This week Organizing for America (OFA) Pennsylvania called on its volunteers to drop by the offices of Republican Representatives Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and Charlie Dent (R-PA), who voted against health insurance reform but whose constituents voted for President Obama in the historic 2008 election. Volunteers are being asked to drop by the offices of Reps. Gerlach and Dent to remind them that Pennsylvanians in their districts voted for change in 2008, and urge them to reconsider their position when the House votes again on a final bill later this year.
As part of OFA’s call-to-action, a group of concerned citizens representing counties across Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District recently visited the Exton office of Rep. Gerlach. Rep. Gerlach was not in the office, but their message to his staff was simple: As our representative in Washington, we urge Rep. Gerlach to join with us, the majority of his constituents, in support of passing health insurance reform this year.
Residents of Pennsylvania’s 6th and 15th Congressional Districts are not sitting on the sidelines as their representatives’ side with insurance company lobbyists. Do you live in Pennsylvania’s 6th and 15th Congressional District and want to get in the game? Sign up for an office visit for Rep Gerlach at: http://my.barackobama.com/OfficeDropBygerlach and for Rep. Dent at : http://my.barackobama.com/officedropbydent
The following is an open letter to Representative Gerlach asking him to reconsider his “No” vote on health insurance reform. A copy of this letter was also hand-delivered to his office.
Representative Gerlach: On November 4, 2008 I was one of the majority of voters in Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District who voted for President Obama. Like so many others, I voted not only for the man and his leadership qualities, but also for his stance on the critical issues facing our country. I voted to change the status quo and to move this country in a better direction. One of the critical issues I voted to change is our nation’s health care system. It is widely recognized that the cost of our health insurance system is out of control. Costs continue to rise as quality of care diminishes. Health insurance reform is an economic necessity and it is a moral imperative. Far too many of your constituents go uninsured or underinsured every day. The Affordable Health Care for America Act, which you voted against, will provide quality, affordable choices for the millions of Americans who are uninsured. And the bill will bring down the high costs of care for American families and businesses, while lowering our deficit. Representative Gerlach: I urge you to reconsider your vote and support this much-needed legislation. This year, as a volunteer for Organizing for America, I’ve been reaching out to my neighbors in the 6th Congressional District, in support of President’s Health Reform Plan. I can report that the overwhelming majority of constituents with whom I, and dozens of other dedicated volunteers spoke with, support the President’s plan for reform. As you may recall, in September we delivered nearly 5,000 declarations to you from your constituents in support of the President’s plan. I am writing today on behalf of the thousands of your constituents who support the President’s plan to ask you, as our representative in Washington, to put aside partisan differences and vote for reform later this year.Those of us fortunate enough to have private health insurance through our employers are now in the “open enrollment period”. Two weeks ago, I was notified by my employer that my portion of my health insurance premium payments will increase by 30 percent. Let there be no doubt: I can unequivocally state that my payments are increasing at an alarming and unsustainable rate. Unfortunately, my situation is in no way unique.Make no mistake – I feel very fortunate to have health insurance coverage. Unlike many of your other constituents, I’ve not had to face the harsh pre-existing conditions clause, the tragic bankruptcy brought on by catastrophic health care issues, or the shocking expense of the Medicare prescription plan “donut-hole.”But there is hope. As the Thanksgiving Holiday approaches, I’m thankful that the President, Pennsylvania’s Senators, and the leadership in the House of Representatives all recognize our nation’s urgent need for Health insurance reform. I’m thankful for their diligent efforts to keep what’s working, and fix what’s broken. Representative Gerlach, I encourage you to join with us, the majority of your constituents, in support of passing meaningful health insurance reform this year. When the House takes up a final health insurance bill later this year, I call on you to listen to your constituents, reconsider your vote, and support the legislation that is consistent with President Obama’s principles of reform. Respectfully,Gregory M. Malvern, PA
Representative Gerlach:
On November 4, 2008 I was one of the majority of voters in Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District who voted for President Obama. Like so many others, I voted not only for the man and his leadership qualities, but also for his stance on the critical issues facing our country. I voted to change the status quo and to move this country in a better direction.
