Supporters of health insurance reform gathered in Lewiston Sunday afternoon to thank Representative Mike Michaud for his continued support of reform. Michaud, who represents Maine's Second Congressional District, the largest House district east of the Mississippi River, was welcomed home by a crowd of enthusiastic and grateful constituents inside his local office. The congressman's appearance came just over a week after the House passed a health reform bill, legislation Michaud called "too important to fail." “Later tonight, I will say yes to expanding health care coverage to the thousands of small businesses and people in Maine who do not have it and, to those who do, making it more affordable and better,” Michaud said in a statement prior to the House vote.
“Today, I will say yes to ending the practice of denying coverage due to preexisting conditions and other abusive insurance industry abuses.” Michaud answered several questions from OFA volunteers and others Sunday afternoon, articulating his views on the health insurance debate. The U.S. Senate is expected to take-up the cause shortly.
Today, on Veterans Day, we thank and honor those who served and continue to serve our nation.
Follow the link below to watch President Obama's address to America's veterans at Arlington National Cemetery.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/11/11/president-veterans-day
We thank U.S. Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree for their continued support of health insurance reform.
The House voted late Saturday evening to move the process of health insurance reform forward, a step President Obama called “courageous.”
The president also asked the Senate to “take up the baton and bring this effort to the finish line.”
Rep. Michaud issued a statement prior to Saturday’s vote, saying in part, “This work is too important to fail, and I could not in good conscience let the perfect be the enemy of the possible.” Speaking on the floor of the House of the Representatives, Saturday, Rep. Pingree made her feelings clear, saying, “There can be no more delay.”
Dozens of enthusiastic supporters of health insurance reform greeted Representative Chellie Pingree as she returned to Maine this morning.
A boisterous crowd of sign-waving Mainers welcomed the congresswoman minutes after her flight landed at Portland International Jetport.
The crowd had gathered to thank Pingree for her support of health insurance reform. The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of a reform bill on Saturday night.
Speaking on the floor of the House Saturday, Pingree said, “I’m here in the memory of my brother. He had no public option to choose. He did what so many young families did. They spent down their savings, they sold everything they had…so they could qualify for Medicaid because no doctor would see him without insurance.”
“I have often wondered,” Pingree added, “if he would have survived if he had the medical care he needed.”
Referening the importance of the legislation, Pingree said, “This bill moves us much closer to a time when no one can be denied health care coverage because of a pre-existing condition, no one can be told you can’t have health care coverage, no one will have to go into personal bankruptcy.”
“I am so proud to be here casting the vote that so many of my constituents have waited too long for,” the congresswoman said. “There can be no more delay.”
Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning!
The House of Representatives will vote today on health insurance reform.
All signs point to the vote being extremely close.
Call Representative Mike Michaud to urge him to vote YES on the Affordable Health Care For America Act.
Please call Rep. Michaud in Washington at 202-225-6306 and ask friends, family members, and co-workers to do the same, today!
On October 20th over 340,000 Americans called their member of Congress in support of President Obama's plan for health insurance reform. This type of grassroots action is unprecedented. It's a testament to the tremendous amount of support that reform has across the country. As Congress inches closer to voting on reform we must continue to reach out to Senators Snowe and Collins to remind them that we support the president's call for reform. You can contact Sen. Snowe today, toll-free, by dialing 1-800-432-1599. Sen. Collins can be reached at (202) 224-2523. You may also write a personal letter in support of reform. Senator Snowe's mailing address is: 154 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510. Senator Collins' address is: 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510. You can also follow the link below to contact our members of Congress.http://my.barackobama.com/timetodeliver
We need as many volunteers as possible to help us secure health insurance reform in 2009. Following Tuesday's vote in the Senate Finance Committee, which included an "I" vote from Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, her colleague, Senator Susan Collins, indicated that she is open to the possibility of supporting reform. Time is of the essence and we're not going to get this done without your help. Click on the events tab at my.barackobam.com to find volunteer opportunities in your area. You may also create and host an event at a location of your choosing.
While we are now closer than ever before to passing reform, as the president reminded us Tuesday, "We're not there yet."
Just like last October, now is the time to dig deep and work to ensure health insurance reform in 2009. So please sign-up and volunteer with Organizing for America.
The Senate Finance Committee voted today to move the process of health care reform forward. Republican Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine was among those to vote in favor of legislation. President Obama thanked the senator for “both the political courage and the seriousness of purpose that she's demonstrated throughout this process," while reminding us that now "is not the time to offer ourselves congratulations. Now is the time to dig in and work even harder to get this done."
Today is a significant victory in our ultimate quest to see real health insurance reform legislation on the president's desk in 2009, but it is far from the end of this process. Five committees have now passed a portion of reform, which makes our next step perhaps the most important. We thank our volunteers for helping us reach this important milestone, and we call on them to heed the president's call to service.
Together, we as a nation will get this done and bring quality and affordable coverage to millions of Americans who go without insurance and millions who struggle to obtain the coverage they have.
YES WE CAN!
