An excerpt re: Health Care from Rep. Jim McDermott's response to my e-mail:

Most of it is agreeing with the dire need for reform, citing examples, etc. By the way, McDermott is an MD and an absolutely wonderful Congressman.

Thought this was interesting: While I am disappointed with the health care reform parameters established by President Obama, especially his statement that a single payer system of coverage would not be on the table, I do think it is crucial that the Congress take action this year to enact substantive reforms of our health care system.

A little info on HR 3200: H.R. 3200, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, was recently reported out of the House Committee on Ways and Means, of which I am a senior member. Under the legislation, all insurance plans offered to American consumers are required to provide their enrollees a certain minimum level of benefits. I am especially concerned that this package include generous coverage of women's and children's health needs. The legislation also prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, ensures that all plans are subject to guaranteed issue and renewability, and eliminates lifetime benefit caps. These insurance market reforms are long overdue, but they will not resolve all of the accessibility problems in our system. It is also essential that we include in the reform structure a strong public option: a coverage plan offered by the government to provide individuals and families with an attractive and affordable alternative to private insurance products. The public option must be a non-negotiable component of this health care reform effort.

And THIS is what every Dem Congressperson and Senator should be saying: Please be assured that as this bill moves forward, I will strongly oppose any efforts to weaken the public option. America's private insurance plans have long dominated the insurance marketplace, with very unsatisfactory results; millions of Americans are uninsured or underinsured, and millions more are finding that they simply cannot afford the ever-increasing costs of the coverage they have. These problems will not go away; on the contrary, they are worsening steadily. We simply must make significant changes in our health care system, and those changes must include a strong public plan of coverage.

...in this discussion, but sadly they seem to be taking a back seat to what the insurance corporate whores want. :evilfrown:

carry weight in so many areas, but it always seems that the corporate whores of every industry get their way. :grr:

:loveya:

Jim is great!

is the BEST representative anyone could hope for. You ALWAYS know he's doing the right thing. One of my "when I win the Lotto" fantasies is to pay off his legal bills from that nightmare he went through.

to put in Congress those who would work for our benefit and not the corporate hozs