GLOBE Gays & Lesbians Organized for Betterment & Equality

http://johnknoxwhite.com/2009/08/12/stop-the-recall-sign-the-petition/

 Hi, I'm the public health insurance option.

People have been saying all sorts of untrue things about me lately, so I decided it was time to stand up and set the record straight.

First off: the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I'm happy and healthy. And I'm proud to play a starring role in four of the five health reform bills currently on the table.

Second: I have a lot of friends. President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi support me—as do 77% of the American people.¹ In fact, I'm feeling pretty popular.

But there is one area where I could use your help. The Senate Finance Committee is considering a "trigger" proposal that could kill me through indefinite delay.

Can you call your senator, Dianne Feinstein, and tell her that health care reform must include a real public health insurance option that's available immediately—not a "trigger"?
 
Here's where to call:

Senator Dianne Feinstein
Phone: 202-224-3841

Then click here to report your call:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSCA_1&cp_id=1120&id=17313-4008564-zf.wcOx&t=2

A "trigger" that would make me wait to become available is just a trap designed to kill me. As Senator Charles Schumer has pointed out, "any reasonable criteria for triggering a public plan has already been met" because insurance companies have already failed to rein in costs and expand coverage.²

Here are some other things you might not know about me:

• I like candlelit dinners, overseas travel, and long walks on the beach. Whoops, sorry—wrong email.
• Some people say they don't like me because I'm too expensive, but that's just a flat-out lie. Keeping me around will actually save money—I'd cost 10% less than the typical private plan.³
  
• I'm the best way to keep insurance companies honest. Like my friend Senator Jay Rockefeller has said, "Without the steady, positive influence of a public plan option in the marketplace, we will never truly solve the health care crisis in this country. Private health insurance has a long history of cutting people off or charging too much for too little."⁴
  
• Over 60 House progressives have publicly pledged to only vote for a bill that has me in it.⁵ So without me, health care reform doesn't have enough votes make it through Congress.

And I'm counting on your help to make it through the Senate. Can you call Sen. Feinstein today?

Senator Dianne Feinstein
Phone: 202-224-3841

Then click here to report your call:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSCA_1&cp_id=1120&id=17313-4008564-zf.wcOx&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–The public health insurance option (and the MoveOn team)

Sources:

1. "New Poll: 77 Percent Support 'Choice' Of Public Option," The Huffington Post, August 20, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51799&id=17313-4008564-zf.wcOx&t=4

2."A 'trigger' for the public health insurance option? Already triggered." NOW! Blog, May 20, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51443&id=17313-4008564-zf.wcOx&t=5

3. Letter to Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Congressional Budget Office, July 14, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84763&id=17313-4008564-zf.wcOx&t=6

4. "Rockefeller Unveils Public Plan Option," Office of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, June 10, 2009
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=314224

5. "60 Members of Congress Say 'No Public Plan, No Conference,'" Firedoglake, August 17, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51784&id=17313-4008564-zf.wcOx&t=7

Meet at Fruitvale Bart to have conversations about Marriage Equality

Talk to Oakland neighbors door to door
Have one-on-one conversations with people about their stance on marriage.
Meet at the Fruitvale BART stop in Oakland by the ticket machines. If you have a car, please bring it to carpool together.

• Sunday, September 20, 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, October 4, 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.