We had 16 attendees, from our county, Kendall, and two other counties, Kerr and Bexar. We discussed the current health care system and took a head count of those who have private health insurance. There were 3 who had private health insurance. The others are covered by Tricare for Life, Medicare and a federal retiree program. Those were not subject to health insurance programs (employer based, non Medicare), were very concerned that their family members did not have insurance, as well as the fact that a large number of local families, who are not retirees, are uninsured. The overwhelming thought was that we need SINGLE PAYER healthcare, covering everyone.
Obviously we saw the benefits of single payer health care as a way to decrease national cost, cover everyone in the nation, and make our nation more competitive with most of the cilvilzed world, where their populations are covered by national health care.
In addition, we discussed the myth of "socialized medicine" and discussed the benefits of healthcare in other countries, as we were fortunate to have attendees who were originally from other nations and could speak to their health care experiences. In addition, our foreign diplomats (retired) also spoke on their experiences.
We decided to have an event that would hopefully include local Republican health care providers who have seen the difficulties billing for health care reimbursement (ethically speaking) and others that are single payer advocates. We are to seek out the single payer advocates, inviite them to speak June 27th, and invite the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center for blood donations, and teh American Red Cross to discuss CPR/AED. We are not sure if we can accomplish this, but we will try to do so.
Organizing for Austin-Central Texas held our healthcare kickoff meeting tonight and it went very well. Our 15 attendees began the planning process for a health care day of service on the weekend of June 27/28. We decided that the main problem here in Texas is that we have the highest number of uninsured children. We decided to use this as an umbrella over all our service projects in Central Texas. This way, we can volunteer at Children's Hospital (rock the babies), do something with free immunizations, do a baby food/forumula/diaper drive, etc. Our group members are setting up an event to create a resource list for uninsured children to distribute at several locations around town. Anyone will be able to print this document and take part where ever they'd like to help. They will be putting information up at barackobama.com if you'd like to help with this event. I encourage all clubs and Austinites to create your own child centered service project for the weekend of June 27/28 to highlight this national day of service. Of course, if you'd rather do something not child-centered, please do! The point is for us to do a healthcare day of service for whatever needs you are moved by.To schedule your service event on mybo, go here:http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/service There is still time to get a group together to plan your own service event, please do this with your friends, neighbors, colleages and family by next Wednesday.To schedule to host your own healthcare kickoff to start planning, go here:http://my.barackobama.com/hcok-mybo Thank you for all you do!--Lainey Melnick
OFA Austin Regional Leader
lainey.melnick@gmail.com
www.LinkToAustin.com
Facebook Group: Organizing for Austin - Central Texas
Twitter: @lmelnick
I though I would post this on here, It's my story and opinion I offered to the President's cause. I hope someone listens.
I am no longer covered under my parents' insurance plan, though I am still a college student. They failed to send a cancellation notice, and instead sent us a bill for my blood work and doctor's visit, totalling about $500. That may not seem like much, but to a poor college student, paying my own way through university with a part-time job, it was a lot. It was definitely a lot to have been forced upon me with no notice. My father and I fought with the company for months before they finally sent a cancellation notice for a later date, thus covering the disputed costs. It was an unnecessary struggle I do not wish to repeat. The result is now, I cannot afford to go to the doctor and when I got flu like symptoms a month ago, all i could do is rest and wait it out. Thankfully it went away after a week. That is now how I must operate. One thing my family is concerned with is that I have a thyroid problem, which left unattended could worsen my general health in the long run. That's what the disputed blood work was testing. However, even if I wish it, I cannot afford to do anything about that situation. Even before I had to worry about my lack of health coverage, the idea of profiting off of health offended me deeply. I am against the idea of insurance which adds middle-man bureaucracy only concerned with how wide their profit margins can grow. Health care should be a right and not a privilege for the wealthy. I support the idea of a single payer system, where my taxes are raised to pay for my health care. I believe, in this system, it would be easier to implement a PREVENTATIVE health care system which would save us more costs preventing serious illness early. Please, Congressmen and women, for once consider what is best for our society as a whole, regardless of concerns about re-election bids being affected. If re-election is your main agenda, then you are not truly representing the people. I implore you to create a system to benefit the future of America. That's for what your elected position is meant.Power with inaction, isn't power at all. Thank you, and I hope to the fruits of your labor soon. A deeply concerned citizen, Lindsey Allen,
Denton, TX
Ok, if anyone of Mr. Presidents people actually reads these things, let him know he will lose my vote and a few more of my family members votes in Nebraska if he bails out the newspaper industry.
