Dear Dennis Kucinich

Dear Dennis Kucinich,

I have been a huge fan for years. After meeting David Swanson and hearing that if everyone who supports you would/could donate 50 bucks to your presidential campaign then we would have you as our President I stepped up to the plate and sent you money for your congressional campaign when folks wanted to challenge you and had resolved to send you at least 50 bucks henever you run for President. (However, with the recent "horrendous" Supreme Court decision this theory probably became null and void).

Given my belief in your ethics and your authentic representation of the people you represent I want to know what prompted you to support the Obama Health Care Plan. I am seriously opposed to this plan because I worry it will strengthen the health insurance industry and weaken future attempts to correct the US health care system. IF insurance is marginally improved for people who maybe able to afford health insurance (and/or folks who still have a job) I believe this may stop any serious health care reform that is truly affordable and accessible for all Americans.

So Dennis can you tell us why?

Sincerely,
Star Womanspirit

26 Democratic Senators Holding up Healthcare Reform

45,000 Americans die every year because they do not have health insurance and cannot access quality healthcare.

Actions speak louder than words. Every day at least 123 Americans will die. Why are these Senators not doing what is necessary to get a Health Insurance Reform bill passed so that everyone can have access and choice of a private or public plan?

Here are the 26 Democratic Senators currently holding Up Healthcare Reform and supporting the Republican Party of NO:

Daniel Akaka HI
Max Baucus MT
Evan Bayh IN
Mark Begich AK
Robert Byrd WV
Maria Cantwell WA
Thomas Carper DE
Kent Conrad ND
Cristopher Dodd CT
Byron Dorgan ND
Russel Feingold WI
Kay Hagan NC
Tom Harkin IA
Ted Kaufman DE
Herb Kohl WI
Mary Landrieu LA
Blanche Lincoln AR
Claire McCaskill MO
Bill Nelson FL
Ben Nelson NE
Mark Pryor AR
John Rockefeller WV
Jon Tester MT
Mark Udall CO
Mark Warner VA
Jim Webb VA

Is your Senator on this list?

If you are from VA BOTH of our Senators are on this notorious list. This is not a moderate position but it maybe an "self richening" experience for many if not all the Senators on this list.

Ima Democrat Ima Republican....

Tell Your Truth to Jim Webb

I seriously disagree with Jim Webb's analysis--that most people are understandably satisfied with their health care.

Jim Webb's peers in Congress are definitely satsifed with their health care. But this is NOT the reality for the people that Jim Webb represents.

Please take the time to contact Jim Webb asap. Senator Webb is known to be a fair and ethical man. Let him know that his analysis is wrong and he needs to get on board and heartily endorse a strong public option asap.

I've enclosed Senator Webb's correspondence on health care below.

Thank you for contacting my office regarding health care reform. I appreciate your taking the time to share your views.

At the outset, I believe that the Obama administration should have begun the reform process with a clear proposal that could have been the starting point for our work here in Congress. Without a specific framework, Congress has had difficulty crafting a bill of such challenging scope and complexity.

Currently in the Senate, two committees have jurisdiction over health care – the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Finance Committee. The bills produced by the two committees will be combined into a single package, to be considered by the entire Senate in the coming weeks. Although a final bill for debate in the Senate has not yet been agreed to, I am reviewing the bills that have been produced based on the need to contain costs, expand access to health care, and address systemic concerns, such as health insurance reform. It is important for us to be very deliberate on an issue of such importance to the lives of so many Americans.

While most people are understandably satisfied with their health care, the system is not working for millions of American families. Spiraling costs for health care have placed our biggest industries at a severe competitive disadvantage, as employers struggle to provide insurance for their workers. By the same token, families are increasingly unable to depend on their health care plans when they need them the most. This has contributed to the mortgage foreclosure crisis and the rise in personal bankruptcies. In short, our nation’s continued economic recovery would be advanced by meaningful and effective health care reform. At the same time, such reform must emphatically be reasonable in scope, cost, and impact.

In the coming weeks and months, I encourage you to visit my website at www.webb.senate.gov

for updated information about the health care reform debate. Additionally, the Senate Committee on Finance www.finance.senate.gov

and HELP Committee www.help.senate.gov/index.html

have posted on their websites useful information about their respective proposals.

As the Senate continues to debate health care reform, please be assured that your views will be very helpful to me and my staff. I hope that you will continue to share your views with us in the years ahead.

Thank you once again for contacting my office.

Sincerely,

Jim Webb

United States Senator

JW:kw

Health Care Ads are Talking Sense and Taking Aim

Join With Us

Over 70% of Americans want real choice and real competition in our health care system. Let your elected officials know that this is a bottom line issue. Their vote will let you know if they can be bought by corporations or they represent your interests.

Health Care Truth Telling

Join the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care

Important Congressional Forum:

“National Lessons for Health Reform: An Examination of US Health Insurance”
April 1, 2009,     2 pm – 4 pm, 

2226 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC
This forum is open to the public.

The US has relied on private health insurance for sixty years --- what lessons can we take from this experience? What are the implications of the growing pehnomenon of underinsurance? As President Obama says, we must keep what works and end what does not. The April 1 forum will examine insurance mechanisms that will be increasingly debated as national models for health reform.

The panel of witnesses include:

• Louis Balizet, MD, Oncologist
• Marilyn Cawthon, ICU RN, Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals
• Leonard Rodberg, PhD, Professor and Chair of Urban Studies Queens College
• Annette Ramirez de Arellano, DrPH, Health Research Group, Public Citizen
• Cindy Young, Senior Health Policy Advisor California School Employees Association
• David L Rabin MD, MPH, Professor of Community Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center

The witness panel will address topics highly relevant to the debate over national health reform:

• How well does US health insurance work for doctors, nurses, and their patients?
• What problems do those with insurance have in accessing care?
• Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan, is it a model for national reform?
• What has the fragmented US health insurance system meant for minority populations?
• If, as many believe, employer-based insurance is broken, what is buttressing it?
• Has private insurance within Medicare met expectations?

All Members of Congress are invited to participate in the forum by listening to witness testimony and asking questions. Congressman Eric Massa [NY-29] will serve as Chairman. Ask your Representative to listen to the witnesses testimony and ask the tough questions. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past--too much is at stake.

Announce the Forum
http://www.healthcare-now.org/docs/Announcment.pdf

Invite your Representative to Attend
http://www.change.org/actions/view/ask_your_rep_to_attend_national_lessons_for_health_reform

If you will attend the forum, please RSVP to Jessica Yarbrough, jyarbrough@calnurses.org, or (202) 974-8300.

Sincerely,

Katie Robbins
Assistant National Coordinator, Healthcare-NOW!
Support Staff, Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care
o: 800.453.1305
c: 330.618.6379
f: 212.475.8350
healthcarenow08@gmail.com
www.healthcare-now.org
339 Lafayette St
New York, NY 10012