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We’ve demanded health care from 25% of Congress! |
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As of today, together, we have called 123 Members of Congress and asked them if they’re with us for quality, affordable health care for all. That’s nearly 25%!
As mentioned yesterday, we’re getting unconfirmed reports from members that they are with us. We will be following up and confirming those reports in the coming days, but the message is clear: These calls are working!
Think about it. The person who answers the phone usually answers tens if not hundreds of calls from constituents each day. That staff person’s job is to listen, take notes, pass along complaints or compliments, but generally not give firm answers on what an elected official supports or doesn’t support. Yet, we have literally dozens of reports coming back. Why? Here’s Mark Memmott at USA Today:
The technological twist: You don’t even have to know who your congressman is. By giving Click-to-Call some key information — your zip code and phone number, in particular — it figures out who your representative is and then connects you to his or her office. And, no surprise, the grassroots liberal group also provides some talking points to use if you get through.
We’re connecting constituents with their Members of Congress in an innovative way, but it’s more than that:
82% of Americans think our health care system needs a “major overhaul.†On top of that, over 90% of Americans [pdf] think the next President and Congress should improve the quality and affordability of health care.
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Nancy Pelosi has recently declared health care expansion to be #2 on her list of legislative priorities, right after ending the Iraq war.
Members of Congress are responding because this issue is important with the American people and important with leadership in Congress. But it takes more than that. Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake explains:
[If] you’re looking for meaningful health care changes in the next administration, I’m going to suggest that historical evidence indicates you’re going to have to do more than sit back and hope the Democrats deliver. And the best time to pin them down is probably when our representatives are running for office, and not after they are securely in DC and dancing for K Street lobbying money.
So, please, make the call for health care. We need to make sure we’ve contacted every Member of Congress at least once. It’s important for the health of everyone in America.
What will your next step be after the calls are done?
Along with the calls, we’ve been meeting with members in their home districts, and sending them formal letters. We’ll also be meeting with them on the Hill. We hope to get a bunch of signons through this coordinated push.
After that, we’re looking at making sure health care is raised as a question in the Presidential debates as well as focusing on health care in selected states around the country.