I have written a post that details what is happening to our economy. I hope, Mr. President, you understand what is truely happening to our economy. We are just in a stage of regrowth and you have to let everything old burn. Your best bet is to retire anyone over 55.
Here is the link: www.2009depression.com.
President Barack Obama plans to accept an invitation to speak at the University of Notre Dame. However, some religious organizations are mounting a campaign to discourage his attendance.
You can fight this unfortunate effort by signing the following petition:
Visit www.ObamaCatholics.com, or email ObamaCatholics@gmail.com for an e-mail embedded form!
Give time and $$$$ to the DCCC,DNC and your local House Rep candidates.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0409/Memo_Dems_target_29_House_GOPers_in_10.html
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 at 10:22 amSecretary Clinton’s Digital Town Hall for Summit of the AmericasDipnote, the State Department blog, gives us the details:
Link Message on White House dot govSecretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will conduct Digital Town Hall of the Americas, a live web-based discussion, from the Dominican Republic on Friday, April 17, 2009, in anticipation of the Fifth Summit of the Americas to be held April 17-19 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The event will provide an opportunity for Secretary Clinton to launch a conversation with citizens from across the Western Hemisphere to discuss the Summit’s themes of securing our citizens’ future by promoting human prosperity, energy security and environmental sustainability, as well as the situation in Haiti, where she will visit and attend meetings on Thursday, April 16. Link
these were just some things we heard about and probable somethings we did not hear about because President Obama is thinking about us and working for us when we're watching and when we are not, working on his own as well as working with "all" of congress, reaching across the aisle and just getting it done our PBO the hardest working man in politics :-D
these comments were orginally posted on my barack obama dot com blog page at the following link:
Link
Not even 100 days!!!!
posted By meta
Our President is hard at work every single day to make much needed progress for our nation. Not even 100 days and already President Obama has accomplished: Passage of Recovery Bill with stimulus to create jobs Passage of 2010 budget bank stress tests revamping home loans auto recovery review and recommendations launching discussion of health care for a major bill in Congress plan to withdraw from Iraq review of Afghanistan and major new plan G20 and NATO meetings with new relationships formed opening up travel with Cuba high speed rail A commitment to improve Veteran's benefits. A commitment to improve the border with Mexico and stop the flow of drugs and weapons. A major trip to Mexico and a meeting with Latin American leaders. Trip to Canada to discuss trade and diplomatic relations.
