressman, who is on record as IN FAVOR of Medicaid expansion and was one of the leaders in 2010 advocating the ACA, is on this list, as are ALL of his fellow Congressmen/women in our state.

Presenting this list of Democrats this way is disingenuous and misleading and is not constructive. You're presenting this as though those 111 Democrats OPPOSE the bill, which is patently false! A list of this kind does more harm than good.

You should consider self-deleting this divisive OP.

Thank you.

[still_one]

36. Wow George, you just put things in a perspective that is easy to understand

Thanks!!!

[Demsrule86]

30. Another thread to divide Democrats...why else put it out here...won't work.

We can't get single payer now ...the first opportunity will come when we have all branches of government. This will be in four years. And all this fuss about single payer undermines what we have now ...the ACA ... I don't give two fucks about this post which I consider divisive...and I will continue calling in support of the ACA which is still under threat and unlike some future plan is saving lives now.

[tammywammy]

37. This graphic is wrong.

They haven't co-sponsored a bill that will never be brought up in committee let alone out of committee.

Combining co-sponsorship with support is disingenuous at best and straight up lying at worst. Not co-sponsoring doesn't mean they don't support the bill. I am glad to see these Justic Democrats at least updated their graphic to remove Conyers from the list of "not supporting".

[Foamfollower]

38. This is a completely phony narrative pushed by an extremist group.

"Justice Democrats" are an extremist group pushing a false narrative designed solely to divide the Democratic Party.

[Hortensis]

42. Yup. They want to "purge" the party of everyone who

thinks we need to work with and meet the needs of all major interest groups to create a vigorous, prosperous, just nation, including business.

Extremists on both the right and left share a dangerous, ruthless disregard for truth, bolstered by their conviction that they alone are right. Which is to say they're all fundamentally unsuited to governing a democracy.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

48. As much as I support Medicare For All

it's obviously NOT going to happen right now and blasting Democrats for not signing onto a piece of legislation that will NEVER be considered as long as the Republicans are in total control of the Federal Government is fruitless and counterproductive IMHO. We could STILL lose ACA at this point and should be ensuring that Democrats hold the line against repealing/sabotaging ACA and fighting against re-introduction of any Republican "alternatives". When we're back in the majority again in Congress and have a Democratic President, we can talk more realistically about what the next step forward will be in terms of healthcare, though passing a Public Option and/or lowering the Medicare age down a bit are IMHO much more realistic short-term goals for improving ACA. I think that single payer will need to be successfully piloted in a state (i.e. California) before it can go national.

[DanTex]

53. The GOP loves this kind of stuff. Getting Dems to attack other Dems rather than Republicans.