Organizing for Health Care Blog

Message from the President: "A historic moment"

Christopher Hass — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:20:53 EST

Shortly after the Senate vote this morning, President Obama sent out the following email to supporters:

Although it's Christmas Eve, I wanted to share some exciting news: The Senate just passed a historic health reform bill.

In all the back and forth, it's easy to lose sight of what this incredible breakthrough really means. But consider this: This Christmas, there are millions of Americans without health insurance who risk losing everything if they get sick.

There are mothers and fathers who wonder how they'll provide for their children because an illness has wiped out their savings. There are small business owners who worry that they'll have to lay off a long-time employee because the cost of insurance is rapidly rising.

If we finish the job, all this can change. We will have beaten back the special interests who have for so long perpetuated the status quo. We will have enacted the most important piece of social policy since the Social Security Act in the 1930s, and the most important health reform since Medicare in the 1960s.

In Decembers to come, millions more will have access to affordable coverage. Parents will have the security and stability of knowing their insurance can't be revoked at a moment's notice. And the skyrocketing costs plaguing our small businesses will be brought under control.

When you make calls, write letters, organize, this is the change you're making -- a better life for your family and for men and women in every state.

There is still more to do before I can sign reform into law -- a last round of negotiations and final votes in the Senate and the House -- and I'm counting on your help every step of the way. But for now, I hope that as you celebrate this holiday season, you remember that the work you are doing is making our union more perfect, one step at a time. For that, I am grateful to you.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays,

President Barack Obama

P.S. -- Organizing for America supporters are signing a note of appreciation to all the senators who have worked so hard to make this possible. I hope you'll join them.

Senate Passes Health Reform Bill

Christopher Hass — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:16:41 EST

Shortly after 7:00 A.M. this morning, the Senate passed its version of the health reform bill by a vote of 60-39, with all Republican senators voting against. We'll have more details shortly.

UPDATED 7:48 A.M. President Obama is scheduled to deliver remarks on this morning's vote at 8:45 A.M. You can watch live onine at WhiteHouse.gov/live.

UPDATED 8:12 A.M. The Associated Press reports:

Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill Thursday that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history.

The 60-39 vote on a cold Christmas Eve morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by past congresses to get to this point. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no."

The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage.

Senate Clears Final Hurdle to Set Up Christmas Eve Vote on Health Reform

Christopher Hass — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST

With a vote of 60-39 (with all Republicans against), the Senate cleared the final procedural hurdle this afternoon to set up an up or down vote on health reform tomorrow morning. Tomorrow's vote will be the first vote held on Christmas Eve since Dec. 24, 1895.

"What's really at stake"

Christopher Hass — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:21:57 EST

From David Plouffe:

Any day now, health insurance reform will come up for a vote in the Senate.

We're hearing a lot about what's at stake with this vote for President Obama, the Democrats who are fighting alongside him, and the Republicans who have lined up in opposition.

But let's talk about what's really at stake for America. The Senate health reform bill will:
-- Extend coverage to 31 million Americans, the largest expansion of coverage since the creation of Medicare.

-- Ensure that you can choose your own doctor.

-- Finally stop insurance companies from denying coverage due to a pre-existing condition.

-- Make sure you will never be charged exorbitant premiums on the basis of your age, health, or gender.

-- Guarantee you will never lose your coverage just because you get sick or injured.

-- Protect you from outrageous out-of-pocket expenditures by establishing lifetime and annual limits.

-- Allow young people to stay on their parents' coverage until they're 26 years old.

-- Create health insurance exchanges, or "one-stop shops" for individuals purchasing insurance, where insurance companies are forced to compete for new customers.

-- Lower premiums for families, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office -- especially for struggling folks who will receive subsidies.

-- Help small businesses provide health care coverage to their employees with tax credits and by allowing them to purchase coverage through the exchanges.

-- Improve and strengthen Medicare by eliminating waste and fraud (without cutting basic benefits), beginning to close the Medicare Part D donut hole, and extending the life of the Medicare trust fund.

-- Create jobs by reining in costs -- fostering competition, reducing waste and inefficiency, and starting to reward doctors and hospitals for quality, not quantity, of care.

-- Cut the deficit by over $130 billion in the next 10 years.
It's a long list. But that's only because this bill represents the most significant health reform our nation has seen since the creation of Medicare.

And it's important that every American knows what's really at stake this holiday season.

So please pass this email along to friends, family, and neighbors today -- or click below to share this list on Facebook and Twitter, or print out a copy to share with others:

http://my.barackobama.com/SenateReformBill

We wouldn't be this close to enacting these powerful reforms without all your hard work. Now, we're in the final stretch -- let's keep it up.

Thank you,

David Plouffe

OFA Political Update: Delivering Health Reform for the Holidays

Erica Sagrans — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:45:41 EST

With the Senate poised to vote on health reform any day now, OFA National Political Director Addisu Demissie sat down to give an update on where we’re at and what’s next.

“We have a long way to go, but as you’ve seen, we’ve made it really far. Now we need you to stay active, so as you go home with your families this holiday season, tell them a little more about what this bill’s actually going to do for them.

And then come back in the new year, we’re going to have to talk to our members of Congress, both on the House and the Senate side, and let them know that we’re behind them and we thank them for getting us this far, and we need them to get us across the finish line.

So that’s where we are, and that’s where we’re going. I want you all to have a happy holidays, and hopefully we’re going to be delivering the gift of health insurance reform to this country this holiday season.”

Message from the President: "Where we stand"

Christopher Hass — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:44:19 EST

Earlier tonight, President Obama sent out the following email to supporters:

Early this morning, the Senate made history and health reform cleared its most important hurdle yet -- garnering the 60 votes needed to move toward a final vote in that chamber later this week.

This marks the first time in our nation's history that comprehensive health reform has come to this point. And it appears that the American people will soon realize the genuine reform that offers security to those who have health insurance and affordable options to those who do not.

I'm grateful to Senator Harry Reid and every senator who's been working around the clock to make this happen. And I'm grateful to you, and every member of the Organizing for America community, for all the work you have done to make this progress possible.

After a nearly century-long struggle, we are now on the cusp of making health insurance reform a reality in the United States of America.

As with any legislation, compromise is part of the process. But I'm pleased that recently added provisions have made this landmark bill even stronger. Between the time when the bill passes and the time when the insurance exchanges get up and running, insurance companies that try to jack up their rates do so at their own peril. Those who hike their prices may be barred from selling plans on the exchanges.

And while insurance companies will be prevented from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions once the exchanges are open, in the meantime there will be a high-risk pool where people with pre-existing conditions can purchase affordable coverage.

A recent amendment has made these protections even stronger. Insurance companies will now be prohibited from denying coverage to children immediately after this bill passes. There's also explicit language in this bill that will protect a patient's choice of doctor. And small businesses will get additional assistance as well.

These protections are in addition to the ones we've been talking about for some time. No longer will insurance companies be able to drop your coverage if you become sick and no longer will you have to pay unlimited amounts out of your own pocket for treatments that you need.

Under this bill families will save on their premiums; businesses that would see their costs rise if we don't act will save money now and in the future. This bill will strengthen Medicare and extend the life of the program. Because it's paid for and gets rid of waste and inefficiency in our health care system, this will be the largest deficit reduction plan in over a decade.

Finally, this reform will extend coverage to more than 30 million Americans who don't have it.

These are not small changes. These are big changes. They're fundamental reforms. They will save money. They will save lives.

And your passion, your work, your organizing helped make all of this possible. Now it's time to finish the job.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

David Plouffe Speaks with OFA Volunteers: “This is something we can all be proud of”

Erica Sagrans — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:59:13 EST

“I want to thank you for what you’ve done on health care. What you’ve done is really remarkable, and it’s a big reason we’re on the precipice of a big victory for the American people. It’s in many ways harder than what you did on the campaign – the metrics aren’t as accessible, sometimes the tangibility of it isn’t as clear – but what you’re doing out there is answering questions for people, building support, and fighting back against some of these mistruths.” – David Plouffe to OFA Volunteers

On Friday afternoon, former Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe joined an Organizing for America conference call with volunteers to discuss the current state of the health reform bills, and the accomplishments they represent. Here are a few highlights from the call:

On the need to continue moving the current health reform bill forward:

“We have to solve this problem. It’s a moral issue, it’s obviously a health issue, and I believe it’s the chief economic issue that we’re confronting right now in the long term…I know there’s a lot of arguments out there, the insurance companies are spending a lot of money, there’s even some well-principled people in our party who’ve got some concerns. But we have to stay focused on the wonderful impact this legislation is going to have on the future of this country.”

In response to a question from a volunteer named Anita, about how to talk with and re-engage folks who were active during the campaign but have since become upset over compromises that have been made to the health reform bills:

“First of all, let’s take them back. The President was very clear in his campaign about what he wanted to do on health care – it’s contained in what we’re on the precipice of passing. I think we need to remind them that we want to cut costs for families, middle class, businesses, small businesses, the government – well, that’s what’s in this bill.

“When Barack Obama spent 2007 and 2008 talking to the American people about hope and change, remind those people who are upset that this is what he was talking about. He was talking about after 100 years, taking on the insurance countries, doing something nobody thought was possible.
“This is something we can all be proud of…remind people exactly what’s in this bill, exactly what the President promised, and remind them of the stakes.”

You can isten to the full call here.

First Cloture Vote on the Senate Health Reform Bill Passes 60-40

Christopher Hass — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:18:34 EST

Shortly after 1:00 A.M. this morning, the Senate voted 60-40 to invoke cloture on the manager’s amendment to the health reform bill offered by Majority Leader Harry Reid on Saturday. The vote was 60-40, with no Republicans voting in favor.

This was the first of several votes that will take place over the next few days, but it represents a crucial step towards passing a health reform bill out of the Senate. The next vote to move the bill forward will likely take place Tuesday night.

Inside the Manager’s Amendment to the Health Reform Bill

Erica Sagrans — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:17:48 EST

With all of the developments on health reform in the Senate this weekend, it can be challenging to keep track of what is and what isn’t in the latest version of the bill. Senator Harry Reid’s “manager’s amendment,” released Saturday morning, combined a number of key changes into a single amendment, many of which made strong improvements to the initial Senate bill. Taken together, this amendment and the underlying Senate bill it affects represent the most significant health reforms since the introduction of Medicare in the mid-1960s.

Though it does not contain every measure that OFA supporters have pushed for, the bill would make many sweeping changes that would save lives and finally bring about fundamental reforms that advocates have spent nearly a century fighting for. In an op-ed in this morning’s New York Times, Vice President Joe Biden wrote:

“While it does not contain every measure President Obama and I wanted, I would vote yes for this bill certain that it includes the fundamental, essential change that opponents of reform have resisted for generations.”

We thought it would be useful to put together a rundown of where things stand, and what’s changed over the course of negotiations this week. Here are a few of the key details:

• The state “opt-out” version of the public option was replaced with a series of national, privately run plans. These plans would be under the supervision of the Office of Personnel Management, the same entity that oversees health plans for members of Congress. At least one of these plans must be a non-profit plan.

• Health insurers would be required to spend more of their revenue on providing you health care (between 80% and 85%) rather than on administrative costs and salaries. Currently, the amount spent on patient claims is sometimes as low as 66%.

• Insurance companies that jack up their premiums before the health care exchanges begin would be excluded from participating – creating a strong incentive to keep premiums affordable.

• Starting immediately, insurers would not be able to deny children coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Discrimination on the basis of pre-existing conditions for everyone would be banned once the exchanges are open in 2014 – in the meantime, the bill creates a high-risk pool where adults with pre-existing conditions can buy affordable coverage.

• Patients will have the opportunity to appeal denials of health care coverage, with states ensuring the availability of an external, independent process that holds insurance companies accountable.

• Lifetime limits on health care would be banned – and starting in 2014, annual limits for care would be banned as well.

The limited Medicare buy-in, for those between ages 55 and 64, that had been discussed earlier in the month was not included in the amendment. Additionally, unlike the current House bill, the manager's amendment to the Senate bill does not ban plans in the exchange from offering abortion services – instead, it allows states to choose whether to prohibit abortion in their exchanges and requires segregation of private and public funds. If the Senate is able to pass its version of the bill, this and other discrepancies between the two bills (including the public option, which is included in the House bill) would still have to be worked out in conference committee.

The first cloture vote on the manager’s amendment is scheduled for 1:00 A.M. tonight.

Joe Biden: Why the Senate Should Vote Yes on Health Care

Christopher Hass — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:56:36 EST

In an op-ed in the New York Times today, Vice President Joe Biden explains why, if he were still a senator today, he would vote "yes" on the current health reform bill:

While it does not contain every measure President Obama and I wanted, I would vote yes for this bill certain that it includes the fundamental, essential change that opponents of reform have resisted for generations.

We have been here before. In the past, as the moment of decision drew nearer, criticism from both the left and the right grew louder. Compromises were derided. The perfect became the enemy of the good.

Most recently, in 1993, Democrats had a chance to forge a compromise with Senator John Chafee, Republican of Rhode Island, on a health care reform bill. Congress’s failure to pass health care reform that year led to 16 years of inaction — and 16 years of exploding health care costs and rising numbers of uninsured Americans.

We can’t let that happen again. While it is not perfect, the bill pending in the Senate today is not just good enough — it is very good. Insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions or drop coverage when people get sick. Charging exorbitant premiums based on sex, age or health status will be outlawed. Annual and lifetime caps on benefits will be history. Those who already have insurance will be able to keep it, and will gain peace of mind knowing they won’t be priced out of the market by skyrocketing premiums. And more than 30 million uninsured Americans will gain access to affordable health care coverage.

The Vice President also addressed the disappointment that many feel over the removal of a public option from the Senate bill, but warned that there would be no second chance to vote yes for reform:

I share the frustration of other progressives that the Senate bill does not include a public option. But I’ve been around a long time, and I know that in Washington big changes never emerge in perfect form.

Those in our own party who would scuttle this bill because of what it doesn’t do seem not to appreciate the magnitude of what it has the potential to accomplish.

...Is America better off today because a chance at a compromise health bill was missed in 1993? For my friends on the left, the rising toll of the uninsured provides an emphatic no. For my friends on the right, the soaring share of federal spending on health care likewise provides a no. Let’s not make the same mistake again.

If the bill passes the Senate this week, there will be more chances to make changes to it before it becomes law. But if the bill dies this week, there is no second chance to vote yes. What those who care about health insurance reform need to realize is that unless we get 60 votes now, there will be no health care reform at all. Not this year, not in this Congress — and maybe not for another generation.

Read the full op-ed . . .

Health Insurance Reform Legislative Update

Addisu from Washington, DC — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:41:51 EST

At approximately 4:00 P.M. this afternoon, Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on his manager's amendment to the Senate health reform bill. Folks, we are nearing the finish line.

Today's events mark a crucial first step towards having an up-or-down vote in the Senate on health insurance reform. After months of back and forth in committee and weeks of debate on the floor, this morning Senator Reid filed a motion to end debate and vote on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The Senate version of health insurance reform would achieve the goals President Obama set out at the beginning of this debate. It would provide more stability and security to people who have insurance by ending some of the insurance companies worst practices like denying someone coverage because of a pre-existing condition or canceling someone's coverage when they get sick. It will extend coverage to 31 million more Americans, providing coverage options for the uninsured through a new health insurance exchange, while making that coverage affordable through generous subsidies. And it would lower costs for families and businesses by increasing choice and competition. This legislation will reduce the deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars in the next 10 years, and it will bend the cost curve downward.

What happens now? Sixty senators must vote to end debate, and then 51 Senators must vote to pass this historic bill. The exact timeline is anyone's guess, but Senate Democrats are working around the clock to pass the bill before Christmas.

Once the bill passes, the action moves to conference committee. Members of the House and Senate conference committee will create a final piece of legislation (blending elements of House and Senate bills) that will be voted on one more time by both chambers. Upon final passage, Congress will send that final bill to President Obama's desk for his signature.

While we have a few steps left to take and some twists and turns to go, here's what we can be sure of: President Obama will sign into law the most significant piece of social and economic legislation since Social Security, and the largest expansion of health care coverage since the creation of Medicare in 1965.

