WH spokesman Linda Douglass: AMA just issued letter supporting the House healthcare legislation.

[flpoljunkie]

Just now on Andrea Mitchell's show on MSNBC. Interesting development. Perhaps they like the public option not becoming going into effect until 2013.

[niyad]

1. shouldn't it be WH spokesPERSON?

[flpoljunkie]

2. If you prefer.

[niyad]

4. I am just wondering why we continually have to fight the battle for gender neutral

language. Ms. Douglass is NOT a man.

Talkin Gender Neutral Blues
(Kristin Lems)
2005-01-19
words and music by Kristin Lems c 2005
This talkin blues (or is it a pre-rap?) is in the Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, and Bob Dylan tradition....musing aloud to a chord progression. The song is printed in the "Feminist Dictionary" and some other places.
I was walkin down the street one day
Reading the signs that passed my way
And after a while I started to see
That none of those words referred to me...
Good will towards men, all men are created equal,
Praise Him!

Well I asked some friends if they agreed
That they felt left out in the things they read
They told me yes, and added some more
And soon we all felt pretty sore
You got your Congressman, spaceman, sideman....
But I never heard a no house husband!

Well some men came by and a fight began to grow:
�You girls are so dumb you just don�t know,
These here are called �generic words�
They�re meant to include both the bees and the birds.�
Well gee fellas, how am I supposed to know?
I certainly don�t feel included!

Ok said I, if that�s so true,
I�ll just use �woman� to cover the two
�It don�t make a difference to us,� they said
�If you wanna use woman, go right ahead.�
I said, thanks, that�s really sisterly of you
Glad to see you believe in sportswomanship!

�Now hold your horses,� they started to cry.
I think I�ll hold my mares, said I.
�You�re leavin all of us guys behind.�
Why no, we�re all part of womankind.
So don�t fret friends, take it like a woman
You�ll get used to it, just like we all did!

[jefferson_dem]

3. Excellent! No Caveats! Here's their letter.

July 16, 2009
The Honorable Charles B. Rangel
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means
U.S. House of Representatives
1102 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Rangel:

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association, I am writing to express our appreciation and support for H.R. 3200, the “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.” This legislation includes a broad range of provisions that are key to effective, comprehensive health system reform. We urge members of the House Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means Committees to favorably report H.R. 3200 for consideration by the full House.

In particular, we are pleased that the bill:
•
Promises to extend coverage to all Americans through health insurance market reforms;
•
Provides consumers with a choice of plans through a health insurance exchange;
•
Includes essential health insurance reforms such as eliminating coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions;
•
Recognizes that fundamental Medicare reforms, including repeal of the sustainable growth rate formula, are essential to the success of broader health system reforms;
•
Encourages chronic disease management and care coordination through additional funding for primary care services, without imposing offsetting payment reductions on specialty care;
•
Addresses growing physician workforce concerns;
•
Strengthens the Medicaid program;
•
Requires individuals to have health insurance, and provides premium assistance to those who cannot afford it;
•
Includes prevention and wellness initiatives designed to keep Americans healthy;
•
Makes needed improvements to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative that will enable greater participation by physicians; and
The Honorable Charles B. Rangel
July 16, 2009

Page 2
•
Initiates significant payment and delivery reforms by encouraging participation in new models such as accountable care organizations and the patient-centered medical home.
The AMA looks forward to further constructive dialogue during the committee mark-up process. We pledge to work with the House committees and leadership to build support for passage of health reform legislation to expand access to high quality, affordable health care for all Americans.
This year, the AMA wants the debate in Washington to conclude with real, long overdue results that will improve the health of America’s patients.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Maves, MD, MBA

http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/715-house-hsr-letter_rangel-ama-endorsed.pdf