Hi, I'm the public option, and I need your help. Can you call Sen. Schumer to thank him for his support and urge him to keep fighting against the "trigger" proposal? Senator Charles Schumer  Report your call |
People have been saying all sorts of untrue things about me lately, so I decided it was time to stand up and set the record straight.
First off: the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I'm happy and healthy. And I'm proud to play a starring role in four of the five health reform bills currently on the table.
Second: I have a lot of friends. President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi support me—as do 77% of the American people.1 In fact, I'm feeling pretty popular.
But there is one area where I could use your help. Your senator, Charles Schumer, sits on the Senate Finance Committee, which is considering a "trigger" proposal that could kill me through indefinite delay.
Sen. Schumer is a strong supporter of the public health insurance option. Can you call to thank him and urge him to keep fighting against the "trigger" proposal?
Here's where to call:
Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542
Then click here to report your call:
A "trigger" that would make me wait to become available is just a trap designed to kill me. As Sen. Schumer himself has pointed out, "any reasonable criteria for triggering a public plan has already been met" because insurance companies have already failed to rein in costs and expand coverage.2 Here are some other things you might not know about me:
- I like candlelit dinners, overseas travel, and long walks on the beach. Whoops, sorry—wrong email.
- Some people say they don't like me because I'm too expensive, but that's just a flat-out lie. Keeping me around will actually save money—I'd cost 10% less than the typical private plan.3
- I'm the best way to keep insurance companies honest. Like my friend Senator Jay Rockefeller has said, "Without the steady, positive influence of a public plan option in the marketplace, we will never truly solve the health care crisis in this country. Private health insurance has a long history of cutting people off or charging too much for too little."4
- Over 60 House progressives have publicly pledged to only vote for a bill that has me in it.5 So without me, health care reform doesn't have enough votes make it through Congress.
Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542
Then click here to report your call:
Thanks for all you do.–The public health insurance option (and the MoveOn team)
Sources:
1. "New Poll: 77 Percent Support 'Choice' Of Public Option," The Huffington Post, August 20, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51799&id=17306-10220574-wQJ_52x&t=4
2."A 'trigger' for the public health insurance option? Already triggered." NOW! Blog, May 20, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51443&id=17306-10220574-wQJ_52x&t=5
3. Letter to Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Congressional Budget Office, July 14, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84763&id=17306-10220574-wQJ_52x&t=6
4. "Rockefeller Unveils Public Plan Option," Office of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, June 10, 2009
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=314224
5. "60 Members of Congress Say 'No Public Plan, No Conference,'" Firedoglake, August 17, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51784&id=17306-10220574-wQJ_52x&t=7
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