The work OFA volunteers and supporters have done and continue to do to ensure President Obama has the opportunity to sign this historic legislation into law is nothing short of amazing. Millions have taken action as part of OFA health insurance reform campaign since we kicked-off our effort on June 6th. And since August, Organizing for America has generated over 1,000,000 calls to members of Congress to demonstrate support for reform.

You've written, you called, you've visited, you haven't given up. Thank you. This holiday season, we're going to give America the gift of health insurance reform. We are going to get this done.

Addisu Demissie is the national political director for Organizing for America.

Vicki Kennedy: "The moment Ted Kennedy would not want to lose"

Christopher Hass — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:54:53 EST

Vicki Kennedy, the widow of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, wrote a passionate op-ed piece for this Sunday's Washington Post, in which she talks about how she believes her husband would have stood on the current health reform bill being debated in the Senate:

My late husband, Ted Kennedy, was passionate about health-care reform. It was the cause of his life. He believed that health care for all our citizens was a fundamental right, not a privilege, and that this year the stars -- and competing interests -- were finally aligned to allow our nation to move forward with fundamental reform. He believed that health-care reform was essential to the financial stability of our nation's working families and of our economy as a whole.

Still, Ted knew that accomplishing reform would be difficult. If it were easy, he told me, it would have been done a long time ago. He predicted that as the Senate got closer to a vote, compromises would be necessary, coalitions would falter and many ardent supporters of reform would want to walk away. He hoped that they wouldn't do so. He knew from experience, he told me, that this kind of opportunity to enact health-care reform wouldn't arise again for a generation.

...The bill before the Senate, while imperfect, would achieve many of the goals Ted fought for during the 40 years he championed access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. If this bill passes:

-- Insurance protections like the ones Ted fought for his entire life would become law.

-- Thirty million Americans who do not have coverage would finally be able to afford it. Ninety-four percent of Americans would be insured. Americans would finally be able to live without fear that a single illness could send them into financial ruin.

-- Insurance companies would no longer be able to deny people the coverage they need because of a preexisting illness or condition. They would not be able to drop coverage when people get sick. And there would be a limit on how much they can force Americans to pay out of their own pockets when they do get sick.

-- Small-business owners would no longer have to fear being forced to lay off workers or shut their doors because of exorbitant insurance rates. Medicare would be strengthened for the millions of seniors who count on it.

-- And by eliminating waste and inefficiency in our health-care system, this bill would bring down the deficit over time.

Health care would finally be a right, and not a privilege, for the citizens of this country. While my husband believed in a robust public option as an effective way to lower costs and increase competition, he also believed in not losing sight of the forest for the trees. As long as he wasn't compromising his principles or values, he looked for a way forward.

...The bill before Congress will finally deliver on the urgent needs of all Americans. It would make their lives better and do so much good for this country. That, in the end, must be the test of reform. That was always the test for Ted Kennedy. He's not here to urge us not to let this chance slip through our fingers. So I humbly ask his colleagues to finish the work of his life, the work of generations, to allow the vote to go forward and to pass health-care reform now.

Read the full op-ed from Victoria Kennedy . . .

The President's Weekly Address: The Patient's Bill of Rights and Health Reform

Christopher Hass — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:42:44 EST

In today's address, President Obama looks back at the bipartisan "Patient's Bill of Rights" – a set of rules intended to protect Americans from some of the worst practices of the health insurance industry, that was defeated time and again in the past, but is now embodied in the current health reform bills:

This Patient’s Bill of Rights never made it into law. It fell victim – again and again – to the same special interest lobbying that has blocked passage of health insurance reform for so many decades. But today, we are being given another chance to make it a reality, because each of these rights, and many more, are incorporated in the health insurance reform bill that recently passed the House of Representatives and in the bill that is currently making its way through the Senate.

Both the House and Senate bills would make it against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition or illness. Both would stop insurers from charging exorbitant premiums on the basis of age, health, or gender. Both would prevent insurance companies from dropping your coverage when you get sick. And both would put a limit on how much you have to pay out of pocket for the treatments you need in a year or lifetime.

Simply put, the protections currently included in both the health insurance reform bill passed by the House and the version currently on the Senate floor would represent the toughest measures we’ve ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable. Anyone who says otherwise simply hasn’t read the bills.

...But now – for the first time – there is a clear majority in the Senate that’s willing to stand up to the insurance lobby and embrace lasting health insurance reforms that have eluded us for generations. The question is whether the minority that opposes these reforms will continue to use parliamentary maneuvers to try and stop the Senate from voting on them.

Whatever their position on health insurance reform, Senators ought to allow an up or down vote. Let’s bring this long and vigorous debate to an end. Let’s deliver on the promise of health insurance reforms that will make our people healthier, our economy stronger, and our future more secure. And as this difficult year comes to a close, let’s show the American people that we are equal to the task of meeting our great challenges.

Senate to Release Amendment to Health Reform Bill Saturday Morning

Christopher Hass — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:37:21 EST

Early Saturday morning, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is expected to unveil a "manager's amendment" to the health reform bill that will contain a comprehensive list of changes that have been arrived at over the past week. This would then pave the way for the final vote in the Senate.

The Hill reports:

Reid will unveil his amendment with a cost analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) shortly after the Senate votes at around 7:30 Saturday morning to clear a Defense spending bill.

“That’s the plan, soon after that vote because we want to file cloture on that quickly,” said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

...Durbin said it was necessary to unveil Reid’s amendment and file a motion to cut of a GOP filibuster on Saturday morning to set up a preliminary vote at 1 a.m. Monday.

Lawmakers must vote early Monday to cut off debate on Reid’s amendment if they are to stick to a timeline that would set a final vote on the healthcare bill after 7 pm on Christmas Eve.

Over 1,008,426 Calls

Christopher Hass — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:17:47 EST

From the Barack Obama twitter feed:

One Million Calls

Christopher Hass — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:09:35 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

If we don't pass health reform, millions of Americans will be trapped in a broken status quo, unable to pay their bills or see a doctor when they need one.

More and more employers will drop coverage for employees. And Medicare and Medicaid will blow a hole through our budget.

There's too much at stake not to get this done. That's why, as of this morning, OFA supporters have made 849,856 calls to Congress in support of health reform since August.

And that's why today, with the Senate locked in last-minute negotiations, our goal is to hit one million calls.

Can you help? Please call your senators now and help "ring in reform."
This holiday season, millions of Americans will go without desperately needed care simply because they can't afford insurance.

But insurance lobbyists are desperate to pull apart the bill and derail reform, so your voice is needed now.

Just call your senators' offices, then tell the staffers who answer where you live -- so that they know you are a constituent -- and that you support reform.

Click here to make sure you call is counted in the race to a million.

Thanks for standing up,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

"The most significant reform of our health care system since the passage of Medicare"

Christopher Hass — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:44:30 EST

Earlier today President Obama hosted what he described as a "very productive" meeting with Democratic Senators on the final stages of health care reform. Following the meeting, the President spoke briefly to the press on the current state of the debate:

There are still some differences that have to be worked on. This was not a roll call. This was a broad-based discussion about how we move forward. But whatever differences remain, there is broad consensus around reforms that will finally, number one, protect every American from the worst practices in the health insurance industry. No longer will these companies be able to deny you coverage if you have a preexisting illness or condition. No longer will they be able to drop you from coverage when you get sick. No longer will you have to pay unlimited amounts out of your own pocket for the treatments that you need. We are all in agreement on those reforms.

We agree on reforms that will finally reduce the costs of health care. Families will save on their premiums; businesses that will see their costs rise if we do nothing will save money now and in the future. This plan will strengthen Medicare and extend the life of that program. And because it gets rid of the waste and inefficiencies in our health care system, this will be the largest deficit reduction plan in over a decade.

...These aren't small changes. These are big changes. They represent the most significant reform of our health care system since the passage of Medicare. They will save money. They will save families money; they will save businesses money; and they will save government money. And they're going to save lives. That's why this reform is supported by groups like the AARP who represents most of America's seniors. That's why this reform has to pass on our watch.

Now, let's be clear. The final bill won't include everything that everybody wants. No bill can do that. But what I told my former colleagues today is that we simply cannot allow differences over individual elements of this plan to prevent us from meeting our responsibility to solve a longstanding and urgent problem for the American people. They are waiting for us to act. They are counting on us to show leadership. And I don't intend to let them down, and neither do the people standing next to me. There's too much at stake for families who can't pay their medical bills, or see a doctor when they need to, or get the treatment they need. The stakes are enormous for them.

...So there are still disagreements that have to be ironed out. There is still work to be done in the next few days... [But] I am absolutely confident that if the American people know what's in this bill and if the Senate knows what's in this bill that this is going to pass, because it's right for America. And I'm feeling cautiously optimistic that we can get this done and start rolling up our sleeves and getting to work improving the lives of the American people.

Read the President's full remarks . . .

Political Update on the Progress Towards Health Reform

Christopher Hass — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:04:42 EST

Addisu Demissie, National Political Director for Organizing for America, sat down to give a quick update on the progress towards health reform and the work supporters have done so far to get us to where we are today:

Fighting for Medicare

Christopher Hass — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:33:39 EST

Over the past week, much of the health reform debate in the Senate has centered around Medicare -- from proposed savings and reforms, to the possibility of allowing more Americans to "buy in" to the program at an earlier age. Yesterday, the White House released a video message from Vice President Joe Biden, in which he discussed the Democratic Party's history of fighting for Medicare, from it's inception under Lyndon Johnson to the present day.

"It's kind of an irony now, that all those who are the successors of the people who opposed the creation of Medicare, who have tried for years to let it whiter on the vine, are now saying to you that they are going to protect it.

...After all these years of defending Medicare, I'm not about to do anything to weaken it, to reduce your benefits, or to hurt the integrity of the Medicare Trust Fund."

Senate Health Debate Wrap Up: Week 1

Christopher Hass — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:41:24 EST

The Senate concluded its first full week of debate on the health reform bill yesterday -- a busy week that saw lawmakers working through the weekend. In addition to debate, voting began on the first of almost one hundred potential amendments that have been offered up so far. Early amendments covered a range of issues, from preventive care to home health benefits, as well as a proposal by Republicans that would have effectively ended the debate and sent the bill back to committee.

The Democrats.org blog has a post up recapping some of the early action.

A Big Step: Senate Votes to Begin Debate on Health Reform Bill

Christopher Hass — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:27:07 EST

Just a few moments ago, the Senate voted 60-39 to move forward with debate on health reform legislation. OFA Director Mitch Stewart explained:

For the first time ever, the Senate just voted to begin debate on a comprehensive health insurance reform bill. This was the first big hurdle we had to overcome to pass reform through the full Senate.

The decision was close -- and insurance company lobbyists were working overtime to defeat us -- but your calls this week made a huge difference.

There are more fights ahead, but this is a big victory and I wanted to take a minute to thank you for making it possible.

The Senate is expected to begin debate following the Thanksgiving break.

Senate to Vote Tonight on Motion to Proceed to Health Reform Legislation

Christopher Hass — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:08:20 EST

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced the Senate version of the health reform bill on Wednesday, and tonight the full Senate is expected to vote on the "motion to proceed," which would clear the way for the Senate to begin debate on the bill. Sixty votes are needed to pass cloture on the motion, after which the bill would move to the floor for discussion.

CNN reports:

Proceedings got under way shortly before 10 a.m. Saturday and will last through the early evening.

Around 8 p.m., the Senate will hold a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture.

Reid needs 60 votes to overcome a certain GOP filibuster attempt and open the chamber's debate on the bill. It also would take 60 votes to close debate that could last for weeks, while final approval of the bill would require only a simple majority.

Now, the Senate

Christopher Hass — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:47 EST

From Mitch Stewart:

On Wednesday night, Senate leadership unveiled their final health reform package. It's a great bill that accomplishes President Obama's core goals for reform: provide more security for those who have insurance, guarantee affordable coverage options for those who don't, and rein in the cost of care for American businesses and families.

And it accomplishes all of this while reducing the deficit by as much as $777 billion over the next 20 years.

Now, we're in the final sprint toward reform, and the next challenge is already here.

Today, senators are listening carefully to see how constituents react to the bill and how we want them to proceed. So it's our job to make sure they hear quickly and unmistakably: Move forward!

On Saturday, the Senate faces a close vote on whether or not to begin debate, so it's critical to weigh in right away. Click here to call your senators now.

Just tell whomever answers the phone where you live and that you support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- and want the Senate to begin discussing it right away.

After you've called, click here to tell us how it went:

http://my.barackobama.com/SenateVote

Many senators have worked tirelessly to get us this far, and they deserve our thanks. But it is crucial that every senator knows that we are counting on them to stand up to the insurance industry and support reform -- and that we will be right there standing with them.

We're getting so close, and your incredible work is a big part of why we've been successful so far. Let's keep it up and get this job done.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

OFA Supporters Welcome Home Representatives

Christopher Hass — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:31:41 EST

After casting an historic vote for health reform on Saturday night, many members in the House of Representatives are now heading home for a district work period. OFA Volunteers in Minnesota gathered at the airport bright and early on Sunday morning to greet Congressmen Walz and Ellison as they returned home from Washington.

Shortly afterward, Congressman Ellison posted to his Twitter feed:

Thanks to Obama For America MN for welcoming Tim Walz and I at the airport this morning at 8:30 am. Crew from Obama for America MN understands that the people must keep the energy HIGH until Obama signs the bill into LAW! And beyond.

In Maine, supporters were on hand to greet Representative Chellie Pingree. The Press Herald reported:

About three dozen supporters greeted Pingree as she arrived at the Portland International Jetport from Washington on Sunday morning. They carried flowers, balloons, homemade cookies and signs praising her for her vote.

"I just wanted to thank Chellie Pingree for stepping up and doing the right thing," said Maurie Hill, a 63-year-old retired nurse from Standish.

Pingree said that although the House bill is not perfect, its passage helps move the ball forward. Her advice to her Senate colleagues?

"Get voting!" she said. "It's not easy. We've been working on this for 10 months."

Representative Pingree also took to Twitter to thank supporters, posting:

Thanks so much for all the wonderful people who welcomed me at airport this morning -- made me teary! The cookies were great!!

If your representative voted for health reform last Saturday, you can use our online tools to call and thank them for their vote.

Before health reform can become law, it must pass one more time through the House of Representatives, so it's crucial to publicly show that voters support reform. Taking 30 seconds to say "thank you" could mean all the difference in the coming weeks.

"Making history"

Christopher Hass — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:48:52 EST

Shortly after releasing his official statement on tonight's historic vote, President Obama sent out the following email to supporters:

This evening, at 11:15 p.m., the House of Representatives voted to pass their health insurance reform bill. Despite countless attempts over nearly a century, no chamber of Congress has ever before passed comprehensive health reform. This is history.

But you and millions of your fellow Organizing for America supporters didn't just witness history tonight -- you helped make it. Each "yes" vote was a brave stand, backed up by countless hours of knocking on doors, outreach in town halls and town squares, millions of signatures, and hundreds of thousands of calls. You stood up. You spoke up. And you were heard.

So this is a night to celebrate -- but not to rest. Those who voted for reform deserve our thanks, and the next phase of this fight has already begun.

The final Senate bill hasn't even been released yet, but the insurance companies are already pressing hard for a filibuster to bury it. OFA has built a massive neighborhood-by-neighborhood operation to bring people's voices to Congress, and tonight we saw the results. But the coming days will put our efforts to the ultimate test. Winning will require each of us to give everything we can, starting right now.

Can you donate $25 or whatever you can afford so we can finish this fight?

Tonight's vote brought every American closer to the secure, affordable care we need. But it was also a watershed moment in how change is made.

Even after last year's election, many insider lobbyists and partisan operatives really thought that the old formula of scare tactics, D.C. back-scratching and special-interest money would still be enough to block any idea they didn't like. Now, they're desperate. Because, tonight, you made it crystal clear: the old rules are changing -- and the people will not be ignored.

In the final phases of last year's election, I often reminded folks, "Don't think for a minute that power concedes without a fight," and it's especially true today. But that's okay -- we're not afraid of a fight. And as you continue to prove, when all of us work together, we have what it takes to win.

