To the Dem senators who voted against the Sanders state single payer amendment

[eridani]

What possible reason could there be for voting against the Sanders amendment to allow states to establish single payer health care? Why did you vote agains the right of the citizens of our states to do better than a floor that national legislation might offer?

The cheapest public option in the House bill is $410 a month. My COBRA is now $450 a month. The single payer proposal in WA state guaranteeds medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, hearing, long term care and mental health benefits FOR $75 A MONTH per adult!

http://www.healthcareforallwa.org/health-security-trust-summary/

I DEMAND THAT YOU PROVIDE JUST ONE GOOD REASON WHY YOU WANT TO DENY ME THAT CHOICE!


Christopher Dodd
U.S. Senator Chris Dodd
448 Russell Building
Washington D.C., 20510
http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3128
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

30 Lewis St Suite 101
Hartford, CT 06103
Tel: [phone] —CT only
Fax: [phone]

Barbara A. Mikulski (MD) - NO
http://mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm
503 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
[phone]

1629 Thames Street
Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21231
Phone (410) 962 - 4510
Fax (410) 962 - 4760

Patty Murray (WA) - NO
http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Toll Free: [phone]

2988 Jackson Federal Building
915 2nd Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98174
Phone: [phone]
Toll Free: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Jack Reed (RI) - NO
http://reed.senate.gov/contact/contact-share.cfm
728 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

U.S. District Courthouse
One Exchange Terrace
Suite 408
Providence, RI 02903-1173
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
TDD [phone]

Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA) - NO
http://casey.senate.gov/contact/
393 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: [phone]
Toll Free: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

2000 Market Street, Suite 1870
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Kay Hagan (NC) - NO
http://hagan.senate.gov/?p=contact
521 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

310 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
TOLL FREE FOR NORTH CAROLINIANS
Phone: [phone]


Jeff Bingaman (NM) - YES
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT) - YES
Sherrod Brown (OH) - YES
Tom Harkin (IA) - YES
Jeff Merkley (OR) - YES

[vadawg]

1. probuably due to if it becomes a states issue, then they dont have a say

and we know how much pols like to have the power over us.. god forbid that the state could do a better job than our betters in the house..

[autorank]

2. #3 here

This is the definition of a "country club liberal" - people who feel bad when they've got what you need but do
nothing about it when they have a chance. They're as blatant as blue dogs, truth be told.

May they lose their benefits. How about a campaign to a) make the Hill follow the same labor rules as the rest of
us and b) turn them all into 1099 employees - no benefits.

Then the big one, make them sign a damn contract like this or get the Hell out.

Good to see you :toast: Nice one!

[Mythsaje]

3. The only way available to put pressure on the system as it stands

is the public initiative process in those states that have it. It's the only place we can get leverage to budge the system at all.

[midnight]

6. The contract does not show up?

[autorank]

14. Here it is (thanks for pointing that out)

http://electionfraudnews.com/News/Election/contract.htm

From: The Money Party (2). Lousy Leaders and How to Get Rid of Them

A Contract with the Citizens United States of America

Required for every elected official without exception.


In order to serve in public office, I _____________________ agree to the following:

1) I will provide a designated independent auditing agency with a list that includes: all of my campaign contributors; all of my present and past business associates; all of my relatives and close friends; and anyone or any entity (company, union, etc.) that might approach me with a proposal for legislation, regulation, or other action that would result in the use of my influence and position for their benefit. I will continuously update this list and I agree that it will be made public.

2) I agree that any specific action I take requested by and for the benefit of any of the named individuals and entities or others is an instance of undue influence and betrayal of the public trust. Further, I agree that taking a job with or taking direct or indirect payment from any of those listed after leaving office is an instance of undue influence and betrayal of the public trust.

3) I will provide an itemized detail of any and all communication of any type that involves those listed in clause one or those who should have been listed as determined by the independent auditing agency should it be requested. I agree that all of these records will be made public.

4) I authorize any of those involved in any investigation to turn over any records concerning me if questions arise about undue influence due to my relationship with them. I also agree to fully open my records and staff, paid and unpaid, to interrogation by the auditing agency. I will not interfere in this process in any way whatsoever. I understand that any interference by me in the investigation is also an instance of undue influence and betrayal of the public trust.

5) If the independent auditing agency determines that I should be tried for “undue influence and betrayal of the public trust,” I agree that I will stand trial before a randomly selected, representative body of citizens and abide by their decision on my guilt of innocence. I further agree that this trial will last no more than one business day, eight hours, and that it will be televised on C-Span and any other network that chooses to air all or part of it.

6) I agree that I will resign and never seek public office again if the citizen panel determines that I am guilty of undue influence and betrayal of the public trust. I will also pay whatever fine is determined by the citizen jury. If the offense occurs after I leave office, I agree to an immediate period of two continuous years of service overseas in the Peace Corps and that I will never again seek public office and pay the fine levied. I further agree that I will not appeal the decision to any outside authority after the citizens make their decision.

