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Here's some great news out of the California capital from the Sacramento Bee. Congressmember Doris Matsui (CA-05), who had previously hosted two tele-townhalls to discuss healthcare, firmly came out in support of the public option, as well as expanding coverage and cost-cutting measures, this weekend. At a civil townhall on Saturday, Matsui addressed 700 of her constituents.
"I want to make sure no family in Sacramentorisks bankruptcy just because a loved one gets sick," Matsui said to cheers. "This bill will ensure that 97 percent of Americans have access to health insurance. Right now, 100,000 people in this community are uninsured."
It was Matsui's first in-person meeting with constituents in the health care debate, and it may be her last. Matsui has been criticized for not having a meeting earlier, but she said conversations with constituents now will have greatest impact on reform.
"We are still in the middle of the process, but now we know the ideas," she said.
She asked constituents to hang tight through the politicking in Washington � a process expected to last at least another couple of months.
"This is like the third quarter of a football game," she said. "We want to sign at the end of the year so we can begin reform on January 1. � We are taking the time to do it right."
At Saturday's Democratic rally in Sacramento,health insurance companies were vilified.
Dan Monahan, a Sacramento surgeon, said when he began practicing 22 years ago he naively thought health insurance companieswanted the best for his patients. He said he discovered they were less interested in patients' health than saving money by denying services.
"No other country in the world has for-profit insurance companies like we do," he said.
One lone man made a fuss and was quelled by a policewoman. Bill Cooper of Sacramento wore a "Nobama" T-shirt and held a mini American flag. He said he opposes a public option because it would not increase competition among health insurers.
"You're wrong!" he shouted repeatedly, while other nearby participants rolled their eyes. "You're just freaking lying!"
Despite the friendly atmosphere, questions directed at Matsui were diverse. Some participants asked personal questions, referencing their own experiences with the health care system. Matsui's audience at Sutter Middle School was a racially diverse mix of young and old.
Some of Matsui's toughest questioning came from liberal critics, such as Claire Toomay, a McClatchy High School teacher, who pointedly asked about the influence of the health care industry in drafting overhaul legislation.
Matsui's response was uncharacteristically animated.
Insurance companies don't want a public option, she said, but she supports it. Pharmaceutical companies have been reluctant to negotiate Medicare drug prices, but she wants them to, she said.
"Health care reform may work this time because everyone is around the table," she said. "In theClinton administration, we froze them out."
Toomay said the passion from Matsui was unexpected. Matsui's town hall was a contrast to forums hosted by her congressional colleagues this past summer when feverish debate produced standing-room-only crowds.
On Saturday there were no real clashes. There were no dueling pickets outside the town hall, as there were at town halls held by Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River.
There was, however, Charles Johnson of Sacramento, who bemoaned the complexity of the nation's current health-care system. Enrolled on Medicare Advantage, he said he feels overwhelmed by the unfamiliar insurance plan choices and all the acronyms he faces.
"You have to have a lawyer to get insurance," he said.
But the one comment that elicited a prolonged standing ovation was something everybody seemed to understand.
"This debate ends up being about a moral right," said Gay Jones of Sacramento. "Everybody needs to make this moral decision � that everybody is entitled to health care."
Matsui is on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of three House panels that have drafted health care overhaul bills. Matsui said her committee's plan is deficit neutral and that those who are happy with their private coverage or Medicare would continue to have the same. For the uninsured, she said, she supports a health insurance exchange marketplace.
It's great to see Matsui coming out so strongly for reform. I think it shows there's a strong sense of momentum for the progressives in the House. Keep up the pressure everyone.
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CONGRATULATIONS! President Obama on your Nobel Prize. It's well deserved :-)
Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential - By jacksmith - Working Class
Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/dDYSJ
Hollywood Supports The Public Option :-) http://bit.ly/3XLwPi
It's not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.
It's not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!
It's not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
It's not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!
It's not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don't work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER!
It's not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It's professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL.
THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL:
The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts.
At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE!
But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH.
This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run MEDICARE like public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong MEDICARE like public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time...is...UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op's! No Triggers! NO INDIVIDUAL MANDATES! without a Strong MEDICARE like public option on day one.
Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS.
BUT WE MUST ACT!
I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone.
SPREAD THE WORD!
I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious.
Whatever the cost. WE! MUST SUCCEED.
God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings
jacksmith - Working Class
ATTENTION!! Congress Has The Votes Needed To Pass A Public Option - TODAY http://bit.ly/TCq7O
Things You Can Do To Help NOW! http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2009/09/tired_of_watching_people_die_n.html
A majority of voters would rather have a Democrats only bill with a Public Option. Than a bipartisan bill without a Public Option.
A state based insurance plan is NOT!! a Public Option. Nor is it a Strong, National, Medicare like Public Option.
No Triggers! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-rosenbaum/a-trigger-for-the-public_b_277910.html
Triggers http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/weve-seen-these-triggers_b_283583.html
Krugman on heathcare (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
John Garamendi on the Public Option and the Grassroots: http://bit.ly/TJMty
Howard Dean on the Public Option http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SKfW2dUnow&feature=player_embedded
We're Number 37! in quality of health care http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVgOl3cETb4&feature=player_embedded
Twitter search (#welovethenhs #NHS #hc09 #hcr #healthcar #obama #p2 #topprog #) Check it out.
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