Quote of the Day: “Ironically, as we’re moving toward having our government completely control health care, countries with government-run health care are moving in the opposite direction. Almost every European country has introduced market reforms to reduce health costs and increase the availability and quality of care.” — David Gibberman, writing in “American Thinker” (HT: Professor Mark Perry, Carpe Diem blog)
Subject: Put them on the spot
We like to find levers — proposals that can accomplish a lot with a little. Ideas like our “Read the Bills Act” and our “One Subject at a Time Act” are classic examples. Well, Senator Tom Coburn has found a lever of his own . . .
He proposed an amendment in the Senate Health Committee that would require members of Congress to switch from their current health insurance plans to any government provided insurance scheme that’s created as part of proposed health care legislation.
This really put the members of the Senate Health Committee on the spot. If their plan is really so good, shouldn’t members of Congress be subject to it too? Every Republican but one (Judd Gregg) voted for the amendment, but so did the Chair, Democrat Chris Dodd, as well as Democrats Barbara Mikulski and Ted Kennedy. But . . .
It’s notable that Democratic Senators Sherrod Brown, Sheldon Whitehouse, and even self-admitted socialist Bernie Sanders, all voted against the amendment. Socialized health insurance that’s good enough for you, apparently isn’t good enough for them.
We need to do to the entire Congress what Senator Coburn did to the Senate Health Committee — put them on the spot.
Please use DownsizeDC.org’s health care campaign to send your Congressional employees another message opposing government controlled health care, and favoring free market reforms.
This time, please use your personal comments to say the following (you can cut and paste if you want). . .
I approve of the Coburn amendment added to the Senate health care bill. Congress should have to switch their health insurance coverage to any so-called “public plan” they create for the American people. If you aren’t willing to do that then you shouldn’t be voting for this bill.
To stay on pace and exceed the 43,290 messages Downsizers sent to Congress last month we must send 894 messages today.
Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army. To see how fast your army is growing please check out the Keeping Score report below my signature.
Jim Babka, President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
KEEPING SCORE REPORT
We grew by 47 net new members yesterday. This brings us to 3,009 net new members for the year. The Downsize DC Army now stands at 27,365 — nearly 37% of the way from 27,000 to 28,000!
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NEW MONTHLY PLEDGERS IN JULY: Michael S Gerlica, John C Matthews, Cheston E Unnewehr, Val Grayson, Arlene Aquino, Susan Varey, Chris Sengenberger, John DiLiberto, 3 unlisted — 10 total. FROM JUNE: Bryan L Anderson, Janet Rea, Timothy M. Dyer Jr, Kenny Harrill, Ryan Sharif, Katherine Durham, David C. Flathmann, Maggie Culver, Ginny Rober, Dwight E. Baker, David H. Abernathy, John Murphy, Jeremiah J Blanchard, 6 unlisted — 19 total
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NEW ONE TIME DONORS IN JULY: Bonnie Hofer, Anita Binns, Brian O’Neill, Richard E Camp, Travis Walston, Donald Grahn, Sonja Thompson, 10 unlisted — 17 total. FROM JUNE: Bryan L Anderson, Richard S. Tolleson, Bryan Anderson, West Coile, James Sherman, Lawrence Lappin, Malin Williams, Jeffrey Taylor, Jason Pace, Kraig Clark, Autumn Browne, Victoria Pate, Patricia Barnum, Dwight E Baker, Rick Slusher, Dr. R.S. Gillinson, Edward J Krieger, Jan Berridge, 8 unlisted — 26 total
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