"Then do health care the right way -- one reform at a time, each simple and simplifying, aimed at reducing complexity, arbitrariness and inefficiency."
Mr. Krauthammer's article, "Kill the Bills, Do Health Care Right," is definitely a good read if you have a couple of minutes.
Hi Ladies,
As many of you are aware, yesterday the Senate achieved the necessary 60 votes to initiate debate on its health care reform bill. This debate will likely start around Nov. 30 and last several weeks.
Many of us have discussed the option of requesting meetings with our senators and our representative to discuss this important issue. Senator Specter, Senator Casey, and Representative Holden’s websites all have meeting request forms. We do not know the likelihood that we will be granted a meeting, but any action to express our concerns on this important issue is valuable. A group of physicians, medical students, and families could be a strong and powerful voice.
The question for you ladies is: 1) Who would like their name to be included on the meeting request form? 2) What husband’s names can be included when we request a meeting?
If any of these meetings are granted, they would likely take place in Harrisburg or potentially D.C. Also, we will request that the meetings take place on a Saturday. If we include your name and a meeting is scheduled, that does not mean you would have to attend. Of course schedules change and we would adjust as necessary – but right now we just need to get names on the form and get the form submitted at this critical and important moment in the debate. Here is a short statement we will use in our request:
Dear Senator Specter (Senator Casey, Representative Holden): We would like to meet with you to express our perspectives and concerns regarding the health care reform bill currently before the Senate. As your constituents and as physicians, medical students and families of medical professionals, we will be deeply impacted by your vote on this important issue.
Thank you so much ladies! We plan to submit the forms midweek so let us know soon!
Thanks!
Linsy and Natalie
P.S. Its still important to contact our Representative in addition to our Senators because - If the Senate passes the bill, it will then move to Conference Committee – where the House and Senate bills will be molded into a compromise bill and then voted on again by our Senators in the Senate and our Representative in the House prior to signature from the President.
P.P.S. Let’s give it a good college try!
As many of you are aware, the House of Representatives passed health care reform bill H.R. 3962 on November 7th by a vote of 220 to 215. What are the next steps in the legislative process before health reform becomes law?
Health care reform is not yet a “done deal”. There are still several more steps before it becomes law. (I believe Senate floor debate is expected within the next few weeks. Sen. Tom Harkin stated Senate debate is expected to begin on Nov. 30 - the Monday following Thanksgiving. Please post as you hear updates.) And although the House already passed one version of health care reform, it must weigh in again with another vote on the bill that comes out of Conference. (It is not yet time to let your Representatives off the hook.) You can access the text, current legislative status, list of sponsors, and Congressional Research Service (CRS) Summaries of the House and Senate bills at:
This Library of Congress website is indispensible in finding up to date legislative information. You can search for bills by bill number, phrases, or sponsors. (However, due to the popularity of the health reform issue, there is no need to search for the Senate and House bills because they are listed right on the home page of Thomas.loc.gov.) Lets watch this process closely and let our voices be heard at each important moment.
