From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Americans Deserve to Know Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:00:18 -0400 Dear Patients First Supporter, The most prominent issue in Washington today is, of course health care reform. During the August Congressional recess Americans all across the country rose up and expressed concern. We told Washington that we want real reform that puts patients first. With Congress now back in the ivory tower of Washington they have turned their backs on real Americans and are moving quickly to ram their idea of reform through Congress. Senator Baucus is presiding over a Senate proposal that could result in a Washington takeover of your health care. Dressed with most of the same toppings as previous bills that we roundly rejected during the August recess, the bill differs in form only. Senate leadership is trying to pass a bill out of committee as early as this week. Why are they in such a hurry? This bill represents one of the largest expansions in government in our lifetimes. The reason is simple - keep Americans from seeing the details of a proposal that puts one-sixth of our economy in the hands of Washington bureaucrats. We, the American people, deserve to see what changes are being proposed when it comes to our health care, especially if it will mean delayed or even denied care. Yet leaders in Congress are determined to circumvent established procedure to ram through a health care bill that imposes significant tax increases, regulations and government control over you and your health care. Yesterday the Senate Finance Committee voted down an amendment which would have required that actual legislative text and final Congressional Budget Office score (cost of the bill) to be posted for the American people to review before the Senate Finance Committee votes on final passage. On Tuesday during Committee markup, Senator Baucus told the Finance Committee staff to just read the HIGHLIGHTS of the bill being proposed when he realized consideration of all of them would take longer than his Friday deadline to vote his proposal out of committee. So forget about legislators reading the entire bill, Senator Baucus has determined that we don't have time for committee STAFF to even read the bill! Of course, this leaves one wondering who IS reading the bill? But wait, that's not all. After rushing Baucus' proposal through committee, Senate leaders are still considering using reconciliation to pass a health care bill - a "nuclear option" that would change the rules to force the bill through with only 20 hours of debate, no amendments, and just 50 votes instead of the traditional 60 vote requirement to end debate and pass legislation. We have the right to know what's in that bill. We all must act now to ensure that normal Americans are put first. True health care reform must put patients first if it is to succeed. We must all speak up now to tell Congress to slow down and show us the bill before voting on it. As developments occur in the health care debate, make sure to check out our blog at www.JoinPatientsFirst.com, and our Facebook page. A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC poll shows nearly 50% of Americans oppose a public health care plan administered by the federal government. Let's make sure they realize there are consequences if they ignore the rules and ram through legislation that puts health care decisions in the hands of Washington bureaucrats. Sincerely, Patients First Team PS. Mark your calendars! Tuesday October 6 is National Call Congress Day. Download our new Facebook application and send Congress a clear message: Hands Off My Healthcare! In one place, you can identify your legislators, their phone numbers and call them directly at your own convenience (or even leave a voicemail after business hours). It's never been easier to make your voice heard. Sincerely, Patients First Team Patients First, A Project of Americans for ProsperityTM, focused on real health care reform that will lead to more choices for patients and affordable healthcare options for all. Patients First is not affiliated in any way with Patient First healthcare clinics. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
