MoveOn calls on members to help block health care bill
(CNN) - MoveOn – which has spent millions this fall on campaigns pressing conservative Democrats to support health care reform – is now calling on members to fight the bill currently being considered by the Senate.
The group has launched a petition drive to push liberal lawmakers like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold to block the bill in its current form unless significant changes are made.
Earlier this week, Sanders indicated he was not sure he could back the bill as it now stands.
"(T)here's enormous pressure from all sides to pass a bill quickly, no matter how weak it is," MoveOn organizers said in a message sent to members Friday. "Let's show Bernie and other progressives that we're counting on them to block this version of the bill–and we'll get their backs if they do."
The group wants the final legislation to look more like the House bill, which included a "real public option."
That measure was removed from the bill to win the support of senators like Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, the other independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
"…America needs real health care reform–not a massive giveaway to the insurance companies. Senator Bernie Sanders and other progressives should block this bill until it's fixed." Despite the plan's removal from the Senate bill, "we can still win the health care fight," they write.
On Thursday, two major unions - the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union - issued statements criticizing the revised bill. But neither indicated an intention to oppose the measure.
–CNN Political Producer Rebecca Sinderbrand contributed to this report
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Of course, it should not be passed as is.
Without a public option, you cannot have a mandate that most Americans must have insurance without an affordable alternative.
95% of the folks without health insurance do not have due to the costs, folks would buy health insurance IF they could afford it and without a public option as an alternative you cannot force people to buy insurance at the current rates.
Also, making it illegal for insurance companies to deny pre-existing without a public option to compete, is just as bad, the insurance companies will only boost the premiums so high that the pre-existing condition could be covered but only if your a millionaire. Of course, the insurance companies would point out they are in compliance with the new law.
So the bottom line is 60% of Americans are ok with dying American kids, as long as it is not theirs.
You "christians" might want to revisit that whole "pro-life" creed.
"What, is MoveOn suddenly taking marching orders from Howard Dean and the Republicans??"
Yes Fake Sniffit, they are. That's exactly what it is you retard.
Reality: nobody's more angry about the health care bill than progressives, who wanted a robust public option if we couldn't get single-payer, which would've been the most effective. The Dems fell squarely into the GOP's trap, whic is to say, they capitulated. GOP complained about all the most effective and necessary portions of the bill to protect their insurance industry masters and those became the target of the uneducated and purposefully misinformed GOP base. So they got removed, leaving a steaming turd of a bill that basically amounts to handouts to the insurance industry. An end run on doing a direct bailout like TARP. We're angrier than you GOPers because the Dems proved to have no cajones. They were dam-ed if they did, now they're dam-ed that they didn't...when that's the case, you do what's right and take your lumps instead of trying to save yourself and your re-election.
I guess its not liberal enough or has enough free handouts in it for the liberal nuts at MoveOn to support.
Politicians say that "requiring health insurance is no different from requiring car insuruance."
Well, there is a key difference – if you don't
want to buy car insurance you don't have to drive!
What's your option if you don't want to buy health insurance?
Stop breathing?
Without a good public option, the mandate to buy is unfair.
We already have the youth of this country, who have the least resources to start with, taxed heavily to subsidize the aged thru
Social Security.
Now we're going to add this health insurance requirement which
will subsidize health care for the old & sick at the expense of those
who are younger, healthier, but generally poorer.
Then we wonder why we have too few young people
& too many retirees. This won't work ...
MoveOn needs to get a life. Health-care reform must get done, and now. There are always chances for technical amendments after the fact. Get real!
This is a joke. This is not health care reform. Shame on you Obama! What ever happened to change? I have lost all faith in this government. It's all the same wheather it's Republican or Democrates. They are all in the hands of big corporate giants. What do we vote for?
Bring back the public option, let's give the Insurance crooks some competion.
Moveon is behaving like the guys on wall street, it wants all at once, that's called being greedy. These are the same people who complain about wall street.
The can has been kicked.
Ahh yes... It's a wonderful sight to behind when the looney left resorts to eating their own!
Yes, Looney left! Go for it! Make sure there is a "robust government option" so this healthcare train wreck can collapse under its own weight!!
You see, there are at least a half a dozen Democrat Senators with a brain that can do simple math and know this would further bankrupt our nation.
Of course, that doesn't matter to you kooks. Your bizarro world of government handouts doesn't understand fiscal responsibility.
Let them agree on a bill before you do something stupid.
The angry liberals of moveon just need to go away.
I am with Howard Dean on this one. I have been for major health care reform, but the bill as it stands is so watered down that it does little for anyone but the insurance companies. I say let the bill die and as health care costs continue to go through the roof and more and more people and small companies end up not being able to afford health insurance, remind everyone that the Republicans stood 100 percent behind making any changes. What the Republicans are hoping for right now is that the Democrats pass a watered down bill that does little to fix any problems, then they can turn around and blast the Democrats for passing a bill that didn't accomplish much..
Just got my kid a 42 dollar a month health insurance plan. $30 copays, 3,500 deductible. That's less than I pay for his cell phone.
It also has a good provision for his prescriptions. And, no, it's not a fly by night outfit, Anthem Blue Cross.
One of three companies that operate in my state. Now, if the other 1,270 companies could sell across state lines, we might get some of that "choice & competition" Madam Speaker was talking about and then the costs would really skyrocket. Not!
Our system simply does not work. The fabric of our society will continue to strain to support an ineffective healthcare system that does not maintain it's health. We will remain non-competitive with foreign companies not forced to pay for health care and for insurance company profits. We can only afford limited healthcare dollars. Right now a large percent of those dollars pay for insurance company profits and the bureacracy to support many different systems. As an oncology nurse I see needless suffering and waste every single day that could be relieved if we had a single, understandable not-for-profit system with universal access. It is foolish to believe the current remnant of a bill will be any kind of a solution. I am tired of insurance companies deciding what care people receive. RN
There was a time when I actually respected MOVEON.org. Not any more. This organization has moved too far into the fringes for my tastes. No more support from me.
Absolutely, this bill needs to be blocked. It does not come close to being meaningful or representing the people.
I never in my life thought that I would back Move On but here I am hoping they are successful. Of course my reason is different than theirs but the end result is the most important. Kill the Bill!!!