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Big news: Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that he's including a compromise version of the public option in the Senate's health care bill.1
This is a huge victory over conservatives who spent all summer trying to kill the public option, and proof that health care reform now has enormous momentum.
Yet a few conservative Democrats are still threatening to help Republicans block reform.2
Now we have some important news of our own: In this weekend's member vote, 93% of MoveOn members agreed that any senator who helps block an up-or-down vote on a health care bill with the public option should lose the support of all five million of us—no donations, no volunteering, and no help getting out the vote.
To make sure conservative Democrats hear that message loud and clear, we're launching an emergency campaign to press them to support an up-or-down vote. We've got ad makers working on scripts and volunteers setting up events in key states.
But we need to raise $120,000 today. That means we need 3 donations from people in Inwood. Can you donate $25 so we can hold Democrats accountable if they block an up-or-down vote?
Our member vote can provide a clear incentive to senators who are deciding where they stand on Senator Reid's bill. So MoveOn members are hitting the streets, and the phones, to get the word out. We've planned in-person events at the state offices of conservative Democrats starting today, we're developing a new round of ads, and we'll be flooding their offices with phone calls all week.
At the same time, we need to be clear: the "opt-out" version of the public option has real problems. The most conservative states in the country would likely opt out, potentially leaving millions of uninsured folks without access to the affordable health care a public option would provide.
So while this compromise version of the public option could help get a bill through the Senate, we need to push hard through the rest of the legislative process to make sure the final bill has a robust public option that doesn't leave anyone out. Our progressive champions in the House are fighting hard for that and we'll support their efforts.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of MoveOn members and the broader progressive movement, the public option now has a ton of momentum. And we're really close to having the votes we need in the Senate. But we need to make sure a few conservative Democrats don't doom health care reform.
Can you donate $25 so we can pressure conservative Democrats to support an up-or-down vote?
Thanks for all you do.
–Justin, Ilyse, Kat, Laura, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Reid: Public Option No 'Silver Bullet' But Strong Consensus For Opt-Out," Talking Points Memo, October 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85002&id=17704-10220574-NNM8eZx&t=5
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85011&id=17704-10220574-NNM8eZx&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.
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 October 27, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.
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