One of the critical issues I voted to change is our nation’s health care system. It is widely recognized that the cost of our health insurance system is out of control. Costs continue to rise as quality of care diminishes. Health insurance reform is an economic necessity and it is a moral imperative. Far too many of your constituents go uninsured or underinsured every day.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act, which you voted against, will provide quality, affordable choices for the millions of Americans who are uninsured. And the bill will bring down the high costs of care for American families and businesses, while lowering our deficit. Representative Gerlach: I urge you to reconsider your vote and support this much-needed legislation.
This year, as a volunteer for Organizing for America, I’ve been reaching out to my neighbors in the 6th Congressional District, in support of President’s Health Reform Plan. I can report that the overwhelming majority of constituents with whom I, and dozens of other dedicated volunteers spoke with, support the President’s plan for reform. As you may recall, in September we delivered nearly 5,000 declarations to you from your constituents in support of the President’s plan. I am writing today on behalf of the thousands of your constituents who support the President’s plan to ask you, as our representative in Washington, to put aside partisan differences and vote for reform later this year.
Those of us fortunate enough to have private health insurance through our employers are now in the “open enrollment period”. Two weeks ago, I was notified by my employer that my portion of my health insurance premium payments will increase by 30 percent. Let there be no doubt: I can unequivocally state that my payments are increasing at an alarming and unsustainable rate. Unfortunately, my situation is in no way unique.
Make no mistake – I feel very fortunate to have health insurance coverage. Unlike many of your other constituents, I’ve not had to face the harsh pre-existing conditions clause, the tragic bankruptcy brought on by catastrophic health care issues, or the shocking expense of the Medicare prescription plan “donut-hole.”
But there is hope. As the Thanksgiving Holiday approaches, I’m thankful that the President, Pennsylvania’s Senators, and the leadership in the House of Representatives all recognize our nation’s urgent need for Health insurance reform. I’m thankful for their diligent efforts to keep what’s working, and fix what’s broken.
Representative Gerlach, I encourage you to join with us, the majority of your constituents, in support of passing meaningful health insurance reform this year. When the House takes up a final health insurance bill later this year, I call on you to listen to your constituents, reconsider your vote, and support the legislation that is consistent with President Obama’s principles of reform.
Respectfully,
Gregory M.
Malvern, PA
The Pitt Dems and OFA volunteers had a great day educating Pitt students about health insurance reform. Using our table in towers lobby, we phone banked, wrote letters to editors at local newspapers, handed out lit, and put up fliers all over campus. We're excited for the final push towards meaningful health insurance reform!
“The House bill takes the critical step toward providing quality, affordable healthcare while reducing the cost burden on our hardworking families and small businesses. Every day, I hear from people in Northeast and Central Pennsylvania who have lost their insurance, cannot pay their premiums or are struggling to provide healthcare for their employees. On Saturday, we voted to help alleviate their burden and reduce their costs. “As a cancer survivor, I am especially supportive of the provisions that prohibit insurance companies from barring individuals with pre-existing conditions. This legislation makes health insurance available to 96 percent of Americans, while, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, also reducing the deficit. “I stood with our seniors and supported a measure that closes the Medicare Part D prescription drug “doughnut hole.” The House bill will begin reducing the doughnut hole liability by $500 next year, and reductions will continue until the hole is completely closed. Our seniors deserve a Medicare system that provides them with the very best and this legislation eliminates the out of pocket costs for preventative care. The bill also prohibits insurers from charging older adults more than twice as much as those who are younger."
“The House bill takes the critical step toward providing quality, affordable healthcare while reducing the cost burden on our hardworking families and small businesses. Every day, I hear from people in Northeast and Central Pennsylvania who have lost their insurance, cannot pay their premiums or are struggling to provide healthcare for their employees. On Saturday, we voted to help alleviate their burden and reduce their costs.
