More than enough

Sixty House Democrats are standing strong for real health care reform—refusing to vote for any bill that doesn't have a robust public option. But they're under intense pressure to back down, so they need to know we're standing with them. Can you chip in to show we've got their backs? Click Here

Dear MoveOn member,

The public health insurance option is the heart of health care reform and right now it's under serious attack.

Even some members of the administration are pushing President Obama to give in to conservatives and drop it: one senior White House adviser told The Washington Post, "I don't understand how [the public option] has become the measure of whether what we achieve is health-care reform."¹

This unnamed source apparently doesn't understand that the public option is the key to lowering health care costs and expanding coverage.

But there is a group of progressives in Washington who DO understand. Sixty House Democrats have signed a written pledge to not vote for health care reform unless it includes a robust public option.² That's more than enough to block a bill without the public option.

These representatives are already facing pressure to back down, but if we stand strong with them, we'll send a clear signal that the heart of reform can't be compromised away. Can you make a contribution to the progressives in Congress who are standing tall for the public option? Clicking the link below will take you to ActBlue, where you can donate.

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51789&id=16918-10220574-kO3ZOhx&t=3

Progressive bloggers just launched a campaign to raise money for these progressive heroes and they've already raised $175,000. Let's see if we can double or triple that! It'll send a clear message to Washington that those fighting for the public option have millions of Americans standing with them.

And even though some White House advisers seem to have forgotten, the reason the public option has become central to reform is simple: we're fed up with the insurance companies and we need real accountability for them. They've had decades to fix the problems with our health care system, but they haven't done it. Health care costs are spiraling out of control, millions of people can't get insurance, and even those of us with insurance can face bankruptcy or worse if we get really sick.

A public option will give Americans a real choice when it comes to our health care. It'll end the insurance companies' stranglehold on our health care system. And that's exactly why those companies, and their allies on Capitol Hill, are fighting so hard to kill it.

Right now, the 60 Democrats who've pledged to vote against a bill without a public option are the strongest bloc fighting to win real health care reform, and they need our support. Clicking the link below will take you to ActBlue, where you can make a contribution to help them keep fighting.

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51789&id=16918-10220574-kO3ZOhx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Daniel, Kat, Nita and the rest of the team
  

Sources:

1. "Debate's Path Caught Obama by Surprise," The Washington Post, August 19, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51791&id=16918-10220574-kO3ZOhx&t=5

2. "Sixty House Progressives: We'll Kill Any Health Care Bill Unless It Has A Public Option," Talking Points Memo, August 18, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51792&id=16918-10220574-kO3ZOhx&t=6

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to eddie alfaro on August 20, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.