Before recessing for August, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, a key committee, approved health care legislation that could mean nearly universal coverage and a public option. Although there’s still a lot of negotiating and debating to go before we get comprehensive health care reform, it’s remarkable that health reformers are unified in their push for change. The New York Times suggests that all the Congressional debating has, perhaps, overshadowed some areas where there is consensus.
“There is wide agreement on the two elements of the legislation that the public cares about most: insurance market reforms and the expansion of coverage, with subsidies,” said Drew E. Altman, the president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which focuses on health policy.
Details of the major House and Senate bills differ, but most employers would have to provide insurance or contribute to the cost of coverage for employees, with exceptions for some small businesses…
The major bills offer the promise of more affordable insurance for people who are uninsured, including those with chronic illnesses. Under the legislation, it might be easier for people to switch jobs because they would not have to stay in less desirable jobs just to retain health insurance. The bills promise relief to people with huge out-of-pocket health costs and would eliminate co-payments for many preventive services.
With lawmakers leaving Washington during the recess to reconnect with constituents, August is going to be a key battleground for health care reform. So many Americans are still waiting for health care reform that can bring down their costs and increase access to quality health care and stalling reform has very real consequences for the American public. Media Matters Action Network reports that over 220,000 Americans will lose their health coverage while Congress is in recess, including 2,150 Minnesotans.
Health insurance companies will take these five weeks to combat and stall reform. Their latest tactic has been to fund Republican members of Congress, including some Minnesotan members, according to the Star Tribune. They have spent over $40 million on current members of Congress and half a billion dollars lobbying during the last decade. Those members include some Minnesotans.
Sixth District Rep. Michele Bachmann, an outspoken foe of a government insurance option, is among the top recipients this year in the entire U.S. House. Third District Rep. Erik Paulsen and Second District Rep. John Kline also ranked high in contributions received.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, only seven of the 435 members of the U.S. House rank higher this year in campaign contributions from donors within the insurance industry than Bachmann.
Reform combatants are ready to do everything they can during the August recess to stall reform, which means everyone who believes that Americans deserve quality, affordable health care for everyone need to speak out more than ever. Our members of Congress are leaving Washington, ready to listen to their constituents. Make sure you tell your members of Congress that America needs health care reform. Take action in August by attending events in your area with your members of Congress, so by the time they reconvene, they are as ready as the American people to pass health care reform.
LIMBAUGH: By the way, I did -- and I have been paying some attention to what these pirates, the merchant marine organizers have been saying. You know, these people are mad. They're mad that three of them have, you know, met with Davy Jones now. And when I listen to these pirates, these Somali merchant marine organizers, you know, these pirates, they used to know they were bad people. Have you ever watched Pirates of the Caribbean with Johnny Depp? I mean, these are mean, rotten people. I mean, these -- like Bluebeard, Redbeard, Blackbeard, Captain Hook. These were -- these were terrorists. These were bad, bad guys. They didn't care what they smelled like, looked like, thought -- they did nothing. They took their bounty and they ran around and they terrorized. When a pirate ship was pulling into port, the women and children fled.
Now, these pirates are kind of disappointing me. The Somali merchant marine organizers actually sound like they're entitled. Their feelings are hurt. They think they're entitled to these ransoms that are being paid, and I get the impression listening to them that they expect to be told, "Good job, pirate. Good job." They're acting -- they're acting offended as hell here that our captain was rescued by our president, ordered by the Navy SEALs to rescue, and they didn't get the ransom as though they're entitled to it. These people have an entitlement mentality. I could have sworn that they were originally Americans who maybe fled. Maybe they were illegal immigrants or something who got here, come here with an entitlement mentality, didn't like it, fled the scene because Republicans drove them out of the country in the last election, so they went over to Somalia and started pirating things. Because they have the attitude of entitlement just like a lot of American citizens do. We've got -- we've got -- call them what they want to call themselves -- we've got the Somali pirates and the Beltway pirates. The Beltway pirates are led by Pelosi and Reid. The Beltway pirates, I tell you -- you think million? That's chump change. The Beltway pirates are demanding a trillion ransom not just from us, but from our kids and our grandkids and their grandkids.
The Metrodome wasn't the only place in Minnesota feeling the madness of March last weekend, the action was just as fast and furious in our March Badness tournament with hundreds turning out to vote for the worst of the worst from conservatives this year. Now that all of the dust has settled we have our first round winners. Click the picture below to see our first round coverage and our look ahead to the second round with bracketology expert, Denise Cardinal.
Erik Paulsen has been a member of the House of Representatives for just a few months, but he's already lining up behind Rush Limbaugh and the "Party of No." In his first few months in office, Paulsen cast his vote against President Obama's Economic Recovery Act, the ominbus spending bill to finish last year’s business, and the mortgage-aid plan to keep families in their homes to name a few.
Americans United for Change went on the air today with a radio ad taregting Congressman Erik Paulsen for adopting Rush Limbaugh's "I Hope He Fails" strategy and working against President Obama's plan to rebuild and renew America by investing in health care, education and renewable energy.
Here we go again. First, Rush Limbaugh said of President Obama: “I hope he fails.” Then, nearly every Republican in Congress followed Limbaugh’s lead – including Congressman Erik Paulsen – and voted against the President’s recovery plan and against three and a half million jobs....
Well – it passed any way – and it’s already working to create jobs.
The question is – will Congressman Paulsen follow Rush Limbaugh’s lead again - and embrace partisanship and the failed policies of the past? Or will he work with President Obama to set America on a new course?
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Before recessing for August, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, a key committee, approved health care legislation that could mean nearly universal coverage and a public option. Although there’s still a lot of negotiating and debating to go before we get comprehensive health care reform, it’s remarkable that health reformers are unified in their push for change. The 
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