No deal

Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer have been vocal supporters of the public option. Tell them that their constituents are counting on them to oppose the latest watered-down version of the Senate legislation, and keep fighting for real reform with a public option. Can you send a message on Facebook and Twitter right away? Click here to let us know. Click Here

Dear MoveOn member,

The latest Senate health care bill has no public option. No expansion of Medicare. And it does too little to guarantee that uninsured Americans will actually be able to afford the coverage they'll be required to purchase.¹

Former insurance executive Wendell Potter put it best: the bill is "a big bailout to the [health insurance] industry."²

But it's not too late to fix the bill. And as Joe Lieberman has shown, just one senator willing to stand in the way can force legislation to be changed dramatically.

Senator Bernie Sanders, a strong proponent of the public option, has already made clear that he's opposed to the legislation in its current form—and he could decide to block it until it's fixed.³

But there's enormous pressure from all sides to pass a bill quickly, no matter how weak it is. So we need to show leading public option supporters, like Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, that we're counting on them to block this version of the bill—and we'll get their backs if they do.

Many senators pay close attention to what voters are saying on Facebook and Twitter. So can you send Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer a message on Facebook and Twitter urging them to block the Senate health care bill until it's fixed?

Facebook walls:
http://www.facebook.com/KirstenGillibrand?v=wall
http://www.facebook.com/chuckschumer?v=wall

Become a fan, then write something like this on their walls:

The Senate health care bill has turned into a massive gift to Big Insurance—and it needs to be stopped from passing until it's fixed. Will you commit to blocking the bill until it's strengthened, and work to make sure America gets real reform with a public option?

Twitter:
Follow @SenGillibrand, then tweet something like:

@SenGillibrand Pls oppose the latest Senate #hcr bill—it's a massive gift to Big Insurance. Fight for real health care w/ a public option!

(It's even better if you write your own words, and speak from the heart.)

Then, please let us know you did by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=1195&rc=fb.tw&id=18360-10220574-5ePD4Jx&t=4

Despite this latest setback, we can still win the health care fight. The House has already passed a strong health care bill with a real public option. It would cover millions of uninsured Americans, offer real competition to the insurance companies, and reduce costs in the long run.

MoveOn members overwhelmingly support the House bill. But it's clear from member feedback and surveys that the majority of MoveOn members oppose the Senate bill as it now stands.⁴

And recent polls show growing opposition among grassroots progressives generally—the very folks Democrats in Washington count on to volunteer and donate to their campaigns.⁵ One found that one-third of Democratic voters will be less likely to vote next year if Congress doesn't pass a public option.⁶

So to get real reform, we need to immediately send a powerful message to public option supporters in the Senate that we're counting on them to block this bill until it's fixed.

Can you send a message to Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer on Facebook and Twitter right now?

Then, please tell us you did by clicking here, so we can track the success of this campaign:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=1195&rc=fb.tw&id=18360-10220574-5ePD4Jx&t=5

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Joan, Michael, Ilya, and the rest of the team

P.S. When you finish, please click below to become a fan of MoveOn on Facebook:

http://facebook.com/moveon

And click here to follow MoveOn on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/moveon

Sources:

1. "ANALYSIS: House Bill More Affordable Than Senate Legislation," Think Progress, October 30, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85097&id=18360-10220574-5ePD4Jx&t=6

"Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals," Kaiser Family Foundation, November 23, 2009
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/sidebyside.cfm

2. "Senate Bill a Big Win for Insurance Companies," Countdown with Keith Olbermann, December 16, 2009
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#34455097

3. "Sanders Could Still Vote No On Cloture," WhoRunsGov.com, December 17, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85817&id=18360-10220574-5ePD4Jx&t=7

4. MoveOn Members' Views on the Senate Health Care Bill
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85818&id=18360-10220574-5ePD4Jx&t=8

5. "Poll: Loss of Public Option Causes Big Increase in Opposition to Health Care Bill," Talking Points Memo, December 16, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85808&id=18360-10220574-5ePD4Jx&t=9

6. "Poll: One Third Of Dems Less Likely To Vote In 2010 If Public Option Dies," WhoRunsGov.com, December 14, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85816&id=18360-10220574-5ePD4Jx&t=10

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 December 18, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

P-SPAN: Joe Lieberman socks!

Dear MoveOn member,

Joe Lieberman's behavior over the last few weeks has been outrageous and inexcusable. But too many people still don't realize how destructive Lieberman has been to the cause of health care reform.

Fortunately, some friends of ours put together a video with sock puppets—yes, sock puppets—that makes his role clear. We think it's kinda funny, and surprisingly accurate. Check it out, then share it on Facebook and Twitter if you like it:

Watch
After you watch, call Congress and the president and tell them not to let Joe Lieberman hold reform hostage. Then pass the video on.

