I just spoke with someone in the Senate Finance Committee Office

[slipslidingaway]

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

http://finance.senate.gov/

According to her single-payer advocates are not invited to the HC reform hearings because there is not enough support. Her suggestion was to contact your representatives, they need to hear that SP should have a place at the table.

My suggestion is to also contact the Senate Finance Committee as well and press for them to be heard.

IMO pressing for SP will not weaken a public option, it will only help to make it stronger.

[EFerrari]

1. If she means not enough support in the bought and paid for Senate

I'm sure she's right.

[slipslidingaway]

3. True...she also said there is not enough grassroots support,

people need to contact their senators if SP wants to be represented. There is another HC reform hearing, I believe at the end of May and we should let them know that SP should be allowed to speak.

Thanks for the kick :)

[EFerrari]

5. I'll call Barbara.

:kick:

[slipslidingaway]

7. Hope Barbara is not just a friend :))))) thanks n/t

[Born_A_Truman]

8. I emailed her today

and asked why her name wasn't listed as a Senator supporting the health care public option and asked her where she stands on these issues.

[slipslidingaway]

10. Ah...Boxer, thanks. n/t

[aquamarina]

2. I would love to know what her definition of "support" is.

My guess, is that it's lobbyists with buckets of cash.

[slipslidingaway]

4. While I agree with you, we can still make their phones ring. n/t

[tkmorris]

11. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It's all they care about.

[mod mom]

6. Sherrod Brown says he supports it but it's not going to happen during this congress:

In contrast, U.S. Sen. Brown told the admittedly sympathetic crowd gathered Friday morning that he has always supported a single-payer system but that wasn't likely to happen during this Congress. So, he said, he's campaigning for the next best thing: The mix between private and public health coverage.

http://www.communitychange.org/our-projects/communityvalues/updates/sen.-sherrod-brown-stumps-for-health-care-reform

this sucks...why not do the right thing now instead of supporting a broken system?

[slipslidingaway]

9. Agree, why not work towards what you believe is the right thing

and then compromise later if needed.

:(

[glitch]

13. Pre-emptive concession. What a way to bargain. nt

:eyes:

[slipslidingaway]

14. Pre-emptive concession :)) I'd be happy if they other side would

do that.

[slipslidingaway]

12. Senator Max Baucus - DC [phone](Office) n/t

[slipslidingaway]

15. Senate Finance Committee - [phone] n/t

[PHIMG]

16. Not enough support?

HR-676, 75 co-sponsors this session, almost 90 last session.

59% support among Physicians (who know our healthcare system THE BEST!)

High support amongst the general population.

Maybe there is not high-support amongst the millionaires in the Senate club, AHIP checks in hand, but AMERICA wants single payer, and we're demanding it, and we're going to continue to work on this no matter what happens with the BS bill the Conservadems like Baucus and Schumer bake up in the Congress this year.

Mandate and Subsidize Private Health Insurance - NO!
Healthcare Yes!

Single Payer is the Answer.

[slipslidingaway]

17. There is at least enough support for them to sit at the table....

more people need to make their voices heard.

I'll just add some links...


HR 676 - United States National Health Care Act or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-676


http://www.healthcare-now.org/2009/02/another-poll-shows-majority-support-for-single-payer/

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/SunMo_poll_0209.pdf

"...A New York Times/CBS News poll released last week shows, yet again, that the majority of Americans support national health insurance.

The poll, which compares answers to the same questions from 30 years ago, finds that, “59% say the government should provide national health insurance, including 49% who say such insurance should cover all medical problems.”

Only 32% think that insurance should be left to private enterprise..."

[DCKit]

32. There's a critical mass - something like 99.99999999999999% - before it competes with $$$$$$$...

from the health industry.

As long as there's a single ignorant Republic who believes the lies, single payer is (apparently) off the table.

Why does Congress make Jesus cry?

[Thrill]

18. Not a surprise. Max Baucus is set against it.

[slipslidingaway]

22. As someone else noted why is the Finance Committee taking

the lead role on HC reform... cannot find the link now.

:shrug:

[Thrill]

27. Because the Finanace Committee handles all Social Health Programs

whether it be Medicare/Medicade, Social Security, etc.

[sam sarrha]

19. BIG PHARMA wants medicate extended to the poor free up to $1700 income and sliding scale on up, ..

because things are so bad only 50% of all prescriptions are filled.. they want us to subsidize their criminal gouging of the taxpayers with a DOUBLE GOUGE.. making exorbitant hideous profits coming and going

[slipslidingaway]

23. Maybe you could explain this a bit more, TIA n/t

[sam sarrha]

29. ...recession + exorbitant prices if drugs = 1/2 of people given prescriptions actually fill them, so

http://health.yahoo.com/news/reuters/us_usa_healthcare_campaign.html
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A leading consumer group and a trade association representing major drug companies said on Tuesday they would spend millions to promote three changes to the U.S. healthcare system, including expanding government insurance for the poor.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=drug+companies+want+medicare+expanded&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

so we will have to pay increased taxes cause they wont lower prices to a reasonable level.. in this thinly veiled scheme to help the poor.. like they have ever given a rats ass for the poor or their suffering.

[slipslidingaway]

30. Thanks n/t

[mimitabby]

20. good luck

i wrote to both of my senators and the webforms blew up each time. sigh.

[slipslidingaway]

24. Not sure why that happened, you can always call :)) n/t

[Chiquitita]

21. kick

[slipslidingaway]

25. Thank you and welcome to DU :) n/t

[Wednesdays]

26. K&R

:kick:

[Triana]

28. Fax a letter FREE to Baucus or your rep. demanding SP or Public Option. DO IT NOW

http://www.1payer.net/campaigns/finance-committee.html

[Joanne98]

31. GOOD IDEA!!!!!

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MUST NOT EXCLUDE MEDICARE FOR ALL
Dear Senator _______:

I am writing to you concerning the upcoming Senate Finance Committee roundtable discussions on healthcare reform being held on May 12th.

It is important to Americans that these discussions include all healthcare reform points of view. I was disappointed and even angered at the contemptuous way in which single payer advocates were treated during the session on May 5th. I hope that you will accord those who advocate Medicare For All as much respect as the obviously more powerful representatives of the insurance industry.

The majority of Americans and physicians support a national health insurance program built on the principles of Medicare For All. We may not have the money of the insurance industry, but ultimately we have the votes and we are your employer. This is an example of why we elected you – to do what is best the public good, not to cater to the private interests of the insurance industry.

Please invite a representative from Physicians for a National Health Program or the California Nurses Association to the roundtable discussion on May 12th. You can call PNHP at 312-782-6006 or email them at [e-mail] . You can call CNA at 510-273-2200 or email them at [e-mail] .



Sincerely,



eFAX YOUR SENATOR TO INCLUDE SINGLE-PAYER IN THE FINANCE COMITTEE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
Select your Senator and fill out the following form to send this letter and your comments as a free fax. If your senator isn't a member of the Finance Committee, send your fax to Senator Baucus. A copy of your fax will go to the White House, too.

We respect your privacy. We will not sell, rent or distribute your name and email address without your permission. You will receive an email allowing you to you opt out of future contact from Health Justice.

http://www.1payer.net/campaigns/finance-committee.html