From Sue Hornik: Conservatives are way over-represented and we expect a more balanced group

Looking at the team made public so far that is negotiating the final Senate health bill—Reid, Snowe, Baucus, Dodd, Harkin, plus Rahm Emanuel—conservatives far outweigh moderates and progressives. Harkin is the only progressive and the only member supporting the public option (never mind single pay!), which is the only feasible and fair way left to control costs (the Baucus bill puts all of the cost penalties and increases on individual Americans and none on the special interests driving costs–insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and doctors, or lawyers i.e. tort reform.)

In addition to calling our own Senators, could you help push people on your lists to call Reid and the Senators who are negotiating the final Senate healthcare bill? We’ve seen what calls can do: Look at Schumer’s suddenly taking leadership on the public option, credited to constituent pressure.

We need to complain to Reid that conservatives are way over-represented and we expect a more balanced group. We need to thank Harkin and ask him to hang tough and to tell the others to honor the will of the majority of Americans who want a public insurance option that will hold down costs, provide competition, and increase choice. They need to put an employer mandate back in, cover more of the uninsured, and allow negotiations over drug prices, etc.

Right now they are headed toward making individual Americans pay more, while letting all the special interests benefit financially from reform!! Lobbyists are out in droves and we need to match them.

SCHUMER, Charles E. (D-NY) SH-313 224-6542
GILLIBRAND, Kirsten E. (D-NY) SR-478 224-4451

REID, Harry (D-NV) SH-522 224-3542
BAUCUS, Max (D-MT) SH-511 224-2651
SNOWE, Olympia J. (R-ME) SR-154 224-5344
DODD, Christopher J. (D-CT) SR-448 224-2823
HARKIN, Tom (D-IA) SH-731 224-3254

WHITE HOUSE
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414

Thanks and best,
Sue

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