“As a cancer survivor, I am especially supportive of the provisions that prohibit insurance companies from barring individuals with pre-existing conditions. This legislation makes health insurance available to 96 percent of Americans, while, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, also reducing the deficit.
“I stood with our seniors and supported a measure that closes the Medicare Part D prescription drug “doughnut hole.” The House bill will begin reducing the doughnut hole liability by $500 next year, and reductions will continue until the hole is completely closed. Our seniors deserve a Medicare system that provides them with the very best and this legislation eliminates the out of pocket costs for preventative care. The bill also prohibits insurers from charging older adults more than twice as much as those who are younger."
After an exciting afternoon in Clark Summit, it was onward to Erie to thank Congresswoman Dahlkemper. Volunteers and Erie residents gathered in the congresswoman’s office and gave her an enthusiastic welcome as she entered the room.
On Tuesday OFA PA volunteers and Bucks County residents joined with Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA) to thank him for standing up for them and supporting health insurance reform. Rep. Murphy was greeted with an overwhelming response as he entered the Lower Bucks County Senior Center to address residents who had gathered there to show their support.
Nurses and seniors were also on hand to share their experiences on why health insurance reform legislation will help make coverage more accessible and affordable for all Americans.
From Chuck C. in Lancaster, PA
Our group of volunteers worked from 7:00 a.m. til after 8:00 p.m. on Election Day 2008, then sat down to watch returns. Volunteers came straggling in from knocking on doors until after dark, and our phone bank was making calls equally late. We watched the early returns at the home of our host family, than moved to the home of another volunteer to watch for another hour or two. Then my wife and I went home to watch President-Elect Obama speak in Grant Park. It's impossible to describe how good a feeling that gave us. A year has passed, and I'm heartened by the progress I see in rebuilding our economy and crafting a health reform bill. I support President Obama as strongly today as I did on Election Night 2008.
From Greg M.:
On November 4th, 2008 I got a call to action to leave the town where I had been volunteering -- Phoenixville -- and spend the day in Coatesville, a priority GOTV city in Chester County. I still get all choked up when I think of one very special exchange I had with an older woman, Esther, in a retirement high-rise. I could not gain access to her building, but I noticed our walk lists also had phone numbers, so I sat in the lobby of her building, calling the residents, staring at my reflection in the drizzle-streaked window, making sure they voted. My hundreds of hours, my vacation time, my energy, my efforts, my everything, were all rewarded by Esther telling me that she voted for "Our man, Barack Obama." And as exciting as it was to go back to Phoenixville and join with the other volunteers to celebrate our victory, nothing compares to that quiet moment on the phone with Esther.
From Betty W.:
November 4, 2008 in some ways seems like a vague dream, but full of unforgettable moments. I remember the intensity, the exhilaration, and the total exhaustion afterward. We had a volunteer office in Penn Hills and the campaign staffers had constantly told us for months that Obama had to carry Pennsylvania to win. In order to carry Pennsylvania, we had to carry Allegheny County, and to carry Allegheny County, we had to carry Penn Hills, (the largest suburb outside the city).After the polls closed, about 12 of us met at Morgan’s restaurant and watched the election results. We were expecting a tight race for PA, and were amazed when it was announced about 9:00 p.m. that we had solidly won the state. By 11:05, Barack Obama had been declared the President-Elect. The next hours were spent on the phone sharing joyous emotions with fellow campaign warriors, family, friends... and most surprisingly, people I had not talked to in ages; they were reaching out to share the intensity of their emotions.The experience of this campaign and election forged bonds and relationships that I will cherish forever.
November 4, 2008 in some ways seems like a vague dream, but full of unforgettable moments. I remember the intensity, the exhilaration, and the total exhaustion afterward. We had a volunteer office in Penn Hills and the campaign staffers had constantly told us for months that Obama had to carry Pennsylvania to win. In order to carry Pennsylvania, we had to carry Allegheny County, and to carry Allegheny County, we had to carry Penn Hills, (the largest suburb outside the city).