By ♫ Cynthia ♫ championing the 50 state Recovery and Reinvestment Plan from white house.gov Link PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS In this section you will find official actions by the President that have a significant impact on how the federal government functions but do not require legislation or Congressional approval. See listings below of the official Proclamations, Presidential Memoranda, and Executive Orders that President Obama has issued since his inauguration. EXECUTIVE ORDERS 4/8/2009 Executive Order Establishing The White House Office Of Health Reform 3/11/2009 Executive Order Creating the White House Council on Women and Girls 3/9/2009 Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells 2/20/2009 Amending Executive Order 13390 2/19/2009 Executive Order: Establishment of the White House Office of Urban Affairs 2/6/2009 Executive Order: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects 2/6/2009 Presidential Executive Order Establishing the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board 2/5/2009 Executive Order - Further Amendments To Executive Order 12859,Establishment Of The Domestic Policy Council 2/5/2009 Executive Order: Further Amendments to Executive Order 12835, Establishment of the National Economic Council 2/5/2009 Amendments to Executive Order 13199 and Establishment of the President's Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDA 4/13/2009 Memorandum: Promoting Democracy and Human Rights in Cuba 3/23/2009 Presidential Memorandum Regarding Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians 3/20/2009 Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, 3/20/09 3/11/2009 Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to the Continuing Conflict in Pakistan 3/9/2009 Memorandum on Presidential Signing Statements 3/9/2009 Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies 3-9-09 3/4/2009 Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies - Subject: Government Contracting 3/3/2009 Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies 2/27/2009 Transfer of Detainee to Control of the Attorney General 2/5/2009 Appliance Efficiency Standards Page 1 2 of 2 PROCLAMATIONS 4/14/2009 Presidential Proclamation - Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2009 4/9/2009 Presidential Memorandum Regarding the Palestine Liberation Organization Office, 4/09/09 4/8/2009 Presidential Proclamation Marking National Sexual Assault Awarness Month, 2009 4/8/2009 Presidential Proclamation Marking National D.A.R.E. Day, 2009 4/3/2009 Presidential Proclamation Marking Education And Sharing Day 4/1/2009 Presidential Proclamation Marking National Child Abuse Prevention Month 4/1/2009 Presidential Proclamation Marking National Cancer Control Month 4/1/2009 Presidential Proclamation Marking National Donate Life Month 3/24/2009 Presidential Proclamation - Greek Independence Day 3/13/2009 National Poison Prevention Week, 2009 more EXECUTIVE ORDERS 1/30/2009 Revocation Of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Regulatory Planning And Review 1/30/2009 Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts 1/30/2009 Executive Order -- Economy in Government Contracting 1/30/2009 Executive Order -- Notificiation of Employee Rights Under Federal Labor Laws 1/22/2009 Review of Detention Policy Options 1/22/2009 Closure Of Guantanamo Detention Facilities 1/22/2009 Ensuring Lawful Interrogations 1/21/2009 Ethics Commitments By Executive Branch Personnel 1/21/2009 Presidential Records PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDA 2/4/2009 Presidential Memorandum -- State Children's Health Insurance Program 1/30/2009 Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies 1/27/2009 Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to Gaza 1/26/2009 The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 1/26/2009 California Request for Waiver Under the Clean Air Act 1/23/2009 Mexico City Policy and Assistance for Voluntary Population Planning 1/22/2009 Review of the Detention of Ali Saleh Kahlah 1/21/2009 Freedom of Information Act 1/21/2009 Pay Freeze 1/21/2009 Transparency and Open Government Page 1 2 of 2 PROCLAMATIONS 3/3/2009 Women's History Month, 2009 3/2/2009 Irish-American Heritiage Month, 2009 2/27/2009 National Consumer Protection Week, 2009 2/27/2009 Read Across America Day, 2009 2/27/2009 American Red Cross Month, 2009 2/27/2009 Save Your Vision Week, 2009 2/2/2009 American Heart Month, 2009 2/2/2009 National African American History Month, 2009 1/20/2009 National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation, 2009 By VA . Greatgran hope for Pres. Obama Childrens Insurance Equal pay for women performing same job as men.
By ♫ Cynthia ♫ championing the 50 state Recovery and Reinvestment Plan there's more --weekly addresses --appointees - because he is still putting his people in place --those dinners, phone calls and get togethers and all the of efforts to reach across the aisle and within the party --websites -- not that he does the work -- but the idea of transparency enough work to make a crazy person sane (and I'll never complain about the amount of work i have to do again) HA! :-D
By VA . Greatgran hope for Pres. Obama
...And he does all this with a winning smile,even temperment and a Fred Astaire walk.
By meta
Tax code reform!
It was a perfect day in Austin to have our kick off event for Organizing for America - Central TX Region. Not only was the weather perfect, but we also had some incredible events going on in Austin that made for great, captive crowds. This was the last weekend for the South by Southwest festival so our downtown area was packed with festival goers from all over the country.
