Oh, my god, did you hear how much money we're going to spend on socialized health care? It's going to bankrupt the nation! The Democratic Party's in chaos! Moderate "Blue Dog" Dems in the House are wavering! If Congress doesn't vote on health-care reform by the August recess, then Barack Obama's done!
Talking points courtesy of the Republican National Committee.
The working folks in the Missouri AFL-CIO, along with their allies and Democrats, are now providing some talking points of their own -- and a phone number to call bullshit on Republican scare tactics. They've declared today "National Call-In Day for Health Care."
They're urging support for HR 3200, otherwise known as America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. The basic message for senators and congressmen: "Support Americans" right to choose a strong
public option for health care. Make sure that employers who refuse to
offer health care pay into a system that provides health care for their
workers. Don't support any measure that taxes workers' health care
benefits." (If you've been thinking maybe you ought to actually read the bill everyone's fighting about, here's the whole damn thing.)
The phone number's 877-264-4226. And, the union folks have a few suggested talking points of their own:
Here is a sample script:
"Thisis (name). I am union member from (town). We need health care reform
now. Me and my family are counting on the Senator (or Representative.)
[For Reps:] I urge Rep ____________ to support HR3200.
[For Senators:] Health Care Can't Wait. We need action on the health care reform bills.
Kansas Rep. Dennis Moore could probably use a call.
And,
tip: If you want to sound just a little smarter than everyone else
who's flooding the congressional switch board -- or if you want to
really piss yourself off while having fun clicking around on cool maps
-- head over to the Federal Election Commission, which makes it really easy to see, for example, how much insurance-industry money Kansas
Sen. Pat Roberts banked in his last campaign (and, hell, money from
tons other medical industry interests, too -- like the American
Association of Clinical Urologists, who kicked in $5,000).
Finally, for those who think HR3200 doesn't go nearly far enough,
single-payer advocates are organizing, too. The group previously known
as Heartland Healthcare for All has organized into a Google group calling itself Single Payer MO-Kan Action Group (you'll have to sign in here).
"The
main purpose of Single Payer MO-Kan," according to organizers, "is to
engage in and document activities that are a direct part of the Health
Care legislative process in order to support a health program such as
that described by Physicians for a National Health Plan."
Imagine:
16,000 doctors, med students and other health care professionals who
want a government-run health plan. That almost makes up for what the two Senate doctors are saying.
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