After the polls closed, about 12 of us met at Morgan’s restaurant and watched the election results. We were expecting a tight race for PA, and were amazed when it was announced about 9:00 p.m. that we had solidly won the state. By 11:05, Barack Obama had been declared the President-Elect. The next hours were spent on the phone sharing joyous emotions with fellow campaign warriors, family, friends... and most surprisingly, people I had not talked to in ages; they were reaching out to share the intensity of their emotions.
The experience of this campaign and election forged bonds and relationships that I will cherish forever.
Andrew S, a Pennsylvania Community Organizer shares his memory of election night 2008 and why he's still involved one year later...
Election Night 2008 was a night I will never forget. I was on campus at the University of Pittsburgh, and hundreds of students flooded the streets to show their excitement. It was the happiest group of people I have ever been around. Total strangers were hugging each other and nobody was without a smile. That night was about so much more than an election--it was about a new direction for our country. It was about a generation finding its voice. So here we are, a year later. While there have been numerous legislative successes already, the health insurance debate rages on. I am 20 years old, and people in my generation are less likely to have health insurance than any other demographic group in America. Some of us are covered by our parents, but many young people get kicked off their parents’ plans once they turn 19. Almost no one I know can afford to buy insurance on the private market – it’s just too expensive – especially when there are other necessary things to pay for in our budgets, like food, rent and tuition. I’m supporting President Obama’s health insurance reform plan because it’s going to make insurance companies cover basic preventive care (like regular check ups) and put a cap on out-of-pocket expenses. Election Night 2008 was incredible, but it only offered us a chance to transform our country. I am proud to be working with Organizing for America because I'm eager to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I will never forget how optimistic that crowd of students was one year ago. That momentum shouldn't fizzle away. Together, we can do great things. Yes, we will. - Andrew S. OFA Community Organizer
Election Night 2008 was a night I will never forget. I was on campus at the University of Pittsburgh, and hundreds of students flooded the streets to show their excitement. It was the happiest group of people I have ever been around. Total strangers were hugging each other and nobody was without a smile. That night was about so much more than an election--it was about a new direction for our country. It was about a generation finding its voice.
So here we are, a year later. While there have been numerous legislative successes already, the health insurance debate rages on. I am 20 years old, and people in my generation are less likely to have health insurance than any other demographic group in America. Some of us are covered by our parents, but many young people get kicked off their parents’ plans once they turn 19. Almost no one I know can afford to buy insurance on the private market – it’s just too expensive – especially when there are other necessary things to pay for in our budgets, like food, rent and tuition. I’m supporting President Obama’s health insurance reform plan because it’s going to make insurance companies cover basic preventive care (like regular check ups) and put a cap on out-of-pocket expenses.
Election Night 2008 was incredible, but it only offered us a chance to transform our country. I am proud to be working with Organizing for America because I'm eager to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I will never forget how optimistic that crowd of students was one year ago. That momentum shouldn't fizzle away. Together, we can do great things. Yes, we will. - Andrew S. OFA Community Organizer
Happy Anniversary! Throughout the day we'll be highlighting memories of last year's historic election. OFA Regional Field Director Peter Lesser shares his memory of Nov. 4th 2008. To share your story click here.
At 5:30 the call came in: "Get ready. We're sending every volunteer in Delaware County to Chester. Also, tell everyone in your office to go out and knock on doors."Feverishly, I grabbed a stack of maps and started circling streets. This was it, the last three hours of a two-year sprint to make history. Since 9:00 AM my office was filled with dozens of phone bankers. We had made over 10,000 phone calls so far, but it was time to hit the streets.The last couple hours of voting passed, the office was quiet--just me and a couple of volunteers remained. Finally our late night door-knockers came trickling back in, eager to check the internet and watch the results. Volunteers hunched over computers, clicking refresh over and over. "We won! We won!" Someone shouted. Chaos. "Where? Here?" "Yes! We won Pennsylvania!" More volunteers ran into the office, arms raised. Suddenly, I was exhausted, but smiling. All I could do was hug the nearest volunteer and find "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" on the stereo. Together, we had made history.- Peter Lesser, OFA Regional Field Director
While witches, goblins and ghosts may only come out once a year, Pennsylvanians affected by our broken health insurance system face a scary reality every day. That is why in advance of Halloween, Pennsylvania OFA has launched a new effort aimed at informing consumers throughout the Commonwealth about the frightening reality of our current health insurance system, and detailing how Pennsylvanians will benefit from President Obama’s plan for reform.