Please donate to OFA's campaign to win this fight and ensure that real health reform reaches my desk by the end of this year.
Let's keep making history,

President Barack Obama

Statement of President Barack Obama on House Passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act

Christopher Hass — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:19:14 EST

Shortly after the House of Representatives concluded tonight's vote on health insurance reform, President Obama released the following statement:

Tonight, in an historic vote, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable health care for the American people.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a piece of legislation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality affordable options for those who don’t; and bring down the cost of health care for families, businesses, and the government while strengthening the financial health of Medicare. And it is legislation that is fully paid for and will reduce our long-term federal deficit.

Thanks to the hard work of the House, we are just two steps away from achieving health insurance reform in America. Now the United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year.

"Rise to this moment"

Christopher Hass — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:29:01 EST

Shortly after meeting with House Democrats on Capitol Hill in advance of the health reform vote, President Obama delivered the following remarks from the ground of the White House:

Good afternoon, everybody. I just want to say a few words about the landmark vote that the House of Representatives is poised to take today -- a vote that can bring us one step closer to making real the promise of quality, affordable health care for the American people.

For the better part of a year now, members of the House and the Senate have been working diligently and constructively to craft legislation that will benefit millions of American families and millions of American businesses who urgently need it. For the first time ever, they've passed bills through every single committee responsible for reform. They've brought us closer than we have ever been to passing health insurance reform on behalf of the American people.

Now is the time to finish the job. The bill that the House has produced will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality, affordable options for those who don't; and lower costs for American families and American businesses. And as I've insisted from the beginning, it is a bill that is fully paid for and will actually reduce our long-term federal deficit.

This bill is change that the American people urgently need. Don't just take my word for it. Consider the national groups who've come out in support of this bill on behalf of their members: The Consumers Union supports it because it will create -- and I quote -- "a more secure, affordable health care system for the American people."

The American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association support it on behalf of doctors and nurses and medical professionals who know firsthand what's broken in our current system, and who see what happens when their patients can't get the care they need because of insurance industry bureaucracies.

The National Farmers Union supports this bill because it will control costs for farmers and ranchers, and address the unique challenges rural Americans face when it comes to receiving quality care.

And the AARP supports it because it will achieve the goal for which the AARP has been fighting for decades -- reducing the cost of health care, expanding coverage for America's seniors, and strengthening Medicare for the long haul.

Now, no bill can ever contain everything that everybody wants, or please every constituency and every district. That's an impossible task. But what is possible, what's in our grasp right now is the chance to prevent a future where every day 14,000 Americans continue to lose their health insurance, and every year 18,000 Americans die because they don't have it; a future where crushing costs keep small businesses from succeeding and big businesses from competing in the global economy; a future where countless dreams are deferred or scaled back because of a broken system we could have fixed when we had the chance.

What we can do right now is choose a better future and pass a bill that brings us to the very cusp of building what so many generations of Americans have sought to build -- a better health care system for this country.

Millions of Americans are watching right now. Their families and their businesses are counting on us. After all, this is why they sent us here, to finally confront the challenges that Washington had been putting off for decades -- to make their lives better, to leave this country stronger than we found it.

I just came from the Hill where I talked to the members of Congress there, and I reminded them that opportunities like this come around maybe once in a generation. Most public servants pass through their entire careers without a chance to make as important a difference in the lives of their constituents and the life of this country. This is their moment, this is our moment, to live up to the trust that the American people have placed in us -- even when it's hard; especially when it's hard. This is our moment to deliver.

I urge members of Congress to rise to this moment. Answer the call of history, and vote yes for health insurance reform for America.

There are only a few hours left to contact your representative before the vote and add your voice to the President's call.

House Vote Scheduled for Saturday

Christopher Hass — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:27:03 EST

From Mitch Stewart:

This is it -- the House of Representatives will vote on health insurance reform tomorrow. All signs point to it being incredibly close, possibly even coming down to a single vote.

With the clock ticking, insurance company lobbyists are going all out to stop reform. Please call your represenative now.

President Obama is visiting the House tomorrow to call for reform, and I hope you'll add your voice to his right away. If you haven't called before, now is the time. And if you have recently called, thank you -- now please ask friends, family members, and co-workers in your district to join you.

http://my.barackobama.com/HouseVote

Everything we're fighting for comes down to moments like this -- and every second counts.

Thanks for stepping up,

Mitch

Urgent: House Vote Soon

Christopher Hass — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:10:16 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

The House's first full vote on health reform legislation may come as early as this week. It'll be the first time in more than 60 years that the full body votes on comprehensive reform, and we expect it to be very close.

But with just a few days before the vote, the insurance industry and their allies are putting extraordinary pressure on every representative to defeat it. We know that their expensive lobbyists will be dashing to each congressional office, attempting to twist arms. The only question is whether the phones will be ringing off the hook with constituents supporting reform while that happens.

Can you call your representative right now and tell them to vote in favor of real health insurance reform?
The House bill incorporates the best ideas from Democrats and Republicans to guarantee security and stability for those with insurance, provide affordable options for those without -- including the choice of a public insurance option -- and reduce costs for families and small businesses, all while decreasing the deficit.

Many representatives are standing with the President and fighting hard for reform. They need to know that they have our thanks and our support.

And we need to remind the rest of Congress that Americans need them to rise above partisan divides and stand up to the special interests. Please call:

http://my.barackobama.com/HouseVote

It's down to the wire. Your hard work helped bring us to this historic moment. Now let's bring it home.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Health Reform Video Challenge: Open for Voting

Christopher Hass — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:03:37 EDT

New Media Director Natalie Foster just sent out the following email, announcing the top 20 finalists -- as well as the opening of public voting -- for the Health Reform Video Challenge:

We just finished going through the submissions to OFA's Health Reform Video Challenge, and they're great. There are personal stories that grab your heart, brilliant summaries of what reform would really mean, and plenty of biting satire that calls out the insurance lobbyists.

Out of nearly a thousand excellent videos submitted, we're down to the top 20. Now it's your turn to watch the finalists and vote for your favorites -- and then we'll air the winner on national television.

Watch and vote on the finalists now.
The top 20 ads will also be voted on by our panel of experts and artists, including Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am, animator and director Seth MacFarlane, actress Kate Walsh, Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.

It couldn't be more urgent for us to get these funny, powerful, and eye-opening messages out to the public. As the full Congress begins its final debate on reform, airing the winning video as an ad on national television could help tip the balance toward enacting the changes they've been talking about for years in Washington.

Polls close at midnight on Friday, November 6th, so don't waste a minute: Watch the finalists and vote for your favorites right away.
Thanks, and go get started,

Natalie

Natalie Foster
New Media Director

P.S. -- Help spread the word: After you vote, make sure you send this on to friends and family so they can check out the finalists.

http://my.barackobama.com/VideoChallenge

Senator Reid Announces ‘Opt-Out’ Public Plan

Christopher Hass — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:13:47 EDT

Earlier today, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid announced his intention to include a government-run insurance plan with an “opt out” provision in the Senate version of health care legislation. The New York Times reported:

“I’ve concluded, with the support of the White House, Senators Dodd and Baucus, that the best way to move forward is to include a public option with the opt-out provision for states,” Mr. Reid said at a news conference.

“Under this concept, states will be able to determine whether the public option works well for them and will have the ability to opt out if they so choose. I believe that a public option can achieve the goal of bringing meaningful reform to our broken system.”

Shorty after Senator Reid's announcment, the White House released the following statement in support of the work that Congressional leaders have done so far:

“The President congratulates Senator Reid and Chairmen Baucus and Dodd for their hard work on health insurance reform. Thanks to their efforts, we’re closer than we’ve ever been to solving this decades-old problem. And while much work remains, the President is pleased that at the progress that Congress has made. He’s also pleased that the Senate has decided to include a public option for health coverage, in this case with an allowance for states to opt out. As he said to Congress and the nation in September, he supports the public option because it has the potential to play an essential role in holding insurance companies accountable through choice and competition.”

Message from Mitch Stewart: "That was fast"

Christopher Hass — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:52:20 EDT

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

On Thursday, Vice President Biden called out the insurance industry's escalating war on health reform in a special message to OFA, and asked for your help in fighting back.

Sure enough, the insurance industry is already stepping up the attack: Reports just leaked from a closed-door meeting where insurance industry lobbyists frantically warned Republican members of Congress that it was not in their interest to "ever vote for this thing" and said supporting reform is like "giving comfort to the enemy." USA Today is reporting that groups opposing reform are lobbying at "a record pace" -- and the Associated Press notes that they've already spent an astounding $32 million on TV ads this year.

This is what we're up against. President Obama, Vice President Biden, and all of us together through OFA are fighting back -- but success depends on having the resources to win.

Can you chip in $25 or more today to power our campaign?

In this fight, the insurance industry has their war chest and insider lobbyists. We have you. I know who I'm betting on.

Let's win this thing.

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

The fight

Christopher Hass — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT

Earlier today, Vice President Joe Biden sent out the following email:

We've got a fight on our hands. Powerful insurance companies are pulling out all the stops to defeat the President's plan for health reform. They're spending seven million bucks a week on lobbyists, blanketing the country with deceptive TV ads, and just funded two high-profile "reports" to distort what reform would mean for you.

I know their game. I was in the Senate the last time health reform came around, and I saw the special interests savage our efforts. Frankly, under the old rules of Washington they were nearly impossible to beat. But now, thanks to you, the rules are changing. All the lies, scare tactics and lobbyist shake-downs in the world are no match for the incredible work of Organizing for America supporters like you. That's exactly what frightens them so much -- and it's what Barack and I are counting on.

After decades of false starts, we're now just a short time from finally passing real reform. Every member of Congress will soon have to cast their vote. As real change draws near, you can bet the insurance companies will hold nothing back. That means OFA will need the extra resources to beat back whatever attack they can dream up next. Here's the bottom line: it's not time to let up -- it's time to double down.

Can you donate $25 or more to power OFA's fight for change as we head into the final round?

When I talk about you changing the rules in Washington, here's what I mean: This week, crucial negotiations on Capitol Hill are shaping a comprehensive reform proposal. At the same time, the insurance companies' phony reports are grabbing headlines and their lobbyists are twisting arms. But your work is keeping them from setting us back.

On Tuesday, OFA supporters around the country organized more than 1,000 local outreach events and generated an astounding 330,000 calls to Congress from constituents telling their representatives that "it's time to deliver." From my years in Congress and my conversations with Senate colleagues this week, I can tell you with confidence that your message broke through and you helped keep us on track.

If this fight were only about guaranteeing the choice of secure, quality, affordable care for every American, it would be worth everything we could throw at it. But as Barack reminded us this week, this fight for change is now about something even bigger: a test of whether or not "we as a nation are capable of tackling our toughest challenges, if we can serve the national interest despite the unrelenting efforts of the special interests; if we can still do big things in America."

I believe we can. And Barack believes we can. But what really matters is whether you believe we can. If you do, now is the moment to make it happen. Please contribute today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/FinalRound

Thank you,

Vice President Joe Biden

"Off the hook"

Christopher Hass — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:43:23 EDT

A message from Mitch Stewart, sent out very late last night:

It's late; I know you've gotten a lot of messages from us recently, and everyone here at OFA headquarters is pretty tired. But the last reports of calls and commitments are just coming in from events on the West Coast, and I wanted to share the news with you.

As you know, we set a big goal: 100,000 calls to Congress placed or committed to in a single day by OFA supporters and allied organizations. By 2:30 p.m., you had crushed it. So, we gulped and said let's go for 200,000, not knowing what would happen. But the calls just kept pouring in -- keeping phones ringing off the hook in congressional offices in D.C. and your representatives' district offices around the country.

Then, OFA supporters gathered in over 1,000 living rooms and community centers from Macon, Georgia to Missoula, Montana. You called hundreds of thousands of key voters in your community and got them to agree to call Congress and speak out for reform, too. President Obama joined in at a call party in New York -- and he had some amazing words of support for the folks like you who make this movement possible.

I'm looking at the numbers, and with almost all of the reports now in, the tally wasn't 200,000 calls placed or pledged -- it was 315,023. You did it.

Take a moment to watch the President's inspiring words to OFA volunteers on this incredible day.
Your voice was overwhelming -- with reports in the media of congressional offices "completely crushed with calls." CBS News described your effort as an "onslaught." And a congressional aide was quoted with a common response, saying their office was deluged by "pretty much non-stop health care calls from OFA."

You set a new OFA record, you caught the national media's attention, and you certainly put Congress on notice. But you know that's not what really matters.

The message I sent earlier talked about a woman, Jenny U., whose insurance company cut off her coverage because they decided her kidney donation to her sick daughter counted as a "pre-existing condition." What really matters is that today you brought America one giant, irreversible step closer to being a place where no one will ever have to suffer that kind of injustice again. That's what all the messages, late nights, and phone calls ultimately add up to. It's what makes everything we do together worthwhile -- and it's why we'll keep fighting together until the job is done.

Watch President Obama's special message to you from a call party in New York:

http://my.barackobama.com/TTDreport

Thank you, so much, for being part of the team.

Sincerely,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

P.S. -- Here are just a few stories from "Time to Deliver" events across the country:

This evening I and three other volunteers got together and made calls. As I was calling, one of the women I spoke with told me that she was inspired by my story -- shared in the email earlier that day -- to get her entire family to call Congress. She didn't know it was me on the phone, but she said she just couldn't stop saying "this isn't right" when she heard my story. It gave me so much hope -- during the evening we made 213 calls and got 64 commitments to call tomorrow.

-Jenny U., Missouri Volunteer

Seeing the tally go up, hearing voter after voter agree to call, and listening to the real excitement people have about finally fixing this broken system, I was reminded why we do this. Each of us can only give so much -- but when we all do it together, we move mountains. Health insurance reform, here we come.

-Sean Knox, California New Media Director

I want to recognize the folks in this room -- and folks watching online -- who are helping us to do exactly that. And I want to thank all the Organizing for America volunteers for making calls, knocking on doors, and keeping up the fight. You know why this is so important. ... We are nearing the finish line -- and with your help, we're going to cross it.

-President Barack Obama

Tuesday: Time to Deliver

Christopher Hass — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:15:08 EDT

From OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird:

With health insurance reform finally ready for consideration before the full Congress, we've set a big goal for this Tuesday: 100,000 calls to Congress made or committed to in a single day. We'll make our voices heard above the din created by the insurance industry's campaign of misinformation and fear and make sure our representatives know it's finally time to deliver on health reform.

But here's the thing -- if we're going to get there, we need your help to reach out to friendly folks who still need to speak up in support of reform.

We're holding "Time to Deliver" call parties and neighborhood outreach events across the country. We'll get together in living rooms and community centers, and reach out to supportive voters whose voices are particularly critical in this debate. We'll talk to them about the President's plan, and then we'll ask them to call on their representatives to support reform and thank those already doing so.

And the President will be joining all of the events that evening via an exclusive webcast -- please find an event near you and RSVP today.

You don't need to have any experience to attend a Time to Deliver event. The host will have everything set up for you, so it will just be a great evening of reaching out to voters with your friends and neighbors and making a tremendous difference.

We've set a big goal, but if we hit it, two things will happen: we'll have set a new record for contacting Congress in a single day, and the phones in our representatives' offices will be ringing off the hook the whole day, meaning our voices cannot be ignored.

With more than 1,000 events happening on Tuesday, we've got everything set to reach our goal -- but we need you to make it happen.

Please RSVP for an event by you:

http://my.barackobama.com/AttendTTD

See you out there,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

On the Air: "Every Day"

Christopher Hass — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:35:44 EDT

Our doctors and nurses ad, called "Every Day," is up on the air now -- and it's making big news.

The ad, starring Dr. Jeremy Spinks of Virginia, and nurse Elizabeth Prah of Maryland, has already received coverage by the Washington Post, ABC News, Huffington Post, CBS News, and many other sources.

See it for yourself: :

Thanks again to everyone who chipped in to get it on the air!