We were hoping for about 30 volunteers to show up to our rally, we had 35 yes rsvps and another 25 maybes, but we only ended up with 13. It was a great 13 though, very fired up and ready to go and gather support for the President.
Our rally location was a restaurant patio, Scholz Garten, and unfortunately it was a little loud to hear the video training, but they gathered around to listen to every word.
We sent people out in pairs to several high traffic locations and met back at Scholz's after 3 hours of canvassing. We got a total of 408 pledges from this location and another 30 from two other locations in our area. All in all, a very positive day in Austin!
If you are in the Central TX area, join our facebook group: Organizing for Austin - Central Texas
Hello fellow voters,
Call your insurance agent and change your policy form AIG to another carrier (Probably better to pick a respectable mutual insurance company, ex.. Guardian, Mass Mutual, Northwestern Mutual, New York Life). AIG is not going to apologize or correct their misuse of our tax dollars, unless we lower their amount of the policies in force dollars. So, if you are really upset change your policy, I don't care if its life, long-term care, short and long term disability, auto, or health insurance. Just hit them where it works and let’s ask the President to put a special tax on AIG and or request for all our money back. Let’s make an example out of AIG, to set a standard for all other financial and non-financial firms.
Please people lets use common sense when changing your policy, make sure you apply, get the underwriters acceptance, and the in-force policy with the final policy letter, then cancel your AIG policy. This process should take 20 to 30 days.
Sincerely,
A disgruntle taxpayer.
This is why I love my new president. He gets it.
He knows it isnt about the money -- $165M, as much as it is to the ordinary individual, is a rounding error in the $700B TARP Bailout, or the $787B Stimulus Package, but the principle is vitally important here. The principle being that it is time to stop the wildly outrageous corporate bonuses, especially in the egregious case of AIG, which would be bankrupt if not for a massive $170B government bailout.
There are plenty of people out there who aren't getting any bonus. There are plenty of people who are losing their jobs. There are plenty of people who are taking a salary/wage cut. There are plenty of people who are going without a salary increase.
At a time of widespread economic distress, I am once again confident that President Obama is completely aware of this, and is taking actions to both get our economy back on track, and executive compensation back in balance.
God Bless Barack Obama. God Bless the United States of America.
I have been and continue to be a strong supporter of Barack Obama and his new administration. However, I cannot in good conscience accept the payout of $165M in bonuses to AIG executives and employees, due to "previous legal contractual obligations".
I am an engineer and not a lawyer, but I can't imagine that under these extraordinary circumstances, there really is an obligation to pay out bonuses to a company that has already been the recipient of $170B in government money. Obviously , the company would have gone bankrupt without the government intervention. Needless to mention the fact that this situation was due to a certain extent to the actions of those very executives in line for these bonuses.
I am suspicious that the real reason behind the excuses is a reluctance to "chase away" some of the top executives at AIG since these bonuses have been termed by some to be "retention bonuses". I really wonder how true that is also. These people should be thankful that they still have a job, and are not in jail! Forget about a multi-million dollar bonus.
In addition to the doubts I have about the competence of these individuals, I am also of the view that they are liable for criminal and civil penalties. So, if we the taxpayer, keep getting lied to and told that the bonuses must be paid, then criminal and civil penalties should be pursued against all those who accept them.
WASHINGTON – Ron Kirk, nominated as U.S. Trade Representative in the Obama administration, owes an estimated $10,000 in back taxes from earlier in the decade and has agreed to make his payments, the Senate Finance Committee said Monday.
The committee said the taxes arise from Kirk's handling of speaking fees that he donated to his alma mater, and for his deduction of the full cost of season tickets to the Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team.
The disclosure made the former Dallas mayor the latest in a string of top-level Obama administration appointees found to have underpaid their taxes, following Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Tom Daschle, who withdrew as candidate for Health and Human Services secretary. Nancy Killefer, Obama's pick for chief performance officer, also bowed out amid tax problems.