The effort highlights five scary realities of our current health insurance system and includes a photo slideshow of Pennsylvanians who have been affected by our broken system. Click here to view the slideshow (click on the "show info" button in the slideshow to reach each Pennsylvanian's story).
Five scary reasons why Pennsylvanians need reform:
1) Pennsylvanians are denied care for pre-existing conditions.
- Nine percent of people in Pennsylvania have diabetes, and 28 percent have high blood pressure- two conditions that insurance companies can use as a reason to deny individuals coverage. [Center for Financing, Access and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey]
President Obama’s plan: Will prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
2) Insurance companies in Pennsylvania can discriminate against women because of their gender.
- Insurance companies in Pennsylvania are allowed to use a “gender rating” system to charge women and men different premiums for individual insurance.
- Under our current system, 25-year old and 40-year old women in Pennsylvania are charged from 6%-21% more than men for individual health insurance. [National Women’s Law Center. “Nowhere to Turn: How the Individual Health Insurance Market Fails Women”]
President Obama’s plan: Will prohibit insurance companies from discriminating on the basis of gender or age.
3) Choice of health insurance is limited in Pennsylvania.
- Two health insurance companies in Pennsylvania constitute 72 percent of the health insurance market. [Health Care for America Now. "Premiums Soaring in Consolidated Health Insurance Market."]
President Obama’s plan: Will provide Pennsylvanians more choice and increase competition to hold insurance companies accountable.
4) 1.2 million Pennsylvanians do not have insurance.
- This only accounts for people who have been uninsured for an entire year – it does not include people in Pennsylvania who have either lost their coverage more recently through the recession, or experienced shorter gaps in their coverage. [U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey]
President Obama’s plan: Creates a new health insurance exchange where Pennsylvanians can compare insurance prices and health plans and decide which quality affordable option is right for them and their families.
5) Pennsylvania families are being crushed by skyrocketing health care costs.
- Premiums for residents of Pennsylvania have risen 103% since 2000, while 10 percent of people in Pennsylvania report not visiting a doctor due to high costs. [Center for Financing, Access and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey]
President Obama’s plan: Will rein in the high costs of care for families, business and government. Insurance companies will also be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive and abide by yearly limits on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
We are reaching a critical time in the health care debate, and if we are going to succeed, Pennsylvanians must come together and deliver on the promise of change we worked so hard for almost one year ago. Visit the Health Care Action Center to find an event near you or to call your member of Congress in support of President Obama’s plan for health insurance reform.
Last night, phones at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School were ringing off the hook as first and second year medical students hosted a phone bank in support of health insurance reform. The students made calls to area health care professionals and residents urging them to contact their members of Congress in support of President Obama’s health insurance reform plan.
The phone bank follows Tuesday’s historic day-of-action where OFA volunteers from across the county made 315,000 calls to Congress in a single day, urging support for the President’s plan and sending a clear message to our elected-leaders in Washington that inaction is not an option.
Check out photos from the event below.
Today, OFA rocked the busy lobby of Litchfield Towers on the U of Pittsburgh campus. Organized by Andrew Sabo, OFA Community Organizer and VP of the Pitt College Democrats, and with a strong mixture of Pitt students and local community volunteers, the team gathered over 100 commitments to call their Members of Congress. Andrew led the phone banking effort while Community Organizer Betty Wade took over clipboarding where she pulled in dozens of busy students and inspired them to make their voices heard in the fight for health insurance reform. It was time to deliver and the Pitt crew made it happen!