Message from Mitch Stewart: "Historic news on health care"

Christopher Hass — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:09:41 EDT

OFA Director Mitch Stewart just sent out the following email:

Despite increasingly desperate attacks from the insurance lobby, the Senate Finance Committee took the historic step of voting reform legislation out of committee with bipartisan support. They're the final committee to do so -- and the negotiations over the final bill will now move to the full House and Senate.

Soon, every senator and representative must decide where they stand. Lobbyists will be racing to each office, trying every trick in the book to derail the President's plan. In fact, just this week, the insurance lobby released a self-serving report falsely claiming that reform would increase costs. Journalists called it "deceptive" and said "something doesn't smell right here." A prominent M.I.T. economist described the study as "deeply flawed."

It's a blatant scare tactic designed to frighten voters and bully Congress -- and it's just the beginning. We need to speak out right away to show Congress that their constituents are watching closely, and we're counting on them to say "no" to the lobbyists and "yes" to reform.

Send a message urging Congress to stand with voters, not D.C. lobbyists, and pass real reform.

It's becoming clear that the insurance companies will do whatever it takes to stop progress: The New York Times is reporting that special interests are spending $1.4 million every day to kill reform -- and even commissioned their own slanted analysis of the Finance Committee's legislation in an effort to defeat it. But today, after widespread criticism, the company that produced the report issued a statement saying that it analyzed only part of the bill because that's exactly what the insurance industry paid them to do!

And we just got word that insurance companies are spending $1 million on a misleading ad to scare seniors out of supporting reform. The ad falsely declares that reform will cause cuts in Medicare, even though reform is crucial to ensuring the long-term survival of the program and preserving the care that millions of seniors depend on.

Now that all five congressional committees have passed reform legislation, we're sure to see attacks that are even more extreme. It's up to us to make sure that ordinary Americans continue to be heard louder than the Washington lobbyists.

Please send a message to Congress today:

http://my.barackobama.com/Fight_Back

The next few weeks are absolutely crucial to our success -- we'll be organizing events, running ads, and doing everything possible to make sure Congress passes real reform. But right now, the most important thing we can do is make our voices heard immediately. Please speak out now.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

"A Critical Milestone"

Christopher Hass — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:53:18 EDT

Shortly after today's Senate Finance Committee vote, the President took a moment to mark the historic progress that Congress has now made towards passing health insurance reform:

Good afternoon. Today we reached a critical milestone in our effort to reform our health care system. After many months of thoughtful deliberation, the fifth and final committee responsible for health care reform has passed a proposal that has both Democratic and Republican support. This effort was made possible by the tireless efforts of Chairman Max Baucus and the other members of the Senate Finance Committee. It's a product of vigorous debate and difficult negotiations.

After the consideration of hundreds of amendments, it includes ideas from both Democrats and Republicans, which is why it enjoys the support of people from both parties. And I want to particularly thank Senator Olympia Snowe for both the political courage and the seriousness of purpose that she's demonstrated throughout this process.

Now, this bill is not perfect and we have a lot of difficult work ahead of us. There are still significant details and disagreements to be worked out over the next several weeks as the five separate bills from the Senate and the House are merged into one proposal. But I do believe the work of the Senate Finance Committee has brought us significantly closer to achieving the core objectives I laid out early in September.

Most importantly, this bill goes a long way towards offering security to those who have insurance, and affordable options for those who don't. It reins in some of the worst practices of the insurance industry, like the denial of coverage due to preexisting conditions. It also sets up an insurance exchange that will make coverage affordable for those who don't currently have it. And as the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has certified, it will slow the growth of health care costs in the long term and it will not add a penny to our deficit.

The committee's progress over the past several weeks is the culmination of work by all five committees and numerous members of Congress over the better part of this year. We've reached out to stakeholders across the spectrum -- doctors and nurses, businesses and workers, hospitals and even drug companies. And we've considered a wide variety of ideas and proposals in an effort to find common ground.

As a result of these efforts, we are now closer than ever before to passing health reform. But we're not there yet. Now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back. Now is not the time to offer ourselves congratulations. Now is the time to dig in and work even harder to get this done. And in this final phase, I hope that we will continue to engage each other with the spirit of civility and seriousness that has brought us this far and that this subject deserves.

I commend the Chairman and the committee's members for their achievement and the example that they've set, and I look forward to continue to work with Congress in the weeks ahead. We are going to get this done.

Thank you very much, everybody.

Reality Check on AHIP's Health Insurance Report

Christopher Hass — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:28:54 EDT

Yesterday, on the eve of a key vote in the Senate Finance Committee, the insurance industry group America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) released a report falsely suggesting that health care costs would increase with health reform. As Linda Douglass of the White House Health Reform Office explained:

"It is hard to take it seriously. The analysis completely ignores critical policies will lower costs for those who have insurance, expand coverage and provide affordable health insurance options to millions of Americans who are priced out of today's health insurance market or are locked out by unfair insurance company practices."

AHIP is a Washington, D.C., based association that has been fighting efforts to enact reform all year, and the study released yesterday relies on selective and subjective analysis throughout. The White House quickly responded with a detailed look at the report, debunking the key claims:

AHIP CLAIM: Health reform will cause health care premiums to rise faster than they would under the current system.

REALITY: The Congressional Budget Office and other analysts confirm that the current Senate Finance Committee (SFC) health reform proposal will lower health care premiums in the exchange and make health insurance more affordable for families.

AHIP CLAIM: Taxes on the highest cost health plans – so called "Cadillac" plans – will raise the cost of employer-based coverage. This is the single largest driver of AHIP’s assumed $4,000 premium increase in the large group market.

REALITY: The majority of health economists from all parts of the political spectrum have arrived at precisely the opposite conclusion — a tax on insurers that provide the highest cost health plans will contribute to lowering premiums. Even AHIP’s study acknowledges that insurers are like to lower premiums in response to this tax change.

AHIP CLAIM: The failure to enact an individual responsibility requirement will increase costs in the individual market by creating an incentive for people to wait until they are sick to purchase coverage. This is the single largest driver of AHIP’s assumed 49% premium increase in the individual market.

REALITY: AHIP incorrectly downplays the responsibility requirement in the SFC proposal, which, in the context of comprehensive reform, will increase coverage by providing an incentive for the uninsured to enter the system.

AHIP CLAIM: Reductions in Medicare spending will raise costs for families. Part of the premium increases that the AHIP analysis assumes stems from "provider payment cuts" in Medicare and Medicaid, leading to cost-shifting onto private plans.

REALITY: Health insurance reform will strengthen Medicare. Once again, the assumptions in the AHIP analysis are not consistent with the facts of the bill that they are analyzing.

You can read the full Reality Check on the AHIP report at WhiteHouse.gov.

The President's Weekly Address: "New Momentum for Health Reform"

Christopher Hass — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:25:11 EDT

Host a "Time to Deliver" Call Party

Christopher Hass — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:03:40 EDT

From OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird:

After months of negotiations, the entire House and Senate will soon start debating the final plans for health insurance reform. You've called your representatives, but we can't stop there -- if the American people are going to drown out the D.C. lobbyists, we need everyone who supports reform to weigh in. So here's the plan:

On Tuesday, October 20th, OFA volunteers will gather at "Time to Deliver" Call Parties in living rooms like yours across the country. We'll call friendly voters whose voices matter in this debate, talk to them about the President's plan, and ask them to call on their representatives to support reform.

Our goal? 100,000 calls to Congress placed or committed to in a single day. It's an ambitious goal, but the stakes couldn't be higher -- and if we hit it, we cannot be ignored.

The whole plan begins by finding a place for OFA volunteers to gather -- in Chicago and across the country. And that's why I'm turning to you.

Can you host a Time to Deliver Call Party on Tuesday, October 20th?
Hosting a call party is surprisingly easy. No special experience required, and we'll provide simple step-by-step instructions. If you can print out some call sheets and info about the President's plan -- and make sure volunteers have a comfortable place to sit -- you can host a successful Call Party.

You can invite your friends, we'll invite other OFA supporters in your area, and together you'll have a great time while making a huge difference.

If we can get 100,000 calls to Congress placed or committed to on a single day it will set a new OFA record -- and really shake up the debate in Washington. But it won't be easy. Everything hinges on finding volunteer leaders like you who are willing to open your doors and give supporters in your area a place to gather.

Can we count on you? Please sign up to host a Time to Deliver Call Party on October 20th.
Thanks for making it happen,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

Video: "Nobody has more credibility on this issue"

Christopher Hass — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:25:05 EDT

Here's the full video of the President's remarks from earlier in the week, in front of a gathering of doctors at the White House in support of health reform:

Video: House Call on Health Insurance Reform

Christopher Hass — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:52:31 EDT

Yesterday, the President hosted doctors from all 50 states here at the White House, coming together in a powerful testimonial to what reform is all about.

Today the White House released a new video featuring interviews with many of those doctors at the event. Their testimonies are a reminder that the people at the real frontlines of the health care battle are not lobbyists or politicians invested in protecting the status quo, but are instead the people who deal with the health and well-being of our families every day and see the need for change first hand:

Message from Mitch Stewart: "A tremendous opportunity"

Christopher Hass — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:42:03 EDT

Earlier today, OFA Director Mitch Stewart sent out the following update to OFA supporters:

I wrote to you last week asking for your help to produce and air a powerful new ad about why doctors and nurses around the country are standing up for health insurance reform. The response was extraordinary -- thousands of OFA supporters chipped in over $600,000 in just a few days, blowing away our $300,000 goal.

So now we have a tremendous opportunity. We're putting the finishing touches on the ad, just in time for a week of crucial negotiations in Congress that could determine the final shape of health reform. If we reach $1 million by Wednesday, we can pull the trigger on an ambitious plan. We'll focus the energy of staff across the country on this key campaign, hold events with doctors and nurses, and air the ad coast-to-coast to elevate their trusted voices at this critical moment.

Will you donate $25 or more now to help make it happen?

Thanks,

Mitch
P.S. -- Last week, we brought doctors and nurses from across the country to the studio to film the ad. Check out behind-the-scenes pictures of the ad you're funding and chip in to help us put it on the air at this vital time.

A Doctor's Note

Christopher Hass — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:33:44 EDT

On Friday, Dr. Alice Chen sent out a special message to fellow OFA supporters:

My name is Alice Chen. I'm an OFA supporter, and a physician practicing internal medicine in Los Angeles.

I'm following the health reform debate pretty closely -- you probably are too. And as I see opponents of reform trying to water down or derail the President's plan, I know it's our urgent responsibility to speak out.

That's why millions of my fellow doctors and nurses, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, and groups like the one I work with called Doctors for America are all fighting so hard for reform right now: talking to our patients, holding grassroots events -- and a few are even filming an ad with OFA.

Health professionals are doing what we can, but this is something we need to do together. Your voice, your opinion, and your story can help influence the debate at this crucial moment. Can you take 5 minutes to write a letter to the editor of your local paper in support of President Obama's Plan for health reform?
OFA has an online tool that makes it really easy. They'll provide background info on the President's plan that you can combine with your personal story about reform, and you can even submit your letter online to newspapers near you.

You don't have to be a doctor or an expert to write an effective letter -- you just have to have an opinion or a personal story to share. And these letters are short, usually just a paragraph or two, but they can have a huge impact because it shows your representatives and the media what local folks are thinking in the most public way possible.

I know that one of the most important things I can do for the health of my patients is to stand up for the reform all Americans need. That's why I and my fellow doctors are working so hard to spread the word, and that's why I'm asking you to join me by writing a letter today.

http://my.barackobama.com/write

Thank you,

Dr. Alice Chen

P.S. -- I want to share a story with you about why I'm so passionate about reform:
Two years ago, I took care of a businessman in Los Angeles. He had Crohn's disease, and his health and nutrition had been getting worse for over a year. He was seeing doctors at one of our private hospitals, but he lost his insurance, so he couldn't see his doctors anymore. Buying private insurance was impossible - no amount of money could have convinced an insurance company to cover him. He tried the county hospital ER, but the wait was 24 hours. He thought maybe he could manage.

A few months later, when he could barely walk from his bed to the door, he tried the ER again. By then, he had kwashiorkor (the kind of malnutrition that famine-stricken African children get) as a complication of his gut disorder. Every organ system was failing. I remember that even in the hospital, he tried to keep up his work via his Blackberry. We tried to help him, but he rapidly deteriorated and died just six days after admission.

I was devastated and talked to many colleagues about what I could have done differently to save my patient. He should have been living his life and being a productive member of society today, but he's dead. We could have saved him if he had been able to come for care sooner -- instead of being deterred by his lack of insurance. Ultimately, I recognize that he died because the system failed him. In our great country, that is unacceptable.
That's a big reason why I keep fighting for reform. I hope that this week, you can share your own view and your story in your letter to the editor.

The President's Weekly Address: "Reforming our health insurance system as a critical step in rebuilding our economy"

Christopher Hass — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:00:30 EDT

"We don't fear the future -- we shape it"

Christopher Hass — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:37:43 EDT

Yesterday, OFA online organizer Nicole Aro sent out the following to college students across the country:

I was lucky enough to be one of the thousands of people who heard President Obama speak about health reform recently at the University of Maryland. As he told the fired up crowd, "Change starts with people -- especially young people -- who are determined to take this nation's destiny into their own hands."

So if you can spare a few hours, here's a great way to help turn the bold change on health care we fought for during the campaign into a reality this year: Organize a "Health Reform Phone Booth."

It's simple: Just grab some friends and set up outside of the student center, on the main quad, near a cafeteria, or wherever you can find folks passing by with a few minutes to spare. You'll distribute fact sheets about the President's plan and ask people to call their members of Congress on the spot and voice their support.
We need to make sure our representatives hear from students and young people, who are hit particularly hard by today's broken health care system. Many of us are without insurance, and entering a tough job market where our employment and benefits could change at a moment's notice.

When you sign up to host a phone booth, we'll give you all the materials, phone numbers, and step-by-step instructions you need to make it a success -- and when you register your event online, other OFA volunteers can join you to lend a hand. You'll also get a special fact sheet about how reform will help students and young people.

Click here to run a Health Reform Phone Booth:

http://my.barackobama.com/CampusPhoneBooth

Passing health reform won't be easy. But as the President reminded us, so many young Americans worked tirelessly on last year's campaign because of our belief that America can still do great things. He said, "You believed that in this country, we don't fear the future; we shape the future... That's what America is about, and that's what we're called to affirm right now."
So let's get fired up and make this happen!

Nicole

Nicole Aro
Organizing for America

P.S. -- While we weren't anticipating anyone making an *actual* phone booth for their event, students in Nevada blew us away with their great creation:

"The cavalry, in white coats and scrubs"

Christopher Hass — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:30:53 EDT

From Organizing for America Director Mitch Stewart:

The cavalry is here -- and they're in white coats and scrubs: More than a half a million doctors and millions of nurses are joining forces to help pass real health reform.

Americans listen to their nurses and doctors when it comes to health reform -- and for good reason. If we can help them amplify their voices, it'll be a huge boost to our campaign for change.

So we're working on a new television ad featuring their voices explaining why doctors and nurses so strongly support President Obama's plan -- and asking Congress to pass it. We'll run the ad in key states and districts all around the country to show folks where health professionals stand, cut through the spin, and build even greater support for reform.

But to produce and air the new ad before the Senate starts debating a final bill, we'll need to raise $300,000 by Thursday. Can you donate $25 right away?
The American Medical Association, Doctors for America, and a dozen other physicians groups representing 500,000 doctors are endorsing reform. So are the American Nurses Association and other organizations representing millions of nurses.

They're speaking out because they see the shortcomings of our health care system firsthand, every day: patients denied the care they prescribe, families losing access to their doctors, and a system that forces them to spend more time with paperwork and less time with patients.

These voices need to be heard -- with so much deception out there clouding the debate, it's critical that medical professionals are able to focus the country on the simple fact that health reform is good medicine.

But the final congressional committee could vote on their reform bill as early as Wednesday -- and debate on final legislation could start by the end of the week. So if we're going to help make these doctors and nurses' voices heard, we'll need to do it right now. Can you chip in $25 or more to help get our ad on the air?

https://donate.barackobama.com/HealthAd

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Announcing the "Health Reform Video Challenge"

Christopher Hass — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:38:21 EDT

Yesterday, OFA/DNC New Media Director Natalie Foster announced the kick-off of the Health Reform Video Challenge:

In many ways, the fight for health insurance reform comes down to a battle over information. The more people know about how broken the system is and the President's plan to fix it, the more they want change. But there are an awful lot of lies to cut through, and a whole lot of truth to get out.

