The Problem is the Senate

Good Morning Bloggers! When it comes to health care reform it appears the House of Representatives is doing a great job, especially my Congressman Henry Waxman. The weak link so far appears to be the United States Senate, and that's where WE THE PEOPLE have to apply pressure to make sure we get a viable public option.

As I've said in my earlier post, a viable public option is necessary to drive down costs and to ensure fair competition in the health care market. Did you know that health care, along with baseball, is one of the few industries exempt from anti-competition, anti-trust laws? That's one of the main reasons why the costs are so high. It's well known that health insurance companies conspire and collude to drive up costs for sick Americans.

Did you also know that health care and pharmaceutical companies are some of the largest givers to national elections? Our representatives appear to be bought-and-paid-for these days thanks to a lack of reasonable campaign finance reform. It also seems that money creates a perfect storm of DC greed and corruption, making it very difficult for the American people to find a fair solution to this problem.

Forget the Republicans, for they are so deep inside the industry's pocket it's disgusting. Rank and file Republicans should be offended and repulsed by their leaders, but instead they seem to follow their every lead. Supporting our unfair, broken system seems to come natural to the GOP. It's beyond my reckoning. Personally I'm stumped by their support of such an unfair system!

Now, for the Democrats. There are still a few that are undecided - due to big money contributions. We need to make sure they know what WE THE PEOPLE think. See the list below to identify the uncommitted Senators along with the industry money received so far - to see who you can lobby.

1. Mark Warner, $69,000
2. Harry Reid, $78,800 Email
3. Kent Conrad $78,800
4. Joe Lieberman, $72,000
5. Blanche Lincoln, $91,000
6. Tom Carper, $58,450 Email
7. Evan Bayh, $66,100
8. Michael Bennet, $2,000 Email
9. Dianne Feinstein, $44,000
10. Mark Udall, $43,500
11. Max Baucus, $141,250
12. Ron Wyden, $40,750
13. Mary Landrieu, $38,000
14. Mark Pryor, $30,000
15. Ben Nelson, $106,123

I already wrote Senator Feinstein a strongly worded letter. I also provided email links for some of the well-known fence sitters - of course, Harry Reid's support would be helpful. If you want to help a lot, I recommend emailing them. I just did. Of course, emailing your own senator is vital!

Yes, I'm asking you to please TAKE ACTION NOW! WE THE PEOPLE need to step-up and make sure our elected officials do not abandon us during our time of need. Here is the tally for the entire Congress so far:

House 195 YES/6 NO/239 DON'T KNOW
Senate 37 YES/40 NO/22 DON'T KNOW
Combined 232 YES/46 NO/261 DON'T KNOW

What you see here means that we have a good shot at getting the legislation passed, but it also means we need to start lobbying the Senate hard NOW! We worked hard to get Hillary and Barack elected, along with dozens of other new Democrats, so why can't we use that same spirit to pass comprehensive health care reform? It's important for us all to do something!

If you still have doubts about the public option, despite all my rantings, you should take time to look at all the great sources available. One of my favorites (and it's honest, based on the primary candidate legislation now moving through the House Energy and Commerce Committee) is Stand with Dr. Dean - by Chairman/Governor/Doctor Howard Dean.

The site FAQ section is a great source for finding out everything you need to know - in easy to read bullet form. I also encourage you to sign the petition on the homepage.

This is one of the most serious issues I've ever been involved in. It's critical to the well-being of the American people, American families, and to the American economy. I beg you not to listen to the lies and the propaganda out there. They are deceiving you. Many of our own elected officials are hard at work deceiving us. Don't trust anybody! Do your own research.

All I'm asking is that you look at a variety of sources for information. If you do figure it out, and see that it will lower costs, create a better system, and help the economy, then please TAKE ACTION and contact one of your elected officials and make sure they know how you feel. We all need to do everything we can to make sure that we get legitimate health care reform and a viable public option.

If you wish to follow the primary candidate legislation, I recommend keeping an eye on the House Energy and Commerce Committee website - it's fascinating.

Tuesday's Political Rant and Call to Action - Michael

PS - Always remember, there is information about how to contact our national elected representatives in the right margin of this blog. I hope you decide to help out.

Political Rant: Joe Lieberman Needs to Go

Hello Bloggers - Well, I guess we should have expected it. After Harry Reid met with Joe Lieberman yesterday to express his dissatisfaction over his campaign behavior, Lieberman is now talking to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) about the possibility of caucusing with the GOP.

Reid is considering taking Lieberman's committee and subcommittee chairmanships away from him. In my opinion he should. How could Democrats trust Lieberman now? How could they even consider letting that guy caucus with them? The man would rat them out to the Republicans in a heartbeat.

According to the Huffington Post, a Lieberman aide, who requested anonymity, said today that "Lieberman and McConnell have spoken in recent days about the possibility of Lieberman joining the GOP conference."

I personally think Lieberman sold us out during the campaign. He claims to be a Democrat in everything except defense. What the "F" does that mean? Democrats are not soft on terror. Why didn't he just try to encourage improvements while working within our ranks?

I think it's because he wanted McCain or any Republican over a Democrat. Who knows why? I'm sure he has his crazy reasons. It's probably something to do with Israel and Middle East policy. Personally I don't see much of a difference between the parties in those areas.

I hope he enjoys his time with the Republicans, because they're not known for welcoming turn-coats. They will treat him pretty bad. He certainly won't have much influence. He will lose his committees, most of his power, and ultimately look foolish for his failure. What a moron.

I say good riddance. Get rid of him. Toss the tosser. The man is a traitorous scumbag. He turned his back on his party and his constituents. He needs to be FLUSHED!

Friday's Political Rant #1 - Michael