This I swear:

____________________________________
Candidate for Public Office / Office Holder

[dmosh42]

4. Do you have a bill number that I could look at? Something like S30__, or HR 23__? n/t

[eridani]

5. The senate has two bills, one finance and one health committee

Neither have numbers. S703 is Sanders' single payer. The House bill 3200 got the state single payer amendment passed. House single payer bills are HR 676/1200.

Keiser Foundation has side by side comparison--http://www.kff.org/healthreform/sidebyside.cfm

[slipslidingaway]

8. Senate HELP rejects enabling legislation for state single payer experiments

These were amendments to the bill during the markup period, the Sanders amendment in the Senate was defeated, while the Kucnich amendment in the House was adopted. I am not aware of any amendment number, but the links below have a little more info.


http://www.pnhp.org/blog/2009/07/14/senate-help-rejects-enabling-legislation-for-state-single-payer-experiments/

Senate HELP Committee
July 14, 2009

"Sen. Bernie Sanders just offered an amendment to the Senate HELP health care reform bill that would allow a limited number of state experiments with single payer systems. The proposal would have provided waivers from federal regulations such as ERISA, and would have authorized current federal spending on programs such as Medicare and Medicaid to be transferred to the state to be used in the single payer program.

Those voting for the amendment:

Bernie Sanders
Tom Harkin
Sherrod Brown
Jeff Merkley

All Republicans and all other Democrats voted against it."

http://help.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_06_17_E/2009_06_17_E.html


List of committee members:

http://help.senate.gov/About.html


UPDATED--Yes States Can! House HELP Passes Single-Payer Amendment!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/7/17/754550/-Yes-States-Can!-House-HELP-Passes-Amendment-to-Allow-State-Single-Payer-Experimentation

by National Nurses Movement

Share this on Twitter - UPDATED--Yes States Can! House HELP Passes Single-Payer Amendment! Fri Jul 17, 2009 at 10:06:30 AM PDT

"America’s registered nurses and other guaranteed healthcare activists are hailing the vote last night by House Education and Labor Committee to amend the national healthcare reform bill and give individual states the freedom to adopt single-payer, Medicare-for-All style reforms. This is a major victory for genuine healthcare reform.

This bi-partisan vote affirms the best of American democracy. The exemptions would life federal mandates on healthcare money and free states to act as the laboratories of democracy they are supposed to. The vote is also an encouragement to progressives who are looking for paths to improve the parameters of our restricted healthcare debate.

Here is Sen. Sanders discussing the Senate version of the amendment, which was recently voted down in the Senate Finance Committee. And here Rep. Kucinich reports on the vote..."


Committee Markup

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/briefing/Senate_legislative_process.htm#2

"A markup is a meeting of the committee to debate and consider amendments to a measure under consideration. The markup determines whether the measure pending before a committee will be recommended to the full Senate, and whether it should be amended in any substantive way..."

[LWolf]

7. I'm glad to see that my new Senator (Merkley,) voted YES. nt

[slipslidingaway]

9. knr #18 n/t

[slipslidingaway]

10. Dem House members votes on the Kucinich single-payer amendment...

House Lets States Do Single Payer Healthcare

http://www.davidswanson.org/node/1973

Democrats

* George Miller, Chairman (CA-07) N
* Dale E. Kildee (MI-05) N
* Donald M. Payne (NJ-10) PASS, Y
* Robert E. Andrews (NJ-01) N
* Robert C. Scott (VA-03) --, Y
* Lynn C. Woolsey (CA-06) Y
* Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) N
* Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04) N
* John F. Tierney (MA-06) --, --, Y
* Dennis J. Kucinich (OH-10) Y
* David Wu (OR-01) PASS, PASS
* Rush D. Holt (NJ-12) Y
* Susan A. Davis (CA-53) PASS, N
* Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) Y
* Timothy H. Bishop (NY-01) N
* Joe Sestak (PA-07) N
* Dave Loebsack (IA-02) Y
* Mazie Hirono (HI-02) PASS, N
* Jason Altmire (PA-04) N
* Phil Hare (IL-17) N
* Yvette Clarke (NY-11) --, --
* Joe Courtney (CT-02) N
* Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) --, Y
* Marcia Fudge (OH-11) Y
* Jared Polis (CO-2) PASS, Y
* Paul Tonko (NY-21) --, --, Y
* Pedro Pierluisi (PR) --, --
* Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Northern Mariana Islands) N
* Dina Titus (NV-3) N
* Judy Chu PASS, PASS,

[Wednesdays]

11. K&R

:kick:

[FlyingSquirrel]

12. I respect Patty Murray very much..

I am racking my brains here. Guess I'll just have to ask her to explain her position, huh?

[eridani]

13. Yes. I plan on going to her Seattle office tomorrow

She came out for a public option early, and I just don't get this vote at all.