This message was sent to MoveOn.org members in Hawaii this afternoon....
Dear MoveOn member, 12-9-09
How could they?
Senate Democrats have just announced a tentative health care deal that doesn't appear to include a real public health insurance option.1
Instead of pulling out all the stops, they've bargained away the heart of health care reform—allowing conservative senators like Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson to hold the process hostage and protect Big Insurance.
And sure enough, the insurance companies are reportedly thrilled with these terms. "We WIN," one industry insider said during the negotiations. "No government insurance competitor."2
If the health care bill doesn't include a public option, it'll be a huge giveaway to the insurance companies. But the deal isn't final yet, so we need to send an immediate message to Congress and President Obama that any health care bill without a real public health insurance option is simply unacceptable.
So we've set a goal of making 5 calls to Senators Daniel Akaka and Dan Inouye's offices from people in Hilo. Can you call and tell them that reform must include a public option, and urge them not to give into conservatives and Big Insurance?
Here's where to call:
Senator Daniel Akaka
Phone: 202-224-6361
Senator Dan Inouye
Phone: 202-224-3934
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Details are still emerging about this new deal. According to The Washington Post, "the government plan preferred by liberals would be replaced with a program that would create several national insurance policies administered by private companies."3
But half-measures simply won't cut it: we desperately need a real public option in order to hold private insurance companies accountable. That's far more important than appeasing Joe Lieberman and his friends in the insurance industry.
And this fight isn't over yet, no matter how many times the media tries to declare the death of the public option. It'd only take one or two senators to unravel this deal, and progressive senators Russ Feingold and Bernie Sanders both indicated last night that their support can't be taken for granted.4
So to win, we've got to send a powerful message to congressional Democrats and President Obama that we won't accept this deal. Instead of giving up on the public option, they ought to show real leadership and ratchet up the pressure on Lieberman and any Democratic senators who are threatening to filibuster.
Here's where to call:
Senator Daniel Akaka
Phone: 202-224-6361
Senator Dan Inouye
Phone: 202-224-3934
**************************
Sources:
1. "Senate may drop public option," The Washington Post, December 9, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85729&id=18214-9988820-9Y.jmLx&t=4
"Democrats Agree to Tentatively Trade Opt-Out for Trigger, Medicare Buy In, and More," Talking Points Memo, December 8, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85730&id=18214-9988820-9Y.jmLx&t=5
2. "Insurance industry insider: 'We win'," Politico, December 7, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85731&id=18214-9988820-9Y.jmLx&t=6
3. "Senate may drop public option," The Washington Post, December 9, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85729&id=18214-9988820-9Y.jmLx&t=7
4. "Feingold Statement on Negotiations On The Public Option," Office of Senator Russ Feingold, December 8, 2009
http://feingold.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=320547
'The Ed Show' for Tuesday, December 8, 2009, MSNBC, December 8, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85732&id=18214-9988820-9Y.jmLx&t=8