Students at tiny Lafayette College, one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges in Easton, PA, hosted a health reform phone booth as part of the nationwide push for 100,000 calls in support of the President’s health insurance reform plan. Students took time between classes to call their members of Congress. Senior class volunteers shared their exasperation over their current predicament as most of the students, even at a great school like Lafayette, are faced with losing their health care coverage at the end of the year because they have not been able to secure employment. Students across the state are organizing for health reform. A dedicated group of students at Allegheny College set up an information table and stormed the dining hall during the lunch hour. Everyone is upbeat and energized about health care reform here!
With 34 “Time to Deliver” events taking place across the Keystone State, OFA Pennsylvania is gearing up for an amazing day of citizen action! We just wrapped up our first event of the day, a kickoff conference call with U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz. Congresswoman Schwartz spoke about the need for health insurance reform and what it means to young adults. Young adults have the highest rate of uninsured of any age group and are disproportionally affected by the country’s broken health insurance system.
Congresswoman Schwartz was joined on the call by three young Pennsylvanians who shared their personal health care stories.
On the call, Eddie, a 23-year-old from Philadelphia, spoke of how upon graduating from college last year he was no longer covered under his parent’s health insurance plan, and the only way he could get insurance was through COBRA. He tried to find individual coverage but no insurance company would cover him due to his pre-existing diabetes condition. His family paid premiums of almost $800 a month to keep him insured. Fortunately, his family was able to scrape together the money until he entered law school this year and could go back on his parent’s plan.
President Obama’s plan for health reform will lift the burden of health insurance for young adults, including allowing young people to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until they are 26.
There is still time to come out and join us in our fight for health reform -- find an event near you.
If you have a few minutes, you can use our online tool to find the numbers of your representatives and call now.
We'll keep you posted on other events from around the state throughout the day. Let’s go Team PA!
Today David Plouffe sent out the following message to supporters, inviting them to attend one the many grassroots house meetings taking place throughout the country later this month:
Exactly one month ago, you made history by giving all Americans a real opportunity for change. Now it's time to start preparing and working for change in our communities. On December 13th and 14th, supporters are coming together in every part of the country to reflect on what we've accomplished and plan the future of this movement. Your ideas and feedback will be collected and used to guide this movement in the months and years ahead. Join your friends and neighbors -- sign up to host or attend a Change is Coming house meeting near you. Since the election, the challenges we face -- and our responsibility to take action -- have only gotten more urgent. You can connect with fellow supporters, make progress on the issues you care about, and help shape the future of your community and our country. Learn what you can do now to support President-elect Obama's agenda for change and continue to make a difference in your community. Take the first important step by hosting or attending a Change is Coming house meeting. Sign up right now. To get our country back on track, it will take all of us working together. Barack and Joe have a clear agenda and an unprecedented opportunity for change. But they can't do it alone. Will you join us at a house meeting and help plan the next steps for this movement? Thanks, David David Plouffe Campaign Manager Obama for America
"I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you." - Barack Obama, Election Night 2008
Read the full speech, as prepared for delivery . . .
Polls in Pennsylvania are closed now (although if you are in line, you will be allowed to vote), but there's one last thing you can do to help this historic campaign: call states where the polls are still open to help Get Out The Vote. Even if you've never made calls before, this is your chance to participate -- a chance to be part of an historic grassroots field operation.
The map below shows the battleground states where polls are still open and where we still need help reaching our voters. Just click select the state and you will be given a list of voters to call and a brief script. In 2004, the election was decided by approximately 9 votes per precinct in Ohio. Even at this late hour, your help can still make a difference.
This is part of an interactive roadtrip criss-crossing the heartland from Indiana to Michigan, through Ohio, then into Pennsylvania for the ten days preceding Election day. Volunteers with the Obama campaign invite people to participate in the large scale projections, and have been successful in signing up more volunteers to help out with getting out the vote and issue awareness.
Campaign for Change Road Blogger Paul Notzold wrote this post.