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Laura, Peter, Daniel, Kat, and the rest of the team

 

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 December 17, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Bush economy

Fed chair Ben Bernanke spent trillions to bail out Wall Street, but he's turning a blind eye to regular Americans. Now he's up for a second term. Can you ask Sen. Schumer to vote against confirming Bernanke unless he explains how he'll help middle-class folks struggling in this economy? Senator Charles Schumer Phone: 202-224-6542 Click Here

Dear MoveOn member,

One of the key architects of the Bush economy, Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, has been nominated for another four-year term by President Obama. But there's bipartisan momentum building to hold up his confirmation until he shows that he's willing to help regular folks—and not just big banks.

Bernanke presided over the biggest Wall Street bailout in history, making trillions of dollars of loans to big banks with no oversight. But as Paul Krugman points out, while Bernanke was willing to take extreme measures to save the financial system, he displays a "curious mix of complacency and fatalism" when it comes to tackling the massive unemployment problem.¹

This is really problematic, because ensuring "full employment" is explicitly part of his mandate as Federal Reserve Chair. And it's not like there's nothing he could do. Major economists have proposed several initiatives that the Fed could launch immediately to help the broader economy recover, but Bernanke isn't interested.

Your senator, Charles Schumer, is on the Senate Banking Committee and there's a key vote coming up on Bernanke's nomination tomorrow. Can you ask Sen. Schumer to vote against confirming Ben Bernanke unless he explains, in detail, how he'll help middle-class folks struggling in this economy?

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1&cp_id=1211&id=18320-10220574-ADT67wx&t=3

Given the questions swirling about Bernanke's conduct, progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders and conservative Sen. Jim Bunning have placed a hold on Bernanke's nomination, citing numerous concerns about his conduct.² And economists have joined the call to delay Bernanke's nomination—from progressives like Dean Baker to right-wingers like Grover Norquist.³ They agree that Bernanke's actions as Federal Reserve Chair deserve far more scrutiny before the Senate votes.

Progressives are particularly concerned because even though millions of Americans have just seen their retirement savings disappear, Bernanke told Congress that they should propose cutbacks in Medicare and Social Security to lower the deficit.⁴ When Sen. Jack Reed asked Bernanke whether imposing new taxes on Wall Street could be another way to achieve the same goals, Bernanke wouldn't agree.

At a time when so many Americans are hurting, we can't afford to have our monetary policy guided by someone who's mainly looking out for Wall Street. If Ben Bernanke thinks that lowering the deficit by cutting Social Security and Medicare should be the Federal Reserve's top priority right now, rather than lowering unemployment, then he doesn't deserve a second term.

The Senate needs to hold more hearings regarding Bernanke's views before rushing to reconfirm him for four more years.

Please call Sen. Schumer today—ask him to vote against confirming Ben Bernanke unless he explains how he'll help folks on Main Street.

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

After you call, let us know here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1&cp_id=1211&id=18320-10220574-ADT67wx&t=4

Thank you for all you do.

–Daniel, Noah, Ilya, Kat, and the rest of the team

Sources:
1. "Bernanke's Unfinished Mission," The New York Times, December 10, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/opinion/11krugman.html

2. "Sanders Puts Hold on Bernanke," U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, December 2, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85803&id=&id=18320-10220574-ADT67wx&t=5

"Bunning places second hold on Bernanke," The Hill, December 3, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85807&id=18320-10220574-ADT67wx&t=6

3. "Coalition of groups on left and right want delay on Bernanke vote," The Hill, December 15, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85804&id=18320-10220574-ADT67wx&t=7

4. "Bernanke Channels Willie Sutton In Assault On Social Security: 'That's Where The Money Is'," The Huffington Post, December 4, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85802&id=18320-10220574-ADT67wx&t=8

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 December 16, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Lieberman

Joe Lieberman is single-handedly gutting health care reform. It's time to hold him accountable. To make it happen, we need to raise $400,000 right away. That'll take 3 contributions from Inwood. Can you chip in $5 today? Click Here

Dear MoveOn member,

First, Joe Lieberman helped President Bush invade Iraq, and the Democrats in Washington forgave him. Then, he endorsed John McCain, and they forgave him again. Then, he personally attacked Barack Obama at the Republican National Convention, and still the Democrats forgave him.¹

Now, Joe Lieberman is single-handedly gutting health care reform. The time for forgiveness is over. It's time to hold Senator Lieberman accountable.

First, we're going to launch a huge ad campaign to make sure every last Connecticut voter knows that Senator Lieberman is blocking strong reforms. Then, we'll push Senate leaders to strip him of his chairmanship and seniority. Finally, we'll work to defeat him in his next election.

