Organizing for
America is targeting 33 Republican congressional districts whose
constituents voted for President Obama in 2008. E-mails to members encourage them to call the Republicans and "remind them that their constituents
voted for change and urge their representative to do the same for
health insurance reform as they move towards a vote today."
The targeted reps include Miami's Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and St. Petersburg's Bill Young. "Make sure (name of Rep) hears from you and gets a reminder that their district voted for change just 12 months ago," the e-mail says. "With the big vote happening in as little as a few hours, there's not a moment to lose."
No Republicans are expected to vote for the House bill — and two Florida Dems — Orlando's Suzanne Kosmas and Monticello's Allen Boyd — have said they'll vote against it.
And don't bother calling Ros-Lehtinen, she's already said she will vote against the bill.
From Ros-Lehtinen: "We
all agree that real health care reform is a necessity. In South Florida we have
far too many families living underinsured or completely uninsured. The Pelosi
1.3 trillion dollar bill is not the answer because it cuts Medicare programs
for our seniors, taxes small businesses that are already struggling and leaves
a staggering debt for our grandchildren. The price of healthcare will not
stabilize, it will not go down, and we will all see the cost either in more
taxes or premium increases. Congress should have worked together in a
bipartisan way to help the uninsured while not putting additional economic
burdens on hard working families at a time when unemployment is over 10%
nationally.
"Among
other things, what’s needed in a healthcare reform package is the end to
doctors’ fears of frivolous and expensive lawsuits and the practice of
defensive medicine; the forcing of insurance companies to compete nationally
for your business; the use of refundable tax credits to increase affordability
and not penalize America’s small businesses. Our vital small business
owners are already straining to not cut jobs and wages.
"My
mother is 83 and suffers from Alzheimer’s. When I see the Pelosi bill
taking benefits away from seniors like her, I worry tremendously. Medicare
helps countless seniors in our community live longer and healthier lives. The
Pelosi bill makes $170 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage causing 3 million
seniors to lose their current coverage. The Pelosi bill will increase Medicare
prescription drug premiums by over 20 percent, a rate unaffordable to seniors.
The Pelosi bill also has cuts to Home Health Care programs, hospice care, and
the prescription drug care program. All Americans deserve access to affordable
health care, but reducing quality and quantity of care for one group to pay for
another is a sacrifice that our seniors should not be forced to make.
"I
am a proud new grandmother, and the Pelosi 1.3 trillion dollar bill will leave
a legacy of debt to my granddaughter, Morgan Elizabeth. In Congress’ rush
to get any kind of bill passed, regardless of its cost or impact, they have
taken the wrong approach. Congress should find common-sense and practical ways
to fix what is broken in the system without destroying what works.
"We
need competition and market place reforms that will bring high quality and low
prices. This bill was simply the wrong medicine for America’s health care
problems. We must let Americans decide for themselves what is best for their
families. Everyone deserves healthcare treatment, everyone deserves access to
healthcare insurance, and everyone deserves both at an affordable cost. We can,
we must, do better.
"The
Pelosi bill found creative
ways to hide healthcare
costs
in new
taxes, mandates and
cuts
that make no sense for families and seniors, no
sense for small businesses, and no sense for future generations.”
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- Nelson to vote for health care bill; public option backers to rally at his office
- Nelson targeted for health care vote