OUTRAGED OVER BLUG DOG ARROGANCE

We've been watching Congress and the Senate to see how things are progressing with health care reform. The more liberal members of the Democratic party are getting frustrated with the more conservative members of the party, called Blue Dogs.

Last evening, the Health bill from the Energy and Commerce Committee inched slowly through the House; eventually leading to a number of concessions made with the Blue Dogs. Read more-

What angers us, and we're not sure if you are aware of this; federal employees (that includes, we believe, members of Congress and the Senate) are under a health care program called the "Federal Employees Health Benefits Program"; and guess what, the American tax-payer pays for more than half of these employees health insurance premium.

While the congressional committees and senate committees are haggling over quality, affordable, (not even comprehensive) health care for Americans, Congress and the Senate are getting access to a comprehensive health and benefits plan that would make anyone salivate. And, once again, the American tax-payer foots more than half of their premiums.

Click HERE and see what portion the government (us) pays towards their premiums, and what the federal employee pays.

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You will get madder than hell when you see the entire federal employees benefits program.

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So, ... Blue Dogs and Republicans are haggling over whether to give us single-payer or a strong public health care option, while we pay much of their health insurance premiums, and even more towards all the benefits federal employees receive. And don't forget, we pay all their salaries and even veterans benefits.

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Call your representatives and tell them you want single-payer (like what the seniors get - Medicare; or what the veteran's get - VA), or what members of Congress receive.

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Click HERE to find out who your representatives are, and how to contact them (look to the top, left hand corner of the page and enter your zip).

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Health Care Realities

By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: July 30, 2009

At a recent town hall meeting, a man stood up and told Representative Bob Inglis to “keep your government hands off my Medicare.” The congressman, a Republican from South Carolina, tried to explain that Medicare is already a government program — but the voter, Mr. Inglis said, “wasn’t having any of it.”

It’s a funny story — but it illustrates the extent to which health reform must climb a wall of misinformation. It’s not just that many Americans don’t understand what President Obama is proposing; many people don’t understand the way American health care works right now. They don’t understand, in particular, that getting the government involved in health care wouldn’t be a radical step: the government is already deeply involved, even in private insurance.

And that government involvement is the only reason our system works at all.

Read more
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PROGRESSIVES TARGET BEN NELSON (D-NEB)
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“As Congress approaches the August recess with health care legislation still in flux, progressive groups are making an early push to target wavering Senate Democrats.

On Friday morning, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, in alliance with Democracy for America., unveiled a new television ad attacking Sen. Ben Nelson, (D-Neb.) for slowing down the reform process. Narrated by a local Nebraska businessman, the spot relies on the same type of highly personalized testimony of health care struggle that has become a dominant theme for reform proponents”
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Read more.

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