U.S. West: Open Discussion

9 Comments

1. 

   BooMan on July 6, 2009 at 9:32 pm

   For your viewing pleasure.  World is only 6000 years old.

2. 

   BooMan on July 7, 2009 at 7:03 pm

   July 7, 2009

   The Honorable Barack Obama
   President of the United States
   1600 Pennsylvania Aye, N.W.
   Washington, D.C. 20500

   Dear Mr. President,

   I read with alarm and dismay the article in the July 7th edition of the Wall Street Journal, “White House Open to Deal on Public Health Plan”. In particular, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel stated in the article that one of several ways to meet your health care reform goals is a mechanism under which a public plan is introduced only if the marketplace fails to provide sufficient competition on its own.

   I want to be crystal clear that any such trigger for a strong public plan option is a non-starter with a majority of the Members of the Progressive Caucus (CPC). As the CPC has repeatedly stated, its Members cannot support final passage of any health care reform bill that does not include a robust public plan option, akin to Medicare, operating alongside the private plans.

   Public opinion polls show that 76% of Americans want a robust public plan option and I will stand in solidarity with them. Moreover, I consider it unacceptable for any of the cost savings that you are negotiating with hospitals and other sectors of the health care industry to be made contingent upon a robust public plan option not being included in the final legislation.

   Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

   Sincerely,

   Raul Grijalva

   • 

     Man Eegee on July 7, 2009 at 7:07 pm

     I love my Congressman.

     • 

       BooMan on July 7, 2009 at 8:29 pm

       yes, he is one of the very best. Short, too.

       • 

         Man Eegee on July 8, 2009 at 6:53 pm

         he’s also hosting a rally this weekend

         Dear Friends,

         Please join me on Saturday, July 11 for a rally on Health Care Reform.

         Show your support for REAL reform through a single payer option or, at a minimum, inclusion of a public option in the developing health care reform legislation.

         Stand with us and be counted as champions of health care reform that takes care of patients.

         Don’t let your health be held hostage by the insurance industry.                                                              

         Real Coverage, Real Competition, Real Choices, Real Reform

         Tucson Convention Center
         North Exhibition Hall
         Saturday, July 11th
         11:30am-12:30 pm

         Doors open at 11:00am

         JOIN this rally and be a voice for meaningful reform!

3. 

   BooMan on July 7, 2009 at 7:05 pm

   Roll Call (subscription):

   Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday ordered Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) to drop a proposal to tax health benefits and stop chasing Republican votes on a massive health care reform bill.
   Reid, whose leadership is considered crucial if President Barack Obama is to deliver on his promise of enacting health care reform this year, offered the directive to Baucus through an intermediary after consulting with Senate Democratic leaders during Tuesday morning’s regularly scheduled leadership meeting. Baucus was meeting with Finance ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) Tuesday afternoon to relay the information.

   According to Democratic sources, Reid told Baucus that taxing health benefits and failing to include a strong government-run insurance option of some sort in his bill would cost 10 to 15 Democratic votes; Reid told Baucus it wasn’t worth securing the support of Grassley and at best a few additional Republicans.

   By Tuesday afternoon, the Finance Committee began looking at ways other than taxing health benefits to deliver a health care overhaul that costs less than $1 trillion and is deficit-neutral, as Baucus wants.

   “This was discussed in the weekly Democratic leadership meeting,” one Democratic source confirmed Tuesday afternoon. “These concerns were relayed to [Baucus] later on.”

   Baucus for months has worked with Grassley on a health care reform bill that could garner bipartisan support. But the Finance chairman was forced last month to delay the markup of his committee’s bill because such a compromise remained elusive.

4. 

   BooMan on July 9, 2009 at 8:35 am

   Really excellent article on Barbara Boxer’s challenge in passing climate change legislation.  You will learn a lot about how the Senate works and the challenges facing partisan Democrats.  

5. 

   BooMan on July 21, 2009 at 10:27 pm

   In case you missed it, there is a new congresswomen in the House of Reps.

6. 

   BooMan on August 1, 2009 at 12:29 pm

   Incredible.