DU - I need help with my Representative-

[asdjrocky]

I don't normally do this, but I'm at an end with my member of Congress, Dennis Cardoza. It took a month of repeated calling to get his office to return my call. I signed up at his site and it took nearly two months for anything to come to me via e-mail.

I've spoken to one of his staffers in DC, Nora Todd, twice and I've left two messages with Mike Jensen, his press sec, receiving no calls back. I'm starting to think they are avoiding me.

Long story short? I know, too late.

Here's my problem, I can not get Cardoza to go on the record supporting a public option in a district that has 26% uninsured. That's 26% without any medical care at all. In fact, I'm told by Nora that their phone calls are two to one against the public option. It matters not that a vast majority of people and doctors support a public option, so far, Dinnes Cardoza does not.

Here's a portion of the email he sent a few days ago, (this is also up on his site)

In the 18th Congressional District we have significant health care challenges. More than a quarter of my constituents simply have no health insurance at all. Each year, 6,500 seniors in the district hit the so called “donut hole” in Medicare Part D and are forced to pay their full drug costs. In 2008, an estimated 1,730 health care-related bankruptcies in the district were caused primarily by health care costs not being covered by insurance. Also in 2008, health care providers in the district provided $167 million worth of uncompensated care to patients who lacked insurance coverage and were unable to pay their bills. The cost of health care for those uninsured is often picked up at the county’s expense. It often results in medical providers shifting the burden to those who can pay for treatment. Our problems are further compounded by a lack of physicians in the Valley due to the reimbursement rates that our doctors receive under current federal policies.

<snip>

The guiding principles for any measure that receives my vote include: a mechanism to improve access to care and increase the number of physicians in the Valley; the patient’s right to choose their physicians; health care decisions determined by medical professionals and the patient; and comprehensive coverage. Additionally, I believe that significant cost savings can be identified within our current system. Until those savings are found – and waste, fraud and abuse are eliminated – I cannot support a financing mechanism that places the cost burden solely on private employers or taxpayers.

Here's his site. (Notice, of course, he's a Blue Dog.)
http://www.house.gov/cardoza/index.shtml

When I told Nora I was passionate about this issue because I wanted to persuade her and then in turn she could persuade my Rep to simply do the right thing by his constituents, she told me it was not her job to persuade him. I told her it looks like that would then be my job. I asked if she would have Dennis call me and she left me believing there was very little chance of that happening. He's just a very busy man and gets requests for hundreds of calls a day.

Ca18 takes a very small silver out of Stockton's south side and there are a lot of poor people here that need help, and Dennis is not hearing this part of his district.

I'm asking for you're help DU, I'm asking you to help me turn these phone calls around so we can really have a serious discussion about what my district needs. Will you take a few moments to call the office and express your desire for a public option? I promise to do the same for you when you ask for my support.

Also, if you could ask him why he can't be bothered to call Rocky back, that would be great. :hi:

Here's the state and the DC number for Dennis.

202 225 6131 DC

209 527 1914

Thanks DU, every little bit helps.

[dhpgetsit]

1. You could try telling him you represent

National Assn of Convenience Stores

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00024874&type=C

[asdjrocky]

2. You are good.

You are good. Thanks!

[librechik]

3. heh--look at all that Healthcare Industry Dough!

no need to ask why he won't listen to you--he's owned.

[asdjrocky]

4. Yep, that's my rep.

Kind of makes ya proud don't it.

[dhpgetsit]

5. Yeah, they pretty much all are.

We need to keep talking about this stuff and bring the conversation into the mainstream.

[asdjrocky]

6. Thanks.

I know it's not Roman Polanski, but 45 thousand people a year are dying because they have no health care.

[asdjrocky]

7. Kick.

I'm not giving up.

[asdjrocky]

8. Hoping someone feels sorry for me and calls.

Or at least helps me kick this.

[asdjrocky]

9. I could really use just a little help here DU.

One phone call, please?

I just got off of the phone with his Press Sec. Mike Jensen and the best I can get out of him for a quote is, "Congressman Carcordza is not opposed to a public option."

Isn't that great, not opposed.

We need some help here, take a couple of minutes and call, please.

[mackerel]

10. asdjrocky - thanks for posting this...

I know the area you're talking about and it is straight-up poor and the underclass. I wonder if calling Jerry McNerney's office might help, you might even explain that you have tried Cardoza and explain the circumstances.

I would also start a letter writing campaign to the Stockton Record, Lodi News Sentinel, Modest Bee, San Francisco Chronicle and Sacramento Bee.

I know there is an active Lodi Democrat Club they maybe able to get you in contact with local Dems. Try Ann Cerney, she can move a mountain and she runs a law firm not far from your district in Stockton.

If you get the word out with the locals I think you might see better results.

[demodonkey]

11. TONS of things you can do...

1) FLOOD his DC office with calls from as many people as you can. (you are starting to work on this, good!) Constituents are best callers. Note that DC office is better than local offices because in general DC is where they do most of the legislative work; local offices tend to be more for constituent services. (i.e. help with passport, Social Security, etc.)

2) FLOOD his DC fax machine with faxes from as many constituents as you can. Individual messages rather than form fax are best.

3) Get people together and hold a public press event outside some of his local offices in his district. Do press releases and make sure you get some coverage; mainstream media is best of course but any coverage will help even if it is indy media or ANYTHING.

4) This is most expensive, but will get attention -- make an appointment with him in D.C. and go to his office . If you can, bring a bunch of up to 8 or 9 other supporters, so that when you call you can say to his scheduler, "I have myself and 8 constituents (no more than 8-10 total) who will be in D.C. on the ____th of _____ (month) and we want to meet with the Congressman or with Ms. Todd and Mr. Jensen." Then go and have a polite and respectful talk either to the Congressman or those staff members. Take pictures with the person you meet and the citzens who travel all that way -- when you get home you can send these and a press release to the local paper of everyone who went.

5) Keep trying and be very persistent but remain polite and respectful. The polite, respectful and squeaky wheels get the most grease in D.C.

6) If you can get some CA or in-his-district Democratic party big-shots to help and/or go to D.C. with you to meet on this, so much the better.

On edit:

7) If you can't afford to do the citizens lobbying trip to D.C., do it at his local office. Or do BOTH if you can. Take pictures with the staffer you meet with and send these to local press with a story.

8) See if you can plug into one of the national organizations working on Public Option and work with them.

9) Facebook and Twitter.

[mackerel]

12. Facebook and Twitter are excellent ideas

Inexpensive and accessible.