Liberty MavenThank or Spank Your Senators
November 23rd, 2009 10:37 am | by Mike Miller | Published in Big Government, congress, DownsizeDC.org, Health Care, Liberty, Politics | 2 Responses
D o w n s i z e r – D i s p a t c h
The Senate voted to consider Harry Reid’s healthcare bill on Saturday night.
We must say, first of all, that there’s no need to panic. Keep in mind . . .
* The Senate did NOT pass the bill, it only agreed to end a filibuster that prevented the bill from being considered.
* There will be a debate and a consideration of amendments to the bill after Thanksgiving
* There will be another filibuster to prevent final passage of the bill, and breaking a filibuster requires 60 votes, which means . . .
* Final passage of the bill still requires 60 votes
That said, we are angry that this bill is moving forward. We must respond to this vote as we responded to the passage in the House of Pelosi’s healthcare bill two weeks ago . . .
* Thank the 39 Senators who voted against consideration of Reid’s healthcare bill
* Spank the 60 Senators who voted for it
* Copy your Representatives on these messages so they’ll be reminded of where you stand
Do this . . .
* See how your Senator voted: http://tinyurl.com/yd8s2pv
* Use our Educate the Powerful System to send your “thank or spank” letter to Congress
We believe it is especially important for citizens to “spank” Senators who expressed opposition to the bill because of the public option, yet voted to consider it anyway. These include most prominently:
* Bill Nelson (NE)
* Blanche Lincoln(AR)
* Mary Landrieu (LA)
* Joe Lieberman (CT)
If your two Senators voted in opposite directions, you can say something like this: “I thank Senator X for voting against cloture on Senator Reid’s terrible healthcare bill, and I am very disappointed that Senator Y voted to move forward with it.”
Because there are lots of combinations of Senators, where one voted for, another against, or both voted the same, we can’t offer a one-size-fits-all letter today. So, here’s a generic letter with talking points you may want to use in your own letter . . .
The American people do not support the liberty-crushing, debt-exploding, socializing healthcare bills Congress is considering. I therefore thank those Senators who voted against consideration of Sen. Reid’s healthcare vote on Saturday night.
To those who voted to consider Sen. Reid’s bill, let me suggest:
* although you willfully refuse to recognize that government interference has been the cause of exploding healthcare costs;
* although you refuse to even consider the possibility that LESS government is the solution to the healthcare crisis;
* although you don’t recognize the fundamental wrongness of forcing individuals to purchase government-controlled health insurance they don’t want;
* perhaps the intense opposition of the American people, and your own political self-interest, will finally persuade you to abandon your support for this bill.I am especially angry with Senators who expressed opposition to the bill, yet still voted to break this filibuster. They spouted nonsense like “moving the debate forward” and “an opportunity to make improvements.” http://www.aapsonline.org/newsoftheday/00650#more-650
They had the power to stop what they said was an unacceptable bill, but they didn’t.
Frankly, I suspect they are feigning “opposition” to the bill as leverage. I suspect they will be bribed to win their support of the final bill.
It happened already to win Sen. Landrieu’s support. A promise of an additional $100 million to her state caused her to break the filibuster. http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/11/the-100-million-health-care-vote.html
The American people will be watching carefully to see how many similar deals are brokered to win passage of this “healthcare reform.”
It’s in your interest, and your party’s interest, to oppose Sen. Reid’s boondoggle bill. We demand that you do.
END LETTER
Tell the Senate to oppose Reid’s bill at every turn, and to prevent its progress.
Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.
Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
D o w n s i z e r – D i s p a t c h
is the official email list of DownsizeDC.org, Inc. & Downsize DC Foundation
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November 24th, 2009 at 7:25 am (#)
1) Where's the GOP healthcare plan? A number of committees in the House and Senate worked on bills over the past months. The GOP AFAIK just sat pretty and said NO. Saying NO doesn't help extending care to the millions of Americans who lack it. Saying NO doesn't reduce the escalating healthcare costs that threaten the financial security of individuals, families. Saying NO doesn't reduce the burden on the GDP that the current healthcare system presents. Its all well and good to oppose the Dem plan, but to act like an obstinant child and say NO isn't serving anyone.
2) If the GOP can make the argument to the American people that the Reid bill is bad, then the Dems are unlikely to convince Landrieu et al to vote for the final bill. However, doing so requires more than Glenn Beck spin and more than saying NO. It requires a viable, rational alternative. We didn't see this happen in the House, I doubt we'll see it in the Senate. Your 'thank or spank' really adds ZERO to a rational debate on the issues. You offer no alternatives and either does the GOP.
3) If people don't want health insurance, there is something dreadfully wrong with them. Its not to the interest of themselves or society to NOT be insured. Not being insured means that your only route to healthcare is the ER or community clinics and taxpayers end up picking up the tab if you can't. I'd rather pay for it upfront and cover everyone than have the uninsured continue to drive up healthcare costs for ALL of us. No matter what my job or life situation is I want to count on access to quality healthcare. I think the majority of Americans agree. Access to healthcare is too important to let the vagaries of free market economics dictate who has access and what quality of care you receive. Providing the best care at the lowest price is not sufficiently incentivized for the free market to provide it.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:25 am (#)
1) Where's the GOP healthcare plan? A number of committees in the House and Senate worked on bills over the past months. The GOP AFAIK just sat pretty and said NO. Saying NO doesn't help extending care to the millions of Americans who lack it. Saying NO doesn't reduce the escalating healthcare costs that threaten the financial security of individuals, families. Saying NO doesn't reduce the burden on the GDP that the current healthcare system presents. Its all well and good to oppose the Dem plan, but to act like an obstinant child and say NO isn't serving anyone.
2) If the GOP can make the argument to the American people that the Reid bill is bad, then the Dems are unlikely to convince Landrieu et al to vote for the final bill. However, doing so requires more than Glenn Beck spin and more than saying NO. It requires a viable, rational alternative. We didn't see this happen in the House, I doubt we'll see it in the Senate. Your 'thank or spank' really adds ZERO to a rational debate on the issues. You offer no alternatives and either does the GOP.
3) If people don't want health insurance, there is something dreadfully wrong with them. Its not to the interest of themselves or society to NOT be insured. Not being insured means that your only route to healthcare is the ER or community clinics and taxpayers end up picking up the tab if you can't. I'd rather pay for it upfront and cover everyone than have the uninsured continue to drive up healthcare costs for ALL of us. No matter what my job or life situation is I want to count on access to quality healthcare. I think the majority of Americans agree. Access to healthcare is too important to let the vagaries of free market economics dictate who has access and what quality of care you receive. Providing the best care at the lowest price is not sufficiently incentivized for the free market to provide it.