So today, we're proud to announce a powerful new way for you to help: Organizing for America's Health Reform Video Challenge.

This is your chance -- you ingenious, insightful, funny people out there -- to make a 30-second ad telling the story about why the status quo has got to go, or explaining how the Obama plan will ensure we get the secure, quality care we need without breaking the budget.

The top submissions will be voted on by the public and a panel of experts, with the winning ad aired on national television. This is your opportunity to add your voice and creativity to the debate, get some great exposure for your work, and make a huge difference.

Click here to get started.
No experience is needed -- if you have an idea, we want you to give it a shot. And if you know someone who is especially handy with a camera, please forward this note along right away. Just make sure you submit your ad by October 18th.

Your video could be as simple as you talking straight into the camera, as complex as a full-blown production with a script and special effects, or anything in between.

We're looking for serious videos: You can tell your personal story about how the broken health insurance system has affected you. You can illustrate the big picture about what's wrong now and how the President's plan will help with animations, charts, and facts.

We're looking for funny videos: You can parody those trying to scare us into inaction (between the lying pundits and the insurance company spin doctors, they've given us some good stuff to work with).

And we're looking for new ideas we never would have thought of but we know will blow us all away.

We know that compelling videos can touch people in a way that words alone simply cannot. The messages that regular people put together will make a bigger difference than any false smears or slick ads the other side can dream up. And who knows -- your creative, powerful, or touching video could help tip the balance in favor of health reform.

So go get started today!

http://my.barackobama.com/videochallenge

I can't wait to see what you come up with,

Natalie

Natalie Foster
New Media Director

Reality Check: Medicare Benefits Won't Be Cut

Bradley Portnoy — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:50:52 EDT

A common lie being perpetrated about health insurance reform is that it will cut your medicare benefits. This simply isn't true. Reform will, however, eliminate unwarranted taxpayer subsidies to private insurers that do nothing to improve your quality of care, and cost all beneficiaries more. And these subsidies will only go up in the future! Mike Hash, from the White House Office of Health Reform, explains the reality in this video:

Host or Attend a Health Reform Phone Booth

Christopher Hass — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:06:32 EDT

From Organizing for America Deputy Director, Jeremy Bird:

Last week the President laid out his health reform plan and challenged Congress to act. OFA volunteers leapt into action, generating hundreds of thousands of signatures and calls to show grassroots support. Now we need to reach out in our communities, spread the facts about the President's plan, and bring new voices of support into Washington.

If you can spare your lunch hour (or a couple of hours whenever you're free), you can help make it happen. Here's how: Organize or attend a "Health Reform Phone Booth."

It's simple: Just join up with other supporters in a public area where people will pass by, distribute fact sheets about the President's plan, and help folks call their members of Congress on the spot to voice their support.
You can search online to see if there's a booth already set up near you. But if not, just host your own! We'll give you all the materials, phone numbers, and step-by-step instructions you need to make it a success -- and when you register your Phone Booth online, other OFA volunteers can join you to lend a hand:

http://my.barackobama.com/SeptPhoneBooth

Passing health reform won't be easy -- they've been talking about it in Washington for almost a century. But we know that when ordinary people who believe in change reach out, spread the facts, and help folks from all walks of life make their voices heard, we can make history.

Thanks for making it happen,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

P.S. -- In August we asked a few OFA volunteers to test out running a Health Reform Phone Booth in their area, and we got great reports -- even from folks who were pretty nervous before they began. Here are just a couple:
I will confess that I questioned my decision to host an event the instant I hit the send button. I imagined myself on a street corner, handing out fliers like the guys hand out restaurant flyers. Relief struck when the first volunteer signed up with me. Imagine how thrilled I was when 15 had signed up!... We distributed 300 phone booth sheets and 600 info sheets... The best part, one of our volunteers was 79 1/2 years old. She was remarkable. Thank you for this opportunity. I am very glad I did it, no matter how nervous I was.
-- Mark P. from New York, New York
We had two veterans tell us that they were very happy with the VA system, and one vowed to write a letter to the editor to dispel the myths that that system doesn't work. Many people thanked us for having a booth and for trying to dispel the lies being spread by opponents of reform.
-- Mike O. from Bozeman, Montana

"Nobody should go broke just because they got sick"

Bradley Portnoy — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:59:12 EDT

Earlier today, the President traveled to Pittsburgh, PA for the annual AFL-CIO convention. He addressed the gather union members, thanking them for their support and laying out his priorities. He spoke about the Recovery Act, his priorities for rebuilding a new, greener economy, and how health insurance reform will help all Americans achieve security and stability when it comes to their medical care.

Here are some excerpts from the speech:

For over half a century, the success of America has been built on the success of our middle class. It was the creation of the middle class that lifted this nation up in the wake of a Great Depression. It was the expansion of the middle class that opened the doors of opportunity to millions more. It was a strong middle class that powered American industries and propelled America's economy and made the 20th century the American century....

Because of the Recovery Act, we're keeping a promise I made to give all of you -- 95 percent of working Americans -- a tax cut -- a tax cut that will benefit nearly 5 million families in Pennsylvania. We increased and extended unemployment insurance to 12 million Americans -- including hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians. We made sure that they could get health insurance if they were looking for a job, because COBRA was too expensive; reduced the cost of it by 65 percent. So a lot of families out there were able to hang onto their health care even during the downturn.

We're putting Americans to work across this country rebuilding crumbling roads and bridges and waterways with the largest investment in our infrastructure since Eisenhower created the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s. (Applause.) All in all, many middle-class families will see their incomes go up by about $3,000 because of the Recovery Act, helping them get back much of what they've lost due to this recession.

And, yes, we'll grow our middle class by finally providing quality, affordable health insurance in this country. Health care can't wait. (Applause.) It can't wait. Few have fought -- few have fought for this cause harder, few have championed it longer than you, our brothers and sisters in organized labor. You're making phone calls, knocking on doors, showing up at rallies -- because you know why this is so important. You know this isn't just about the millions of Americans who don't have health insurance, it's about the hundreds of millions more who do; Americans who worry that they'll lose their insurance if they lose their job; who fear their coverage will be denied because of a preexisting condition; who know that one accident or illness could mean financial ruin.

In fact, a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation was released today showing that family premiums rose more than 130 percent over the last 10 years -- three times faster than wages. They now average over $13,000 a year, the highest amount on record, which is why when you go in to negotiate, you can't even think about negotiating for a salary -- a wage increase because the whole negotiation is about trying to keep the benefits you already have...

The plan I announced will offer more security and more stability to Americans who have insurance. It will offer insurance to Americans who don't. And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government.

If you already have health insurance through your job -- and because many of you are members of unions, you do -- nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change your coverage or your doctor. Let me repeat: Nothing in this plan will require you to change your coverage or your doctor.

What this plan will do is make your insurance work better for you. It'll be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a preexisting condition. (Applause.) It will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick, or water it down when you need it the most. (Applause.) They won't be able to place some arbitrary cap on how much coverage you can receive in a given year or a given lifetime. (Applause.) We'll place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses -- because in the United States of America, nobody should go broke just because they got sick. (Applause...)

And because there will be one big group, these uninsured Americans, they have leverage and they can drive down the cost of care and get a better deal than they're getting right now. That's how large companies and government employees get affordable insurance. It's how everybody in Congress -- including those who are always critical of government -- get their insurance. (Applause.) It's time to give every opportunity to Americans that members of Congress give to themselves. (Applause.)

I've also said that one of the options in this exchange should be a public option. (Applause.) Now, let me be clear. Let me be clear, because there's been a lot of misinformation out here about this. This would just be an option. Nobody would be forced to choose it. No one with insurance would be affected. But what it would do is offer Americans more choices, and promote real competition, and put pressure on private insurers to make their policies affordable and treat their customers better. (Applause.)

Check out the full speech at WhiteHouse.gov.

A Message from the President to Organizing for America

Christopher Hass — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:00:32 EDT

From OFA Executive Director Mitch Stewart:

On Wednesday night President Obama delivered a passionate address on health reform to Congress and all Americans, then immediately wrote to you to ask for your help in making reform a reality.

Your response was astounding: In less than 48 hours, more than 450,000 of you signed messages urging Congress to pass the President's plan -- and even chipped in more than $1 million to power our campaign for change.

Now, President Obama has recorded a message just for OFA supporters about what comes next. Please watch the video, and, if you haven't already, add your name in support of the President's plan.

Thanks,

Mitch

The President's Weekly Address: Losing Insurance Can Happen to Anybody

Christopher Hass — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:12:24 EDT

A new report from the Treasury Department indicates that under the status quo, nearly half of all Americans under 65 will lose their health coverage at some point over the next ten years. In his weekly address this morning, President Obama explained, "I refuse to allow that future to happen."

In the United States of America, no one should have to worry that they’ll go without health insurance – not for one year, not for one month, not for one day. And once I sign my health reform plan into law – they won’t.

FULL VIDEO: The President's Address to Congress on Health Reform

Christopher Hass — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:00:08 EDT

Here's the full video of President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress last night, outlining his plan for health reform:

Message from the President: "Not the first, but the last"

Christopher Hass — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:16:54 EDT

Shortly after finishing his address to a special joint session of Congress, the President sent out the following email to supporters:

I just finished laying out my plan for health reform at a joint session of Congress. Now, I'm writing directly to you because what happens next is critical -- and I need your help.

Change this big will not happen because I ask for it. It can only come when the nation demands it. Congress knows where I stand. Now they need to hear from you.

Add your voice: Ask your representatives to support my plan for real health reform in 2009.

The heart of my plan is simple: bring stability and security to Americans who already have health insurance, guarantee affordable coverage for those who don't, and rein in the cost of health care.

Tonight, I offered a specific plan for how to make it happen. I incorporated the best ideas from Democrats and Republicans to create a plan that's bold, practical, and represents the broad consensus of the American people.

We've come closer to real health reform in the last few months than we have in the last 60 years. But those who profit from the status quo -- and those who put partisan advantage above all else -- will fight us every inch of the way.

We do not seek that fight, but we will not shrink from it. The stakes are too high to let scare tactics cloud the debate, or to allow partisan bickering to block the path. Your voice, right now, is essential.

See my full plan and call on your representatives to support it.
Ours is not the first generation to understand the dire need for health reform. And I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

The President's Remarks to a Joint Session of Congress: "Stability and security for all Americans"

Christopher Hass — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:31:06 EDT

Tonight, President Obama spoke to a special joint session of Congress and the American people to outline his plan for health insurance reform. The core of his plan: provide more security and stability for people who have insurance, provide quality, affordable care to those who don’t, and rein in skyrocketing costs that are crushing American families, businesses and the government itself.

"I am not the first President to take up this cause," the President explained, "but I am determined to be the last."

Our collective failure to meet this challenge – year after year, decade after decade – has led us to a breaking point. Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. Some can’t get insurance on the job. Others are self-employed, and can’t afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer. Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover.

We are the only advanced democracy on Earth – the only wealthy nation – that allows such hardships for millions of its people.

During the past few months, the President remarked, "we have seen Washington at its best and its worst."

We have seen many in this chamber work tirelessly for the better part of this year to offer thoughtful ideas about how to achieve reform. Of the five committees asked to develop bills, four have completed their work, and the Senate Finance Committee announced today that it will move forward next week. That has never happened before. Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors’ groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past. And there is agreement in this chamber on about eighty percent of what needs to be done, putting us closer to the goal of reform than we have ever been.

But what we have also seen in these last months is the same partisan spectacle that only hardens the disdain many Americans have toward their own government. Instead of honest debate, we have seen scare tactics. Some have dug into unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise. Too many have used this as an opportunity to score short-term political points, even if it robs the country of our opportunity to solve a long-term challenge. And out of this blizzard of charges and counter-charges, confusion has reigned.

Well the time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do. Now is the time to deliver on health care.

The plan that the President announced tonight is designed to meet three basic goals:

It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance to those who don’t. And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government. It’s a plan that asks everyone to take responsibility for meeting this challenge – not just government and insurance companies, but employers and individuals. And it’s a plan that incorporates ideas from Senators and Congressmen; from Democrats and Republicans – and yes, from some of my opponents in both the primary and general election.
... an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange.

... It’s worth noting that a strong majority of Americans still favor a public insurance option of the sort I’ve proposed tonight. But its impact shouldn’t be exaggerated – by the left, the right, or the media. It is only one part of my plan, and should not be used as a handy excuse for the usual Washington ideological battles. To my progressive friends, I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage affordable for those without it. The public option is only a means to that end – and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal. And to my Republican friends, I say that rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care, we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have.

For example, some have suggested that that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies. Others propose a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan. These are all constructive ideas worth exploring. But I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can’t find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice. And I will make sure that no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the care that you need.

...This is the plan I’m proposing. It’s a plan that incorporates ideas from many of the people in this room tonight – Democrats and Republicans. And I will continue to seek common ground in the weeks ahead. If you come to me with a serious set of proposals, I will be there to listen. My door is always open.

But know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it. I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are. If you misrepresent what’s in the plan, we will call you out. And I will not accept the status quo as a solution. Not this time. Not now.

Everyone in this room knows what will happen if we do nothing. Our deficit will grow. More families will go bankrupt. More businesses will close. More Americans will lose their coverage when they are sick and need it most. And more will die as a result. We know these things to be true.

That is why we cannot fail.

...I understand how difficult this health care debate has been. I know that many in this country are deeply skeptical that government is looking out for them. I understand that the politically safe move would be to kick the can further down the road – to defer reform one more year, or one more election, or one more term.

But that’s not what the moment calls for. That’s not what we came here to do. We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it. I still believe we can act even when it’s hard. I still believe we can replace acrimony with civility, and gridlock with progress. I still believe we can do great things, and that here and now we will meet history’s test.

Read the President's full remarks, as prepared for delivery . . .

Host a Watch Party

Christopher Hass — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:14:37 EDT

From Organizing for America Deputy Director Jeremy Bird:

On Wednesday, President Obama will deliver a major address to spell out his vision for health insurance reform to a special joint session of Congress. As we head into the next phase of the debate, the President's address will be an important moment in our campaign for change.

Across the country, Organizing for America supporters will be gathering at local watch parties with friends, neighbors and fellow supporters to hear directly from the President. Afterward, everyone at the party will be invited to join a special conversation with Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe to discuss how we can help make the President's vision a reality.

Will you host a watch party during the President's address on Wednesday evening?
Hosting a watch party is easy. Just pick a location where friends and neighbors can gather around a TV, set out some chairs, and have a great evening with folks who share your passion about the need for change.

There are lots of OFA supporters in your area who would love to join a watch party Wednesday night, but they won't be able to if someone like you doesn't open your doors to host. This is also an opportunity to reach out to friends, family and colleagues who still have questions about reform, so they can hear the facts from the President himself.

Wednesday's address promises to be a historic moment on the road to reform. Let's be there together -- and get a jump start on the vital work ahead.

http://my.barackobama.com/HostSept9

Thanks,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

FULL VIDEO: OFA National Health Care Forum with President Obama

Christopher Hass — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:12:06 EDT

Here's the full video from yesterday's event, in which over 280,000 people tuned in online to watch the President discuss the ongoing fight for health insurance reform:

Thursday: Strategy Meeting with the President

Christopher Hass — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:03:37 EDT

From David Plouffe:

President Obama is holding a live strategy meeting on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time for all Organizing for America supporters. I hope you can join us, online or by phone.

The President will update us on the fight to pass real health insurance reform -- what's happening in D.C. and what's happening around the country. He'll lay out our strategy and message going forward and answer questions from supporters like you. And we'll unveil the next actions we'll organize together.

This is a critical time in this President's administration, and in the history of our country. I hope you can join us.

