email from Democracy for America: No Public Option? No Mandate!

[OneGrassRoot]

If Democrats remove the choice of a public option, they can't force Americans to buy health insurance.

Here's the deal, Senate leaders are all over Washington claiming they finally have a healthcare reform bill they can pass, as long as they remove the public option. After all, they say, even without a public option, the bill still "covers 30 million more Americans." The problem is that's not really true.

What they are actually talking about is something called the "individual mandate." That's a section of the law that requires every single American buy health insurance or break the law and face penalties and fines. So, the bill doesn't actually "cover" 30 million more Americans -- instead it makes them criminals if they don't buy insurance from the same companies that got us into this mess.

A public option would have provided the competition needed to drive down costs and improve coverage. It would have kept insurance companies honest by providing an affordable alternative Americans can trust. That's why, without a public option, this bill is almost a trillion dollar taxpayer giveaway to insurance companies.

We must act fast. Both Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democratic Senators need to hear from you. Please stop whatever else you are doing and make the calls right now.

Senator Harry Reid
DC: [phone]
Carson City: [phone]
Las Vegas: [phone]
Reno: [phone]

Call your Democratic Senator too -- Senate Switchboard: [phone]

REPORT YOUR CALL AND TELL US HOW IT WENT (http://www.democracyforamerica.com/activities/265)

Without the choice of a public option, forcing Americans to buy health insurance isn't just bad policy, it's political disaster for Democrats -- a ticking time-bomb for years to come.

Does anyone think Republicans won't use this against Democrats in 2010?

What about in 2014 after the mandate goes into effect and the press reports all the horror stories of Americans forced to choose between paying their monthly health insurance bill to Aetna or paying rent?

The mandate is toxic and Democrats will own it. By the 2016 presidential election, is there any wonder how this will play out for Democrats?

CALL SENATOR HARRY REID NOW AT [phone] THEN REPORT YOUR CALL HERE

The message is simple: No public option? No Mandate!

Thank you for everything you do,

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America

[mzmolly]

1. AGREED!

:kick:

[regnaD kciN]

2. Called Reid, Pelosi, and my senators...

No one was answering Reid's D.C. line (at 11:29 local time???) so left message with his Carson City office.

Talked to Cantwell's office and left message.

Called Murray's office. Call went through to voicemail. "Mailbox is full. Goodbye!" :grr:

Spoke to someone at Pelosi's office. No sooner did I mention health care than I was cut off in mid-sentence and redirected to voicemail. :grr: :grr:

[HughMoran]

3. Saw that - K&R

Gotta keep the pressure on...