Action Alert on Health Care Reform!

ACTION-ALERT! - Call your legislators NOW!

Mantra:  NO PUBLIC OPTION àNO MANDATE!!!

The Senate Finance committee is scheduled to vote on two public option amendments to their bill this coming Tuesday, September 29, 2009, if all goes as planned. These are:

1. the Schumer amendment, the weaker of the two, is similar to the HELP committee public option proposal, for an 'even playing field' and
2. the Rockefeller amendment, which is a Medicare-like plan.

Senator Cantwell has said she supports the Schumer amendment, and that she will not vote for a bill without a public option.

**Call Senator Cantwell: D.C.: 202-224-3441 or Seattle: 206-220-6400 (Nate Caminos) - She is on the Senate Finance Committee.

• - Push for a public option amendment, preferably votes for both above
• - Support her amendment to enhance the medical service corps, to increase primary care base
• - Support her efforts to even out Medicare reimbursements across the nation
• - Suggest she vote for the Sanders amendment to give states a federal waiver to pursue single payer; emphasize this is a states 'rights' issue
• - Urge her to vote for legislation which would allow Federal programs to negotiate on drug pricing

** Call Senator Murray: D.C.: 202-244-2621 or Washington: 866-481-9186 (Mary Conway) – On Senate H.E.L.P. committee and will work on merging two Senate bills

• - Support public option already in the HELP bill, but urge her to push for stronger version if passed by Finance committee when they merge
• - Suggest she vote for Sanders' amendment if that comes up when bills merge

**Call your Representative:

• - If blue, support and stick with public option. Consider Kucinich amendment to give states a waiver to pursue single payer.
• - If red, let them know how strongly you feel about public option. Tell them the majority of the American people, the majority of doctors want a public option. This is not a partisan issue; this gives people choice. Ask why they would not want to give their constituents choices.

**Call Speaker Nancy Pelosi: 202-225-0100 - Tell her you want a strong public option. Request she stick with her House version in HR3200 when House and Senate bills are merged.

These are all suggestions. Be selective – Focus on public option this week and explain politely why it is important to you and your family.

Thank you for taking the time to make these calls! Our voices do matter in health care reform.

Lisa Plymate, M.D.
Washington State Director, Doctors for America
34th LD King County Committeewoman; PCO 34-1521