Here are the details:

What: Organizing for America National Health Care Forum

When: Thursday, August 20th, 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time

RSVP and submit a question for the President.
The President wrote to us a few weeks ago to ask us to go the extra mile this month in the fight for health insurance reform. And so far, you've stepped up in a big way: Last week, an astounding 60,000 Organizing for America volunteers stopped by representatives' and senators' local offices. You told your health care stories to staffers and members of Congress -- of losing insurance after getting laid off, of being denied coverage upon finding out about a serious illness. And you thanked those supporting real health insurance reform for all the work they've done so far.

But these local office visits were only part of the story. The D.C. media has been trumpeting coverage of town halls disrupted by angry opposition to reform. But the reality on the ground is very different. Organizing for America supporters are showing up in huge numbers at these meetings all across the country -- outnumbering opponents of reform, often by overwhelming margins.

You've organized 11,906 local events in all 50 states -- from press conferences to community discussions -- since we launched our big campaign for reform in June. And you've made hundreds of thousands of calls to Congress.

Your work so far has been incredible. But the special interests and partisan attack groups who oppose reform will not let up, and they will tell whatever lies they can to spread fear. There's a lot more work for all of us to do. This Thursday's meeting is our chance to huddle as a team, get the latest information and talk about how we're going to achieve this victory. You don't want to miss it.

Click here to RSVP and submit a question for President Obama:

http://my.barackobama.com/forum

Hope you can make it,

David Plouffe

The President's Weekly Address: "Real Conversations about Health Insurance Reform"

Christopher Hass — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:31:53 EDT

Reality Check: Return of the Viral Email

Christopher Hass — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:21:18 EDT

From WhiteHouse.gov:

A Health Insurance Reform Reality Check

Christopher Hass — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:43:50 EDT

Yesterday, the White House unveiled a new website designed to debunks some common myths surrounding health insurance reform and provide real information on what reform will mean for families and businesses. From WhiteHouse.gov:

If you've tuned into the news in the past few days, it's clear that the debate about health insurance reform has heated up as Senators and Representatives return to their home states and districts. A troubling trend has also emerged: as more people become engaged in the issue, defenders of the status quo have responded by muddying the waters with more wild rumors and scare tactics.
It's time for a reality check.
... The first set of videos addresses a wide scope of topics and debunks some of those common myths:

• CEA Chair Christina Romer details how health insurance reform will impact small businesses.
• Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes tackles a nasty rumor about euthanasia and clearly describes how reform helps families.
• Matt Flavin, the White House's Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, clears the air about Veteran's benefits.
• Kavita Patel, M.D., a doctor serving in the White House's Office of Public Engagement, explains that health care rationing is happening right now and how reform gives control back to patients and doctors.
• Robert Kocher, M.D., a doctor serving on the National Economic Council, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will be financed by cutting Medicare benefits.
• In a video first released last week, Linda Douglass from the White House Health Reform Office addresses fears about the end of our private insurance system and reiterates that if you like your current plan you can keep it.
There is also a handy FAQ about health insurance reform.

Moving forward, we'll use this platform to provide you with the latest "Reality Checks" and tools to combat misinformation.

We also want to hear from you. If you have questions about health insurance reform or suggestions on what topics we should address next, please let us know.

The road ahead will surely reveal more aggressive efforts from defenders of the status quo to confuse and scare Americans with half-truths and outright lies. We're all too familiar with the time-tested tactics that opponents of reform have used for decades to prevent the meaningful change our health insurance system needs.

Office Visits for Health Reform

Christopher Hass — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:00:59 EDT

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

All throughout August, our members of Congress are back in town. Insurance companies and partisan attack groups are stirring up fear with false rumors about the President's plan, and it's extremely important that folks like you speak up now.

So we've cooked up an easy, powerful way for you to make a big impression: Office Visits for Health Reform.

All this week, OFA members like you will be stopping by local congressional offices to show our support for insurance reform. You can have a quick conversation with the local staff, tell your personal story, or even just drop off a customized flyer and say that reform matters to you.

We'll provide everything you need: the address, phone number, and open hours for the office, information about how the health care crisis affects your state for you to drop off (with the option of adding your personal story), and a step-by-step guide for your visit.

Click here to find your representatives' local offices.
As you've probably seen in the news, special interest attack groups are stirring up partisan mobs with lies about health reform, and it's getting ugly. Across the country, members of Congress who support reform are being shouted down, physically assaulted, hung in effigy, and receiving death threats. We can't let extremists hijack this debate, or confuse Congress about where the people stand.

Office Visits for Health Reform are our chance to show that the vast majority of American voters know that the cost of inaction is too high to bear, and strongly support passing health reform in 2009.

Don't worry if you've never done anything like this before. The congressional staff is there to listen, and your opinion as a constituent matters a lot. And if you bring a friend, you'll have more fun and make an even greater impact.

Click here to sign up for an Office Visit for Health Reform.

Wherever you live, these visits matter: Many representatives are pushing hard toward reform, and they are taking a lot of heat from special interests. They deserve our thanks and need our support to continue the fight. But those who are still putting insurance companies and partisan point-scoring ahead of their constituents must know that voters are watching -- and that we expect better.

Earlier this week, the President wrote that "this is the moment our movement was built for" and asked us all to commit to join at least one event this month. This is the way to answer that call, and rise to the challenge of this moment together.

Thank you for going the extra mile when it matters the most,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

The President's Weekly Address: Necessary Reform, Absurd Attacks

Christopher Hass — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:15:32 EDT

The President dispells some of the outlandish rumors being promoted by those who are defending the status quo:

"It's up to us"

Christopher Hass — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:25:21 EDT

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Members of Congress have been home for just a few days, and they're already facing increased pressure from insurance companies, special interests, and partisan attack organizations that are spending millions to block health insurance reform.

These groups are using scare tactics and spreading smears about the President's plan for reform, trying to incite constituents into lashing out at their representatives and disrupting their events.

The goal of these disruptions is for a few people to get a lot of media attention and hijack the entire public discourse. If they succeed, all Americans -- Democrats, Republicans, and Independents -- will continue to struggle under the broken status quo.

It's up to us to show Congress that those loudly opposing reform are a tiny minority being stirred up by special interests, and that a huge majority strongly supports enacting real health insurance reform in 2009.

Can you call your representative's local office in your state? Let the person who answers know that you're a constituent. Then tell them: "Please fight for real health insurance reform in 2009."
Calling should only take a few minutes, but it's a huge help. These local offices serve as the main connection between a member of Congress and voters in the district. And with representatives home on recess, the staff there are in daily contact with your member, keeping them updated on how many calls they receive that are for or against reform.

Once you've called, please be sure to report your results. Knowing how many calls are coming in from all around the country will help us better plan our campaign -- and help us show that the American people overwhelmingly want health insurance reform this year.
Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Message from the President: "This is the moment our movement was built for."

Christopher Hass — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:15:27 EDT

Today, President Obama sent out a message to supporters asking them to get involved in the fight for health insurance reform this month:

This is the moment our movement was built for.

For one month, the fight for health insurance reform leaves the backrooms of Washington, D.C., and returns to communities across America. Throughout August, members of Congress are back home, where the hands they shake and the voices they hear will not belong to lobbyists, but to people like you.

Home is where we're strongest. We didn't win last year's election together at a committee hearing in D.C. We won it on the doorsteps and the phone lines, at the softball games and the town meetings, and in every part of this great country where people gather to talk about what matters most. And if you're willing to step up once again, that's exactly where we're going to win this historic campaign for the guaranteed, affordable health insurance that every American deserves.

There are those who profit from the status quo, or see this debate as a political game, and they will stop at nothing to block reform. They are filling the airwaves and the internet with outrageous falsehoods to scare people into opposing change. And some people, not surprisingly, are getting pretty nervous. So we've got to get out there, fight lies with truth, and set the record straight.

That's why Organizing for America is putting together thousands of events this month where you can reach out to neighbors, show your support, and make certain your members of Congress know that you're counting on them to act.

But these canvasses, town halls, and gatherings only make a difference if you turn up to knock on doors, share your views, and show your support. So here's what I need from you:

Can you commit to join at least one event in your community this month?

In politics, there's a rule that says when you ask people to get involved, always tell them it'll be easy. Well, let's be honest here: Passing comprehensive health insurance reform will not be easy. Every President since Harry Truman has talked about it, and the most powerful and experienced lobbyists in Washington stand in the way.

But every day we don't act, Americans watch their premiums rise three times faster than wages, small businesses and families are pushed towards bankruptcy, and 14,000 people lose their coverage entirely. The cost of inaction is simply too much for the people of this nation to bear.

So yes, fixing this crisis will not be easy. Our opponents will attack us every day for daring to try. It will require time, and hard work, and there will be days when we don't know if we have anything more to give. But there comes a moment when we all have to choose between doing what's easy, and doing what's right.

This is one of those times. And moments like this are what this movement was built for. So, are you ready?

Please commit now to taking at least one action in your community this month to build support for health insurance reform:

http://my.barackobama.com/CommitAugust

Let's seize this moment and win this historic victory for our economy, our health and our families.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

The Biggest Untold Story in Politics

Christopher Hass — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:37:40 EDT

From OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird:

The opponents of change are making news right now, doing everything they can to delay and defeat health insurance reform. They think we'll tire and stop fighting, because they've outspent and outlasted every previous attempt.

But here's the biggest untold story in politics: The movement you're building -- the events, phone banks, door-to-door canvasses, and town hall meetings you're organizing around the country -- is the reason they can't stop change this time around.

In just three short months, more than 1 million people have taken part in our campaign for health insurance reform. But the images and stories behind that number are even more amazing. So we put together a quick video of what's happening around the country. Watch the video.
And here are five highlights that I wanted to share:
• The newspaper in Exeter, NH is reporting that local supporters are canvassing everywhere to build support for reform: door-to-door, at farmers' markets, and at state fairs. The article quotes volunteer Dave Munsey as saying that 2008 "was probably the most important election of my lifetime. This is just an extension of that."
• Supporters in Florida held simultaneous press conferences outside of nine local Senate offices with doctors, small-business owners, and others, all telling their personal health care stories about why reform is so important to them.
• After a huge event in Wisconsin, hundreds of the participants headed to a nearby town hall event hosted by Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner to share their stories and urge him to stand with voters in support of reform.
•A host in Minnesota organized a barbeque for supporters to hear from speakers and write letters to their members of Congress. 1200 people joined in!
• Volunteer community organizers have participated in trainings in more than 13 states -- and 17 more are scheduled for the upcoming weeks.
• There's a lot more work to do to pass real health insurance reform -- especially in August, when members of Congress will be in their home states on recess, gauging public opinion before heading back to D.C. for the big votes in the fall.

We're going to need to work together every step of the way to cut through the distortions, get out the facts, and bring the voices of real people into the debate.

But for right now, I just want to thank you for all you're already doing. You are the reason we're going to win.

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

"A One-Month Sprint on Health Care"

Christopher Hass — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:37:52 EDT

From the Washington Post:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's decision to postpone a final vote on President Obama's health care proposal until September sets up a one-month campaign sprint between supporters and opponents of the legislation that will span over Congress' August recess.

"With final votes now pushed back to at least September, this means every pro and con group is drawing up new media plans," said Larry McCarthy, a Republican media consultant who is doing work for the conservative Americans for Prosperity. "Two week media plans just extended to eight week media plans. Targets will expand -- not only national cable and swing Senators, but more congressional districts will be added."

...The all-out ground and air war is broadly understood as a fight for the hearts and minds of the American public but is more rightly seen as a battle for the votes of the 100 members of the Senate. (These two strands are interrelated; public opinions does tend to sway political positioning -- particularly on issues as controversial as this health care plan.)

The most important player in this fight -- aside from the president himself -- is Organizing for America, the group set up within the DNC to manage the massive 13-million person e-mail list built up during Obama's presidential campaign.

OFA was created for just this sort of fight -- to bring the political power gathered during the campaign to bear on the legislative process. The group has been active for months in the health care fight but is expected to significantly ramp up its grassroots and advertising efforts over the next month, according to sources familiar with the plans.

There will be "intensive OFA activity", promised one senior Administration official and, as if on cue, OFA sent out an e-mail appeal late Thursday night aimed at securing one million public supporters for health care reform before the end of next week.

...The fate of the health care bill hangs in the balance.

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to declare your support for health insurance reform.

An Update - and a Big New Goal

Christopher Hass — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:34:37 EDT

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Last week, Republican Senator Jim DeMint tried to rally our opposition by declaring that stopping reform would "break" President Obama. Instead, hundreds of thousands of you rushed forward to stand up for enacting health insurance reform this year.

Then last night, the President delivered a powerful prime-time address about why further delay is simply not an option, and even more support came pouring in. (Watch the highlights here).

Now, we're on the brink of a major milestone in building this campaign: One million Americans publicly declaring their support for the President's three core principles for health insurance reform this year.

Our goal is to reach the one million mark before Congress casts the first crucial votes as early as next week. This is just a first step of many we'll take together. But it will send a clear message that the American people will not stand for playing partisan politics with our lives and livelihoods -- and that we won't settle for anything less than the real health insurance reform America so desperately needs this year.

Add your name to stand up for the President's three principles for real health insurance reform in 2009.
Adding your name right now will have real impact. Not only will you help us hit this key milestone, but we'll run the signatures we collect in local and national newspaper ads and present them in powerful displays at high-profile local events across the country in the crucial days and weeks to come.

We're so close to a million because volunteers all over the country are reaching out online, door-to-door, on the phone and at public events in their community. And every time a new supporter stands up with the President, they in turn reach out to others and the movement grows.

Less than three months ago, OFA launched our campaign for health insurance reform. In that short time, hundreds of thousands of Americans have joined in by:
sharing a personal health care story
calling their representatives
going door-to-door talking with their neighbors
calling neighbors in all 50 states
publishing letters to the editor in local newspapers
donating
hosting or attending a local event, and much more.
For Republican leaders and special interests, the health insurance debate may be a political game. But for millions of American businesses and families, the cost of inaction is economic ruin and deteriorating care for the ones we love. Out-of-control health care costs are breaking the budgets of families, businesses and government -- and every day that Congress refuses to act, 14,000 Americans lose their coverage entirely.

We're working so hard in every part of this country because we understand -- this is no game. Add your name to help us reach one million public supporters this week, and join in this effort to reform health insurance in 2009.

Thank you,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

LIVE: Primetime Press Conference with the President at 8PM EDT

Christopher Hass — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:32:54 EDT

President Obama is scheduled to hold a press conference at the White House tonight, starting at 8:00 PM Eastern. Earlier today the President sent out an email encouraging Americans to tune in, explaining that:

As you read this, we are closer than ever to passing comprehensive health insurance reform that benefits American families and small businesses. Despite all the back and forth in the news right now, it is important to understand just how far we've come in this challenging process.

That's why I'm holding a press conference tonight at 8pm ET, and writing to let everyone know where we are, what's ahead, and why health insurance reform is so important.
... I realize that the last few miles of any race are the hardest to run, but we can't stop now. There's no dispute about it: we cannot control our long-term fiscal health as a nation without health insurance reform. American families and small businesses understand that the health insurance status quo is taking away those things that they value most about health care. The stability and security that comes with knowing that you can get the treatment you need, when you need it. Without reform, we are consigning our children to a future of skyrocketing premiums and crushing deficits.

We have to seize this opportunity and pass health insurance reform this year.

You can watch a live stream of the press conference below, starting at 8:00 PM Eastern.

UPDATE (Thursday AM): The event has ended, but we'll have more from last night's press conference later today.

"It will break him."

Christopher Hass — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:59:05 EDT

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Last week, Republican Senator Jim DeMint made it pretty clear why the opponents of health care reform are fighting so hard. As he told a special interest attack group, "If we're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him." Here's how the President responded:

Think about that. This isn't about me. This isn't about politics. This is about a health care system that is breaking America's families, breaking America's businesses and breaking America's economy. And we can't afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care. Not this time, not now. There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake.

With Congress only days away from finalizing their plans for reform, it's time to stand up with the President and fight back against this disastrous brand of old-style politics. So we need as many people as possible to publicly support the President's principles for health care reform and call on Congress to act.

Before the first full votes in Congress, we'll publish the signatures in newspaper ads across the nation, to make sure your voice is heard.

