Update: This writer hasn't had the opportunity to listen to progressive radio consistently as of late, but have sent e-mail messages to the Thom Hartmann Show, the Norman Goldman Show, the Randi Rhodes Show and the Mike Malloy Show. These messages include a note of thanks if they have already covered this story and encouragement to provide some airtime for this bill if they have not yet done so.
The Ed Schultz Show interviewed Alan Grayson today between the 30 and 45 minute mark of the first hour. If interested, you can go to here, where you can find links to a live or tape delayed feed on various stations about the country.
Once this writer receives an e-mail response from his representative, this article will be further updated. Stay tuned!
H. R. 4789 is so simple and makes so much sense that corporate Dems will stumble all over themselves trying to sweep this pesky bill under the rug and pretend it doesn't exist. This bill is only four pages long and within two days has gained at least 50 co-sponsors as well as more than 25,000 signatures on a mass e-mail petition.
Would you like the option of buying into Medicare at any age, at cost? This bill, if passed, would not require even one cent from taxpayers. War hawks should be reassured since this bill would not divert a single penny from funding dedicated to blowing up innocent people on the other side of the globe.
Rep. Grayson eloquently explains this bill on the video that follows...
"The problem is with this legislation, if one person holds up this Bill, and it passes as a 'hodge podge of nonsense', which is what the 4 more conservative Democrats want -- basically 'A Insurance Company Bill' is what they want -- this is a huge problem for the Obama Administration, it is a huge problem for the Democrats in 2010."
BTW Howard Dean knows a thing or two about winning Elections, nationwide, so Dems would be wise to listen to and think about his blunt warnings.
In case you're unaware, there is currently a bill in the Pennsylvania state legislature to establish a statewide single-payer (that's something close to Medicare for all) system. Governor Rendell has pledged to sign it if it gets to his desk, and there are currently 35 co-sponsors in the House - including 4 Republicans - and 9 co-sponsors in the Senate. That's out of a Senate of 50 and a House of 203.
This Friday, the 30th, there will be a protest at a Blue Cross/Blue Shield building in Philadelphia in support of single payer, and in my state of Pennsylvania this will have particular significance because of how close we are to real health care reform.
IMPORTANT: If you can't make it to the protest, but live in Pennsylvania, please contact your state legislators and/or the media to either thank them for their support or to urge them to support these bills (SB 400 and HB 1660). You can do that here.
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee passed the Baucus health care bill.
What a disappointment. No public health insurance plan. No universal coverage. No real price controls. Billions of taxpayer dollars for insurance companies.
The U.S. health system has left 46 million Americans uninsured. [1] 45,000 people die every year due to lack of insurance. [2] Insurance companies deny coverage to thousands more when they actually get sick. And insurance is simply too expensive for millions of people and businesses.
The Baucus bill solves none of those problems.
By contrast, Medicare is so efficient that it could insure all Americans for the same amount of money that we now give to private corporations. [3]
Under such a single-payer system, you still get to choose your doctor... except without a profiteering insurance corporation standing between you and your health care.
Will you ask Congress to support real reform -- in terms they can understand?
(1) "Income, poverty and health insurance coverage in the United States: 2008." Census Bureau, September 10, 2009.
(2) "Harvard study finds nearly 45,000 excess deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage." Physicians for a National Health Program, September 18, 2009.
(3) "Single payer system cost?" Physicians for a National Health Program.
Labor activists from 31 states gathered in St. Louis last weekend, solidifying their strategies to push "Medicare for all"-and to oppose the half-hearted health care plans circulating in Washington.
Reform Immigration -
March on Washington