Our goal is to raise $400,000 in the next 24 hours, to send a deafeningly loud message that we've had enough of Joe Lieberman. That'll take at least 3 donations from Inwood—can you chip in $5?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/lieberman.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=18299-10220574-VRiYjfx&t=3

Sen. Lieberman has been one of the biggest obstacles to real health care reform with a public option all year. But over the past two weeks, he's taken it to a dangerous new level.

First, he demanded that the public option be removed from the bill. Then, last night, he killed an expansion of Medicare—an idea that he himself championed just three months ago and that was added to the bill specifically to satisfy him.²

He's shown that he can't be reasoned with. Most of all, Joe Lieberman can't be allowed to stay in the U.S. Senate.

We can do this. Connecticut is a solidly blue state, going 60% for Obama in 2008. Polls in Connecticut show he's in trouble. Thirty percent of Lieberman voters in 2006 said they would not vote for him again, and, in another poll, he trailed one possible Democratic opponent by a whopping 44 points.³

We've had enough of Joe Lieberman. Please help raise $400,000 in the next 24 hours to send him home for good. To get there, we'll need 3 people in Inwood to help out. Can you contribute $5 right away?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/lieberman.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=18299-10220574-VRiYjfx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Carrie, Wes, Steven, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Thompson, Lieberman attack Obama in red-meat speeches," McClatchy Newspapers, September 2, 2008
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/51461.html

2. "Lieberman Rules Out Voting for Health Bill," The New York Times, December 13, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85794&id=18299-10220574-VRiYjfx&t=5

3. "Connecticut's Rell Is Queen Of The Hill At Midterm, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Dodd Has Worst Approval Ever," Quinnipiac Polling Institute, December 17, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85796&id=18299-10220574-VRiYjfx&t=7

"Connecticut Voters Back Same-Sex Marriage, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Rell Approval Holds As Dodd, Lieberman Scores Drop," Quinnipiac Polling Institute, December 17, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85795&id=18299-10220574-VRiYjfx&t=8

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 December 15, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Stand up to Joe Lieberman

Can you call Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer right away? Ask them to stand up to Joe Lieberman, and insist health care reform include a strong public option this year. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Phone: 202-224-4451 Senator Charles Schumer Phone: 202-224-6542 Report your call

Dear MoveOn member,

I don't remember electing Joe Lieberman President.

But lately it seems like we might as well have: news broke last night that Senate Democrats, under pressure from White House staff, cut a tentative deal to drop yet another piece of their health care bill—the Medicare buy-in—to make Joe Lieberman happy.¹

First the public option, now the Medicare buy-in—what's next?

This terrible "deal" isn't final, though—and like each of the times conservatives have tried to gut reform, we need our progressive leaders in the Senate to stand up and fight.

Can you call Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer immediately? Ask them to stand up to Joe Lieberman, and insist health care reform include a strong public option this year.

Here's where to call:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_2.FSNY_1&cp_id=1210&id=18287-10220574-KF03Bax&t=2

This latest bad "deal" is nowhere near final.

In these final, intense weeks, it's more important than ever to fight back against attempts to gut health care reform. Our senators need to hear just how outraged voters are over this latest "deal," and the ongoing gutting of health care reform. 

No one even knows if this latest deal has 60 votes—and that means all of us, and our progressive allies in Congress, have an opportunity right now to stand up to make clear that continuing to weaken health care reform is just unacceptable.

Can you call Sens. Gillibrand and Schumer right away? Make sure they know you're counting on them to stand up to Joe Lieberman and fight for real health care reform.

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Eli, Lenore, Peter, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Senators move to remove Medicare expansion, public option from healthcare bill," The Los Angeles Times, December 14, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85791&id=18287-10220574-KF03Bax&t=3

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 December 15, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

Here's the catch

It's time for progressives to stop negotiating with themselves. Can you call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand right now and tell them to do whatever it takes to pass real health care reform with the public option that the majority of Americans want?   Senator Charles Schumer Phone: 202-224-6542 Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Phone: 202-224-4451 Report your call

Dear MoveOn member,

Last week a handful of senators announced a deal on health care. Here's the catch: Almost no one knows what's in the deal yet—the only thing we do know is that it kills the heart of reform, the public option.

Rumors are flying about what exactly is in the deal, but lots of folks have latched on to the idea that the deal might allow some people over the age of 55 to buy into Medicare. The problem is, nobody knows if the Medicare premiums will be affordable and the program could be limited to very few people, so it's dangerous to assume it's great news. 