Watch President Obama's full response, then add your name in support of reform. Or if you've already signed, please forward this message to every one of your friends and neighbors so they can join you.

The President is more dedicated than ever to passing health care reform that satisfies the three requirements he's been talking about for months: Health care reform must reduce costs, guarantee choice -- including the choice of a strong public insurance option -- and ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care.

If we do not reform our broken health care system this year, we will only shackle future generations with spiraling costs and deteriorating care. The cost of inaction is simply more than this country can afford.

But the special interests who profit from the status quo won't go down without a fight. The ads, the smears, and the attacks -- targeting both President Obama and members of Congress who support reform -- will only get worse. So it's crucial that we show huge backing before Congress finalizes their plans this month.

Stand with President Obama on health care reform.

Thanks for standing up for change.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

"Not this time."

Christopher Hass — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:29:39 EDT

Now, we've talked this problem to death, year after year. But unless we act -- and act now -- none of this will change. Just a quick statistic I heard about this hospital: Just a few years ago, there were approximately 50,000 people coming into the emergency room. Now they've got 85,000. There's been almost a doubling of emergency room care in a relatively short span of time, which is putting enormous strains on the system as a whole. That's the status quo, and it's only going to get worse.

If we do nothing, then families will spend more and more of their income for less and less care. The number of people who lose their insurance because they've lost or changed jobs will continue to grow. More children will be denied coverage on account of asthma or a heart condition. Jobs will be lost, take-home pay will be lower, businesses will shutter, and we will continue to waste hundreds of billions of dollars on insurance company boondoggles and inefficiencies that add to our financial burdens without making us any healthier.

So the need for reform is urgent and it is indisputable. No one denies that we're on an unsustainable path. We all know there are more efficient ways of doing it. We just -- I spoke to the chief information officer here at the hospital and he talked about some wonderful ways in which we could potentially gather up electronic medical records and information for every child not just that comes to this hospital but in the entire region, and how much money could be saved and how the health of these kids could be improved. But it requires an investment.

Now, there are some in this town who are content to perpetuate the status quo, are in fact fighting reform on behalf of powerful special interests. There are others who recognize the problem, but believe -- or perhaps, hope -- that we can put off the hard work of insurance reform for another day, another year, another decade.

... We can't afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care. Not this time. Not now.
... Now, we always knew that passing health care reform wouldn't be easy. We always knew that doing what is right would be hard. There's just a tendency towards inertia in this town. I understand that as well as anybody. But we're a country that chooses the harder right over the easier wrong. That's what we have to do this time. We have to do that once more.

Read the President's full remarks . . .

A Week of Action

Christopher Hass — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:13:11 EDT

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Organizing for America volunteers have done amazing work over the last couple weeks -- and the pressure is working. Congress is moving rapidly toward finalizing health care reform legislation, with crucial votes expected in both the House and the Senate within days. With so much at stake -- and the D.C. lobbyists going into overdrive -- we have to take our grassroots campaign to the next level.

So we're announcing the Health Care Reform Week of Action. All this week, OFA volunteers like you will be knocking on doors, making calls to neighbors, and attending public events to build the local support for health care reform we need to pass a strong final bill. If you can spare an hour or two for health care reform, this is the week to do it.

Find and sign up for a Health Care Reform Week of Action event near you.
Things are moving quickly in Washington. Key committees in both the House and Senate have passed early versions of the bill that reflect the President's principles for real health care reform. We're making progress in large part because legislators are hearing from Americans who have waited far too long for reform.

But the opposition also knows how crucial this week is. That's why they're spending as much as $1.4 million every single day sending high-powered lobbyists around D.C. to hold back reform. Our best weapon against these insider tactics is publicly demonstrating support back home -- exactly what this week's actions are designed to do.

So please join us for the Health Care Reform Week of Action. As we get closer to final votes in Washington, we need to keep pounding the pavement, hitting the phones, and reaching out to the public every way we can.

Find and RSVP for an event near you at.

Hope to see you out there,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Weekly Address: Health Care Reform Cannot Wait

Christopher Hass — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:57:32 EDT

This is what the debate in Congress is all about: Whether we’ll keep talking and tinkering and letting this problem fester as more families and businesses go under, and more Americans lose their coverage. Or whether we’ll seize this opportunity – one we might not have again for generations – and finally pass health insurance reform this year, in 2009.
Now we know there are those who will oppose reform no matter what. We know the same special interests and their agents in Congress will make the same old arguments, and use the same scare tactics that have stopped reform before because they profit from this relentless escalation in health care costs.
...The good news is that people who know the system best are rallying to the cause of change. Just this past week, the American Nurses Association, representing millions of nurses across America, and the American Medical Association, representing doctors across our nation, announced their support because they’ve seen first-hand the need for health insurance reform.

They know we cannot continue to cling to health industry practices that are bankrupting families, and undermining American businesses, large and small. They know we cannot let special interests and partisan politics stand in the way of reform – not this time around.

The opponents of health insurance reform would have us do nothing. But think about what doing nothing, in the face of ever increasing costs, will do to you and your family.

So today, I am urging the House and the Senate, Democrats and Republicans, to seize this opportunity, and vote for reform that gives the American people the best care at the lowest cost; that reins in insurance companies, strengthens businesses and finally gives families the choices they need and the security they deserve.

Faces of Health Care Reform: Kristine

Christopher Hass — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:17:31 EDT

Statement by the President on the Health Care Reform Legislation Introduced in the House Today

Christopher Hass — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:17:34 EDT

Following the official release of the House health care bill today, President Obama released the following statement:

"For decades, Washington failed to act as health care costs continued to rise, crushing businesses and families and placing an unsustainable burden on governments. But today, key committees in the House of Representatives have engaged in unprecedented cooperation to produce a health care reform proposal that will lower costs, provide better care for patients, and ensure fair treatment of consumers by the insurance industry.

This proposal controls the skyrocketing cost of health care by rooting out waste and fraud and promoting quality and accountability. Its savings of more than $500 billion over 10 years will strengthen Medicare and contribute to our goal of reforming health care in a fiscally responsible way. It will change the incentives in our health care system so that Americans can receive the best care, not the most expensive care. And it will offer families and businesses more choices and more affordable health care.

This proposal will also prevent insurance companies from denying people coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition. It will ensure that workers can still have health insurance if they lose their job, change their job or start a new business. And it includes a health insurance exchange that will allow families and small businesses to compare prices and quality so they can choose the health care plan that best suits their needs. Among the choices that would be available in the exchange would be a public health insurance option that would make health care affordable by increasing competition, providing more choices, and keeping the insurance companies honest.

The House proposal will begin the process of fixing what’s broken about our health care system, reducing costs for all, building on what works, and covering an estimated 97% of all Americans. And by emphasizing prevention and wellness, it will also help improve the quality of health care for every American.

I thank Chairmen Rangel, Waxman, and Miller for their hard work on this bill that fundamentally reforms the health care system. As this process moves forward, I look forward to continuing to work with all House members in ensuring this legislation helps all Americans and plays an essential role in reducing deficits and bringing fiscal sustainability to our nation.”

A Critical Time for Health Care Reform

Christopher Hass — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:16:42 EDT

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

As we speak, key committees in Congress are weighing options and making final decisions about how to tackle health care reform. This could be one of the last opportunities to shape the legislation before it's written.

The behind-the-scenes committee negotiations aren't front-page news, but the lobbyists trying to block reform are following every detail, and they won't miss a day. If the final plan is to uphold President Obama's principles of reduced costs, guaranteed choice -- including the choice of a robust public insurance option -- and quality care for all, your voice must be heard.

Please write a short letter to the editor of your local paper expressing your support for President Obama's three principles for real health care reform, and asking your Congressional representatives to do the same. You can write and submit your letter in just a few minutes using our simple online tool.
These letters are an easy but powerful way to make a difference. The letters section is one of the most-read parts of the newspaper, and decision-makers in Congress and the media watch it closely to gauge where the public stands.

Good letters are usually just two or three short paragraphs. You can just explain that you're a local resident who knows we need real health care reform following the President's three principles, and we need it now. If you have a personal experience with the health care system that motivates you, that will make the letter even more powerful.

The opponents of real reform have deep pockets and insider access, and they're holding nothing back in their drive to derail progress before the plans go public.

Your letter, submitted at this time, can help remind your representatives that the American people are counting on them to stand up to special interests and deliver the comprehensive reform we so desperately need.

http://my.barackobama.com/healthcareletter

Thanks for all that you do,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

P.S. -- These letters are a vital first step. Stay tuned for other critical ways to organize locally and make a difference in this campaign. We can only win this thing if we all work together every step of the way.

The High Costs of Care

Christopher Hass — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:58:13 EDT

From the Democrats.org blog:

If you’ve listened to President Obama talk about health care reform in the past several weeks, you’ve probably heard him talk about how we should study communities around America that provide better coverage for less and replicate their success. He often talks about the high cost of health care in McAllen, Texas, a town on the Mexican border that has one of the most expensive health care markets in the country.

The June 1st issue of The New Yorker magazine included an article about the soaring costs in McAllen. A few key passages are excepted below – here’s a link to this must read, The Cost Conundrum. The bottom line? More expensive care doesn’t necessarily lead to better health outcomes.

...The explosive trend in American medical costs seems to have occurred here in an especially intense form. Our country’s health care is by far the most expensive in the world. In Washington, the aim of health-care reform is not just to extend medical coverage to everybody but also to bring costs under control. Spending on doctors, hospitals, drugs, and the like now consumes more than one of every six dollars we earn. The financial burden has damaged the global competitiveness of American businesses and bankrupted millions of families, even those with insurance. It’s also devouring our government.

Read the full article . . .

Look Back: National Health Care Day of Service

Christopher Hass — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:52:24 EDT

The group Organizing for America is headquartered only two blocks from the Capitol, but when horse-trading over healthcare legislation intensified there this week, Barack Obama's grass-roots advocacy operation turned its attention away from Washington. [Last weekend], the group recruited thousands of its volunteer members to gather in farmers' markets, rehab clinics, parks, and libraries nationwide as part of a National Health Care Day of Service." -- Boston Globe

While families across the country enjoy this 4th of July weekend, we wanted to take time to look back at the events of last weekend, when supporters across the country took place in a National Health Care Day of Service. Here are just a few of the reports we've gotten back from hosts of last weekend's events:

It was truly fantastic. People came to our booth with food they had picked from their home garden, and others came to the market specifically to shop for the Healthy Food Drive. We ended up with a full pick-up load of fresh food -- vegetables, fruit, and assorted pasta, bread, hand-made tortillas, etc. It's difficult to estimate amount, but some thought we had at least 200 pounds of food. When we showed up at the Food Bank with our load of food, they were awestruck. What I noticed is that throughout the day, the faces and the voices of both volunteers and donors were lit up, both in the giving and the receiving. Some folks, donors and volunteers, asked, "When are we doing this again?" -- Saoirse C-G, Golden, CO

I had a healthy food drive outside of ShopRite. As people walked into the grocery store, we handed them ideas of healthy foods they may want to buy and then at the exit we had a table with baskets to collect food in, information about the Children's Health Insurance Program, information about President Obama's health care plan, and health care declarations to sign...I will definitely host another event like this. It felt great to collect food for people in need in the area. All of my volunteers were super excited and really want to get involved again, so I will definitely get in touch with them and see if I can plan something else. -- Linda M, Warminster, PA

In an email to thousands of event attendees, OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird explained:

Last weekend, you were part of something big.

Americans like you came together across the country -- in community health centers, outside of supermarkets, in local schools -- to serve together and improve health care in your community.

While serving your neighborhoods, you raised your voice and built momentum to finally fix this broken health care system. Thank you for your work.
We can't -- and we won't -- stop now. We've got more work to do to achieve our goal of real health care reform this year, and you'll be an integral part of this effort at every step of the way.

Message from David Plouffe: "It's a go"

Christopher Hass — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:33:08 EDT

From David Plouffe:

Earlier in the week, we asked if you thought we should put the experiences of real American families on the air and online to show why we need heath care reform. The overwhelming answer? Yes.

Thanks to your support, we were able to spring into action and share with America the very personal reasons why we cannot afford to miss this one chance to finally reform our health care system.

I want you to be the first to see this powerful ad. It features real people telling their true stories of lost coverage, watching loved ones go without care, and making the case for why we need reform.

Once you watch this, you'll see what we mean about how powerful these personal stories can be -- and why we need to get them on the air right away.

Will you watch the video now, and then donate $25 or more to put it on the air?
As we speak, Congress is rapidly hammering out the details of the health care bill, and getting this message out now is crucial. Our representatives must understand how strongly we feel about the need for real reform -- and that we need it now.

In the next few days, we must decide how many of these ads we can make, where we can air them, and how many views we can guarantee. The more resources we have, the greater the impact we'll be able to make.

So watch this first video, and then please dig deep with a donation of $25 or more so we can get this ad and others like it on the air and online in key areas across the country.

https://donate.barackobama.com/healthcaread

Thanks for making it happen,

David Plouffe

P.S. -- Over 99,000 people have already donated to power our campaign for health care reform. This is the perfect time to join them, and help us hit our big goal of 100,000 donors for health care.

Full Video: A National Discussion on Health Care Reform

Christopher Hass — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:57:03 EDT

Here's the full video of yesterday's online town hall, in which the President answered questions submitted from Americans across the country:

Join the National Online Discussion on Health Care Reform

Christopher Hass — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:41:33 EDT

On Wednesday, President Obama will hold another online town hall, this time focused on health care reform. From WhiteHouse.gov:

This online town hall will be a little different than the last one. This time around, we are engaging online networks outside of WhiteHouse.gov, such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
You can get started today by watching the President's video and posting your 20-30 second video response here:

Later this afternoon, Nancy-Ann DeParle will be hosting a live-streamed, online chat to discuss health care reform. You can take part using the White House Facebook live chat feature, starting at 5:00 PM Eastern.

The President and Health Care Reform on Prime Time TV

Christopher Hass — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:07:31 EDT

Last night, President Obama played host to ABC News and a 164 Americans from around the country at a special prime time White House in prime. The hour long program was dedicated to answering tough questions and concerns on the President’s proposals to reduce health care costs and provide quality health care for all Americans. The conversation then continued for an additional hour on Nightline, where the President discussed how the choice of a public option will affect you and your family.

We'll have more on last night's event later on, but you can watch clips from the program on ABC's website.

Message from the First Lady: "Serving together"

Christopher Hass — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:27:38 EDT

From First Lady Michelle Obama:

National and community service has been a cornerstone of my life, as I know it has been for many Americans. And with the daily struggles now confronting so many families, it's especially important for us to reach out to one another and offer a helping hand.

I've just launched United We Serve, a national initiative to tackle our toughest problems by working hand-in-hand in communities across the country. We aim to make a real difference right now and bring more and more Americans into a tradition of life-long service to make an even greater difference down the road.

I'd like to invite you to be a part of it by joining Organizing for America's National Health Care Day of Service this weekend. You can join up with other local OFA supporters to help improve health care services in your community and make a difference as we work to reform America's health care system.

Sign up now to participate in a National Health Care Day of Service event this Saturday, June 27th.
There's an old Thomas Edison quote I've always liked: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." It's no secret that our country faces some enormous challenges right now, and meeting them will take a lot of hard work. But in that work lies an equally great opportunity -- a chance to serve. And I do believe the chance to serve is a precious gift indeed.

Service has played a transformative role in my life -- bringing me tremendous joy and helping me find the path that led to where I am today. As a parent, I believe service is a great way to demonstrate values and to teach our children firsthand what it means to commit to a purpose beyond ourselves.

It should be a part of everyone's life. From the moment someone can walk to the day they leave this planet, service should be a part of how we give back, how we say thank you, how we express our gratitude for the lives that we've been given.

So I'm deeply honored for this chance to support our United We Serve initiative and Organizing for America, and I hope you'll be able to participate this weekend.
Please sign up now to volunteer at a local event.

Thank you,

First Lady Michelle Obama

On the Ground: Nebraska

Christopher Hass — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:28:03 EDT

From OFA Nebraska State Director Timothy Anderson:

The fight to fix our broken health care system is heating up... Our opponents have beaten back reform in the past, and they're ready again with seasoned lobbyists and big-money donors. But we've shown them before what our movement is capable of.

