MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SEEMINGLY INDIFFERENT TO SUFFERING

An estimated up to 346 people die every week or between 22,000 and 40,000 die annually (depending on which study you access) from lack of health insurance. Thousands of people are losing their health insurance every day because they lost their job, couldn’t (or can't afford to) pay their premiums, or were kicked out by their health insurance company.

These events/occurrences are happening every day while our federal workers and members of Congress enjoy excellent health care benefits and other benefits at tax payer expense. We're entering flu season, and how many uninsured people will die from the H1N1 virus and other viruses.

It is shameful, morally reprehensible, and outrageous; but the tax payer (especially ignorant town hall protesters) seems not to care. They rail at government, but have not the guts to stand up and ask for equal treatment.

On the other hand, members of Congress seem unaware that they have government sponsored health insurance.

We pay about 72% of federal employees (and that includes members of Congress) health insurance premium. I'll say it again, ... the tax payer subsidizes 72% or slightly less of federal employees health insurance premium; and if you think about it, we really pay the entire premium because we pay federal employee’s wages and salary (from which, they pay their share of the balance of that premium).

You can see what I'm talking about, by going to the Federal Employees Health and Benefit website.

Are you looking? Great!... Also look at our federal employees (includes members of Congress) choice of health insurers (tax payer subsidized, of course). Sort of like a health insurance exchange … don’t you think?

What really irks me and is the most reprehensible, is that we (the tax payer) are making the health insurance companies richer and richer while they turn around and deny you and me (the tax payer) treatment, or insurance, or they kick us out after they’ve paid an expensive claim or series of claims (which by the way, they’ve reported to the medical information bureau [MIB] for other health insurance and life insurance company members to see … so those other companies can deny you insurance if they so choose).

So again, hundreds of people are dying every week and thousands losing their health insurance [every day] while health insurance companies (that Wendell Potter talks about) get richer and richer; all the while the tax payer pays members of Congress' health insurance premiums, wages, salary and other benefits.

Do you want this to continue? … Or are you going to tell your Congressman/woman or Senator that you want equal treatment (quality, affordable, comprehensive single payer or public option [in a regulated health insurance exchange]), or you’ll simply not support or vote for them ever again? It’s up to you. Make your choice.

Death by Lack of Health Insurance (2008)

Health Insurance Coverage National Coalition on Health Care (2009)

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
Trends in Cost and Access (2004)

Wendell Potter (also see the entire 32 minute Bill Moyers Journal interview at CSC Blog)

Fact Sheet: April 14, 2009 Fact Sheet: Using a Health-Insurance Exchange to Pool Risk and Protect Enrollees

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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