Moreover, allowing a few folks to buy into Medicare won't accomplish the main goal of the public option: to provide competition to keep insurance companies honest and lower costs.¹

The worst part? Democrats gave away the public option to appease conservatives. But Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson are already threatening to block this watered down deal.²

It's time for progressives to stop bargaining with themselves. We need Senate Democrats to fight for the majority of voters who want a public option—and not let a few out-of-touch conservatives gut real reform. Can you call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand right now and tell them to do everything in their power to pass a bill with a public option and not to let a few senators hold health care reform hostage?

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1.FSNY_2&cp_id=1206&id=18265-10220574-6z82fFx&t=3

To be clear, some of the ideas that were floated could be good ones—but in addition to a strong public option, not as a replacement for it. Expanding Medicare could give lots of people an affordable choice for quality care—if it's done right. But that's a big if, and it's a big mistake to embrace a compromise without knowing the details.

Even if all the rumored reforms turn out to be as good as possible (which is pretty unlikely), allowing some folks over 55 to buy in won't provide the competition that a public option will to keep insurance companies honest. And folks under 55—who will be required to buy insurance after reform passes—will still be left with no choice other than the big private insurers.

As long as there are no real consequences for conservatives' obstructionism, they'll keep demanding more and more concessions. It's time for Democrats in the Senate and the White House to be more aggressive by stripping Sen. Lieberman of his committee chairmanship, forcing the conservative senators to publicly stand with the Republicans so voters know whose side they're on, or even pushing health care reform through the reconciliation process, where they'd only need 50 votes.

Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand need to know that voters in New York will have their back if they keep fighting for the public option. Can you call them right now and tell them to reject the "compromise" and do whatever it takes to pass the bill with the public option?

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: 202-224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: 202-224-4451

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1.FSNY_2&cp_id=1206&id=18265-10220574-6z82fFx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Marika, Ilya, Kat, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Public Plan Perversion," The New Republic, December 12, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85776&id=18265-10220574-6z82fFx&t=5

2. "Health Care Reform In Peril; Lieberman Threatens Filibuster Over Medicare Buy In," Talking Points Memo, December 13, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85777&id=18265-10220574-6z82fFx&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 December 14, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

A gift to Big Insurance

Click here to tell leaders in Congress and the White House: "You must make sure health care reform includes a real public option—it's what the majority of Americans want. Anything less is a gift to Big Insurance." Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

Hi. I'm Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor under President Clinton and currently a professor at the University of California.

You've probably heard about a possible "deal" in the Senate to do away with the public option.

I'm here to tell you that this is no deal: it's a gift to Big Insurance, plain and simple.

The details are sketchy. The only thing that's really clear is the deal would drop the public option from the bill. With no public option, there's no guarantee of real competition. And without real competition, health care costs will continue to be out of control.

But the deal is far from done. If voters generate a massive outcry around this and progressive leaders in Congress fight back, we can fix it.

Can you sign a petition to leaders in Congress and the White House right away?

Click here to add your name.

The petition says: "You must make sure health care reform includes a real public option—it's what the majority of Americans want. Anything less is a gift to Big Insurance."

With no public option, the Senate "deal" is a giveaway to Big Insurance—and industry insiders admit it! One recently wrote "We WIN," in an email about the "deal."¹

What's in this "deal"? Like I said, almost no one knows the details. That means that progressives who embrace it right now may be giving away the store without getting anything in return.

But here's what we do know: First, it might allow some 55-64 year-olds to buy into Medicare. Second, it might allow those without employer health insurance to buy private insurance the way federal employees do.²

So what's the problem here? A system of only private insurers simply will not control costs. Without competition from a public option, insurance companies have no incentive to compete—just like now.³  

Enlarging Medicare is no answer. The Senate bill slows Medicare's costs only if they're rising faster than total health spending. But with private insurers running the show, total health spending will still be out of control.⁴ Plus, we have no idea how many people might be allowed to buy into Medicare, or if it will be even close to affordable for them.

Health care reform must include a strong public option. It's key to controlling costs, expanding coverage, and forcing Big Insurance to compete. Without it, we'll end up with a national health care system controlled by a handful of very large corporations accountable neither to American voters nor to the market. And that is not even close to real health care reform.

Please sign the petition to House and Senate leadership and the White House today. The deal is still up in the air. If congressional progressives hold strong—and public demand for a public option is clear—then White House and congressional leaders will have to do what they haven't: put pressure on the few conservative Democrats to get on board and help pass real health care reform with a public option.

Click here to sign your name.

Thank you for all you do.

–Robert Reich

Sources:

1. "Insurance industry insider: 'We win,'" Politico, December 7, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85731&id=18251-10220574-FI8mLJx&t=13

2. "How a Few Private Health Insurers Are on the Way to Controlling Health Care," Robert Reich, December 10, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=85742&id=18251-10220574-FI8mLJx&t=14

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

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 December 12, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.