This weekend, we will show them again. Nebraskans will take our message door-to-door in canvasses all across the state -- from Omaha to Kearney, Lincoln to Scottsbluff -- asking their neighbors to sign on in support of the President's principles for health care reform.

... When regular folks get together, and organize door-by-door, block-by-block, and neighborhood-by-neighborhood, we can build a movement from coast-to-coast. It's how we won a historic election -- and how we'll bring real change to America.

We'll have more coverage from the Nebraska health care canvasses tomorrow. If you're on the ground in Nebraska, be sure to report back in the comments or email your photos and stories to blog@barackobama.com

Message from David Plouffe: "100,000"

Christopher Hass — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:01:01 EDT

This morning, David Plouffe sent out an email in response to President Obama's message to supporters:

We've seen a tremendous response to President Obama's email this week and, as of today, an important milestone is within reach -- 100,000 donors to OFA's health care campaign.

Many are new supporters who did not donate to last year's campaign but know how critical it is to end the broken status quo on health care.

Reaching 100,000 donors will send an unmistakable signal to the opponents of reform: the movement you built is prepared to knock on as many doors, call as many neighbors, and sacrifice as much time and energy as necessary to make health care reform a reality.

Will you donate $25 or more today and put us over the top?

Thank you,

David Plouffe

LIVE: White House Health Reform Chat at 2:30 PM Eastern

Christopher Hass — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:37:08 EDT

Today, Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office of Health Reform, and Michael Hash, Senior Adviser in the Office of Health Reform, will be hosting a meeting with physicians to discuss the importance of health reform this year. The meeting is another in a series of White House Stakeholder Discussions, and the physicians will discuss how prevention and wellness initiatives can keep Americans healthy, help prevent disease and illness, and lower health care costs.

For this meeting, the White House is trying out a new online chat feature that will allow you to watch the event live and ask questions through Facebook or the White House website. You can participate in the chat and watch the discussion at http://apps.facebook.com/whitehouselive, or www.whitehouse.gov/live.

The discussion with physicians and our online chat will begin today at 2:30 PM Eastern.

Message from the President: "This is why"

Christopher Hass — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:47:17 EDT

This morning, President Obama sent the following email to supporters:

Last year, millions of Americans came together for a great purpose.

Folks like you assembled a grassroots movement that shocked the political establishment and changed the course of our nation. When Washington insiders counted us out, we put it all on the line and changed our democracy from the bottom up. But that's not why we did it.

The pundits told us it was impossible -- that the donations working people could afford and the hours volunteers could give would never loosen the vise grip of big money and powerful special interests. We proved them wrong. But as important as that was, that's not why we did it.

Today, spiraling health care costs are pushing our families and businesses to the brink of ruin, while millions of Americans go without the care they desperately need. Fixing this broken system will be enormously difficult. But we can succeed. The chance to make fundamental change like this in people's daily lives -- that is why we did it.

The campaign to pass real health care reform in 2009 is the biggest test of our movement since the election. Once again, victory is far from certain. Our opposition will be fierce, and they have been down this road before. To prevail, we must once more build a coast-to-coast operation ready to knock on doors, deploy volunteers, get out the facts, and show the world how real change happens in America.

And just like before, I cannot do it without your support.

So I'm asking you to remember all that you gave over the last two years to get us here -- all the time, resources, and faith you invested as a down payment to earn us our place at this crossroads in history. All that you've done has led up to this -- and whether or not our country takes the next crucial step depends on what you do right now.

Will you donate whatever you can afford to support the campaign for real health care reform in 2009?

It doesn't matter how much you can give, as long as you give what you can. Millions of families on the brink are counting on us to do just that. I know we can deliver.

Thank you, so much, for getting us this far. And thank you for standing up once again to take us the rest of the way.

Sincerely,

President Barack Obama

President Obama at the American Medical Association: "The cost of inaction is greater"

Christopher Hass — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:29:43 EDT

President Obama spoke to a crowd of over 2,200 medical professionals at the American Medical Association's annual meeting in Chicago today. The President reiterated that health care reform that brings down costs can't wait another year or another administration:

When it comes to the cost of our health care, then, the status quo is unsustainable. Reform is not a luxury, but a necessity. I know there has been much discussion about what reform would cost, and rightly so. This is a test of whether we – Democrats and Republicans alike – are serious about holding the line on new spending and restoring fiscal discipline.

But let there be no doubt – the cost of inaction is greater. If we fail to act, premiums will climb higher, benefits will erode further, and the rolls of uninsured will swell to include millions more Americans.

If we fail to act, one out of every five dollars we earn will be spent on health care within a decade. In thirty years, it will be about one out of every three – a trend that will mean lost jobs, lower take-home pay, shuttered businesses, and a lower standard of living for all Americans.

During his speech, President Obama reiterated the core promise and principle of the reform effort -- that people who like their health care can keep it, and that the President wants a plan that fixes what’s broken with our system and builds on what works.

The first thing we need to do is protect what’s working in our health care system. Let me repeat – if you like your health care, the only thing reform will mean is your health care will cost less. If anyone says otherwise, they are either trying to mislead you or don’t have their facts straight.

If you don’t like your health coverage or don’t have any insurance, you will have a chance to take part in what we’re calling a Health Insurance Exchange. This Exchange will allow you to one-stop shop for a health care plan, compare benefits and prices, and choose a plan that’s best for you and your family – just as federal employees can do, from a postal worker to a Member of Congress. You will have your choice of a number of plans that offer a few different packages, but every plan would offer an affordable, basic package. And one of these options needs to be a public option that will give people a broader range of choices and inject competition into the health care market so that force waste out of the system and keep the insurance companies honest.

Read the President's full remarks . . .

Video: President Obama's Health Care Town Hall in Green Bay

Christopher Hass — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:53:45 EDT

In case you missed it, here's the full video of the President's Health Care Town Hall, held last Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin:

Weekly Address: Health Care Reform and the Key to Our Fiscal Future

Christopher Hass — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:13:57 EDT

Guest Post: My Health Care Story, by Kristine Reger

Christopher Hass — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:48:08 EDT

Yesterday, the Democrats.org blog featured an excerpt from a story we received from Kristine Reger, a life-long Wisconsinite and mother of three who attended President Obama’s Health Care Town Hall in Green Bay. Today, we asked Kristine to write a guest post to share her full story:

Hi everyone. I submitted my health care story to Organizing for America online, and they’ve asked me to write a guest blog about my experience. Here's what I can tell you:

Though I'm a lifelong Democrat, my husband and I raised our three kids in a mostly Republican suburb. For years and years, I kind of rolled over and skirted political conversations with my friends and neighbors. I didn’t want to engage in debate.

Then last fall, after more than 20 years, I finally decided to have the courage of my convictions. Barack Obama inspired me to get involved. I wasn’t happy with the direction of our country and I thought to myself: enough is enough. I spent lots of time researching the issues and learning about then-Senator Obama’s positions. Eventually, I figured out that I could make a real difference in my own network of family and friends by reaching out to people through email and responding to all the emails going around that I knew weren’t true. You know what I learned? My friends are still my friends. People have started coming to me to understand what’s going on; they rely on me to tell them the truth.

Since the election, President Obama has inspired me to stay involved. I think he’s so sensible and so right on so many of the issues I care about. I woke up at 5am yesterday to attend the Health Care Town Hall in Green Bay. It was fascinating – great questions, so much excitement and not an inch of space in the room.

Unfortunately my health care story is not unique, it’s typical. My husband and his business partner run a small machine shop their fathers’ founded in the 1950s. They’ve always provided their employees with single and family coverage, but as premiums have become more expensive, they’ve been forced to modify the kind of coverage they provide. Between this year and last, costs have increased 8 percent. In order to continue to provide health insurance, they’ve had to switch to a high deducible plan. Last year, they paid $132,000 in health care costs for a plan with a $2,500 deductible. Those costs are cutting into their profits and eating into our family income. Truth be told, the policy isn’t all bad – there are actually some great things about it. For example, all our preventative care, including physicals, mammograms and colonoscopies, are covered regardless of whether or not we’ve reached our deductible. That focus on preventative care is great - its something a reform plan should build on. But when you add up all the costs of our plan, we have to spend an awful lot to receive any of the benefits.

It’s true that we’re in the midst of a terrible recession. But I don't think maintaining the status quo when it comes to health care is an option. I keep thinking if small businesses like my husband’s are the life blood of our economy, how will it ever bounce back when small business owners can’t eek out a profit because health care costs are so high?

Everyone I know cares about this issue – my Republican friends care just as much as my Democratic ones. We’re all living with the consequences of a broken system. Though we might not all agree on the exact solution, we all agree something has to be done. If people see a part of themselves in my story, and are inspired to get involved, then maybe we’ll be able to make the people in Washington pay attention to us and get something done.

Kristine Reger is a life-long Wisconsinite and mother of three. She worked as a high school English teacher before staying at home to raise her children for 19 years. She is currently a self-employed travel agent. Kristine attended President Obama’s Health Care Town Hall in Green Bay, WI on Thursday.

President Obama on Health Care Reform: "We fix what’s broken and build on what works"

Christopher Hass — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:11:21 EDT

Read the President's opening remarks . . .

LIVE: Health Care Town Hall w/ President Obama

Christopher Hass — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:42:41 EDT

Today President Obama is traveling to Green Bay, Wisconsin for a town hall discussion on the need to reform our health care system. We'll have live coverage of the event starting at 12:10 PM Central Time.

UPDATED: The town hall has ended, but we'll have more coverage of today's event later in the day.

House and Senate Release Details on Initial Health Care Bills

Christopher Hass — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:47:34 EDT

In his first address to Congress, President Obama cited health care reform as one of his top priorities, and he called on Congress to move quickly to pass legislation before the end of this year. Congress answered the call, and yesterday both the House and the Senate made public information on their respective plans for the first time.

In the House, the three committees with jurisdiction (Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor) complied a three-page outline of their proposal. CQ Politics reported:

The plan would require individuals to obtain insurance and employers to help pay for it, and would create a government-run insurance plan that would compete with private insurers, according to the outline.

Leaders of the three committees briefed the full House Democratic Caucus on their outline Tuesday. “We will continue to seek input and work closely with our colleagues, outside stakeholders, and the administration and are on track to introduce legislation shortly, the trio said. “We anticipate committee action on health reform in the coming weeks, with legislation on the House floor prior to the August district work period.”

...The House Democratic plan would reorganize the private insurance market, creating a national Health Insurance Exchange where individuals or employers could obtain coverage, including from a government-run “public plan” if they wish. States would have the option of creating their own exchanges, instead of participating in the national exchange. Insurers would be prohibited from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions and could not charge higher premiums based on gender, health status or occupation. Premiums would be higher for older people, but the increase would be limited.

The plan would cap out-of-pocket spending by patients to prevent bankruptcies due to medical costs. Some studies suggest that more than half of all personal bankruptcies are due to medical bills.

In the Senate the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee released a more detailed document on Tuesday. The 615 page document is not yet in its final form though, and additional components are expected to be released later in the week. The HELP Committee is chaired by Senator Ted Kennedy, but Senator Chris Dodd, the second-ranking Democrat, has had a large hand in drafting the bill while Kennedy continues to recover from brain cancer. The current version of the HELP bill can be read here.

The Huffington Post reported:

Kennedy's bill will get its first hearing on Thursday and is scheduled for a committee vote on Tuesday, June 16th.
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said Tuesday that a committee vote on a health care bill could come as early as the week after next. The battle over the future of health care in America now enters a span of several months as important as any in a generation.

As OFA Director Mitch Stewart said this morning, the future of American health care is now up for grabs.

Organizing for Health Care: "This time it is going to be us who determine what happens"

Christopher Hass — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:08:10 EDT

This past weekend, grassroots supporters gathered at thousands of meetings across the country to kickoff a summer long campaign for health care reform. For Organizing for America, it was the largest post-campaign effort yet, but the timing and the issue couldn't be more urgent.

From the Boston Globe:

Barack Obama became president thanks to house parties like the thousands across the county this weekend, and thanks to activists who wrote checks and blogged and made phone calls to neighbors for the campaign. The agenda then was clear: Win the election.

Now Obama is reactivating his grass-roots political machine for a new purpose: Pass major legislation overhauling the nation's healthcare system.

From Reuters:

From a living room in Kansas to a bagel shop in New York to an Alabama church, Democrats have started mobilizing support for President Barack Obama's healthcare reform plans.

Suburban housewives and social workers mixed with Baptist ministers, college students, retirees and many others at grassroots gatherings over the weekend. Spurred by the Democratic National Committee's burgeoning political machine dubbed "Organizing for America," thousands of such meetings had been planned for Friday through Monday.

Those attending the scripted two-hour events viewed a videotaped message from Obama, shared personal stories and made local battle plans to counter the expected stiff opposition.

"It's going to be a vicious fight," said 76-year-old Hank Putsch who attended an organizing meeting on Saturday at a Kansas City restaurant. "The insurance companies and healthcare companies are gearing up to oppose this. We've got to get our voices heard."

Obama has declared this summer "make-or-break" time for healthcare reform and has called on Congress to pass comprehensive legislation by the end of the year, saying America can no longer afford the costs of a system dominated by profit-driven insurance and healthcare companies which leaves 46 million people uninsured.

Though he is leaving the details to Congress, Obama has said reform must ensure a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans, a reduction in basic costs, and assurance that no one is denied insurance.

"This is why we elected him," said Sarah Starnes, a hospital social worker who has volunteered to help campaign for the Obama plan in Missouri. "It used to be that we'd elect a president and then the lobbyists would determine what happened. This time it is going to be us who determine what happens."

Organizing for Health Care: "This time it is going to be us who determine what happens"

Christopher Hass — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:49:33 EDT

From the Boston Globe:

Barack Obama became president thanks to house parties like the thousands across the county this weekend, and thanks to activists who wrote checks and blogged and made phone calls to neighbors for the campaign. The agenda then was clear: Win the election.

Now Obama is reactivating his grass-roots political machine for a new purpose: Pass major legislation overhauling the nation's healthcare system.

From Reuters:

From a living room in Kansas to a bagel shop in New York to an Alabama church, Democrats have started mobilizing support for President Barack Obama's healthcare reform plans.

Suburban housewives and social workers mixed with Baptist ministers, college students, retirees and many others at grassroots gatherings over the weekend. Spurred by the Democratic National Committee's burgeoning political machine dubbed "Organizing for America," thousands of such meetings had been planned for Friday through Monday.

Those attending the scripted two-hour events viewed a videotaped message from Obama, shared personal stories and made local battle plans to counter the expected stiff opposition.

"It's going to be a vicious fight," said 76-year-old Hank Putsch who attended an organizing meeting on Saturday at a Kansas City restaurant. "The insurance companies and healthcare companies are gearing up to oppose this. We've got to get our voices heard."

Obama has declared this summer "make-or-break" time for healthcare reform and has called on Congress to pass comprehensive legislation by the end of the year, saying America can no longer afford the costs of a system dominated by profit-driven insurance and healthcare companies which leaves 46 million people uninsured.

Though he is leaving the details to Congress, Obama has said reform must ensure a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans, a reduction in basic costs, and assurance that no one is denied insurance.

"This is why we elected him," said Sarah Starnes, a hospital social worker who has volunteered to help campaign for the Obama plan in Missouri. "It used to be that we'd elect a president and then the lobbyists would determine what happened. This time it is going to be us who determine what happens."

Video: Health Care Organizing Kickoff

Christopher Hass — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:28:08 EDT

On Saturday, tens of thousands of people came together to organize for health care reform at thousands of Health Care Organizing Kickoff events across all fifty states. If you weren't able to attend one of the kickoffs, here's the special video recorded just for these events:

If you were able to make it to a kickoff this weekend, let us know how it went in the comments below . . .

Weekly Address: President Obama Calls for Real Health Care Reform

Christopher Hass — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:19:25 EDT

"What we can’t welcome is reform that just invests more money in the status quo – reform that throws good money after bad habits."