It is do or die time on healthcare reform, and with Republicans promising not a single vote in favor of the Democratic plan, it is time for us here in the Pacific Northwest to let our Democratic representatives know that if they don’t support us, we won’t support them.
For example, Rep. Kurt Shrader, from Oregon’s 5th Congressional District has recently made it known that he would oppose the House bill, despite consistent polls showing that his constituents support it. Sure, you could just call the Congressional switchboard at 1-866-220-0044, and ask to be connected to Shrader’s office, but that would be easier to dismiss as just run of the mill public pressure. Wouldn’t it make more of an impact to disrupt the day to day workings of his office by calling a more direct line?
Fortunately, I’ve just been forwarded the number of Rep. Shrader’s Legislative Director, Chris Huckleberry. Give him a call at 1-xxx-xxx-xxx, and let him know where we the people stand on healthcare reform, particularly if you live in Shrader’s district.
On a similar note, Rep. Brian Baird, representing Washington’s 3rd Congressional District has also recently stated his intent to vote against the bill in its current form. You can call his office and register your complaint at the following published phone numbers, but if anybody out there has a more direct line into Rep. Baird’s office, I’d be happy to post it here.
Washington D.C. – (202) 225-3536
Olympia – (360) 352-9768
Vancouver – (360) 695-6292
UPDATE:
Rep. Shrader voted Yes, so I’ve removed his legislative director’s phone number. I don’t know if he always planned to vote yes (he never made a public statement), or if constituent pressure persuaded him, and frankly I don’t really care. He voted the right way, and I thank him.
Rep. Baird on the other hand… well, his vote with the Republicans was a mistake, both as policy and as politics.
Rep. Kurt Shrader, from Oregon’s 5th Congressional District has recently made it known that he would oppose the House bill
Do you have a source for that claim?
Because Carla Axtman’s posted three items at BlueOregon saying that he’s undecided – “Push Schrader off the fence”.
[Full disclosure: My firm built Kurt Schrader’s campaign website, but I speak only for myself.]
hey Oly Democrats, why not get a protest going in front of Baird’s Oly office?
That would get on TV.
For shame.
Kari,
Has Shrader publicly stated he’s going to vote for the bill?Because reliable sources (other than Carla) tell me he’s privately said that he wouldn’t.
And either way, if he is on the fence (and he must at least be on the fence if refuses to publicly take a firm stance on this issue), what is the harm in pressuring him to vote with the Dems? All he needs to do to end this is make a definitive statement.
Congressman Kurt Schrader hasn’t said either way.
… which is different than “made it known he would oppose the House bill.” (Sorry for the split post – too quick on the trigger!)
I’m not in favor of disruptive tactics. It only alienates the congress critter you’re trying to influence.
die harder
Baird will vote No. Calls to his office are a waste of time.
After all the theatrics he spurred on this summer, acting like our very own Alan Grayson, he’s got to at least appear to backpedal a little bit.
Otherwise he goes full sails into the next election as a liberal progressive, in what is still considered a Repub leaning district.
Good Democrats will vote against this bill for one overriding reason: The mandate to buy insurance, which in fact is a mandate to buy insurance from the corrupt private health insurance industry because there is no publicly owned federal plan available to all as an alternative.
Goldy, you’re a superficial egotistical fool who is typical of the Seattle blabbo-gentia. During a period in Seattle, I spent a lot of time in political activity working with double- zeros like you. You’re of no benefit to any cause except the cause of Goldy. And in this case, you are no friend of health care reform that is for the benefit of working and poor people, because as the progressive wing of the Democratic Party has been out front, this bill most definitely is NOT.
Putting the federal government in charge of healthcare is a sure way to raise costs, lower quality of care and die quicker.
Democrats are dumb as the day is long, but you already knew that.
10 – Utterly ignorant bullshit.
Most socialist system there is belongs to the Brits and nobody’s talking about that. And the conservatives over there never even hint at changing it.
Moron.
no job yet? helps if you actually tried looking for one….
Putting the federal government in charge of healthcare
One of the big mistakes the Democrats, and all the health care “advocates” who hover around the party like flies who saw this as a chance to load their agenda onto it, is not clearly keeping this about health insurance reform, which could have been done in a 10-page bill, and instead making it about health care reform. Because we know what attracts flies.
how long before the govt takes over industries such as Energy(because everyone has “right” to gas for their car), Food Production(because everyone has a “right” to eat at Mcdonalds), Information(because everyone has the “right” to news), etc……
the slippery slope has begun….what we are seeing is the result of 40 years of a shitty (liberal) education system that has taught 2 generations of people that the govt is what takes care of people, rather people being responsible for taking care of themselves.
Another Republican Troll who’s off it’s Midol. again.
the slippery slope has begun….
I love slippery slope argumenets. They’re so fun to watch.
Domino theory! Boo-ya!
While health care reform, if done right, can help American families stay afloat in the economy, the current bills won’t offer most Americans any appreciable decline in the cost of their health insurance nor clear improvement in the efficiency or quality of the health care they receive, and those who will benefit won’t see the benefits until 2014 at the earliest. – Robert B. Reich
The Obama White House bought off the medical-industrial complex by promising it fatter profits, bolstered by tens of millions of new paying customers. That and other deals cut with industry — including promises to Big Pharma that Medicare wouldn’t use its bargaining clout to reduce drug prices, to the AMA that doctors wouldn’t have to face larger cuts in Medicare reimbursement rates, and to private insurers that the White House wouldn’t fight hard for a public insurance option — are likely to make the resulting reform far more costly than it would be otherwise. These extra costs will be borne by those Americans who will be required to buy insurance but won’t qualify for federal assistance, along with Medicare beneficiaries who will be paying more and receiving less. – Robert B. Reich
SO X’ad,
Is Robert B. Reich off his meds or as always, your medicinal suppositories need an additional boost?
X’ad made an jackass of his/her self by proving he/she has now clue about the politics around this bill.
At 7:25PM PDT, the Stupak Amendment passed that will have the practical effect of severely limit women’s access to insurance that covers abortions, a legal medical procedure. I assume a typical NW moron like you takes the lame HuffPo rather seriously, so go read the item Assault on women’s reproductive rights continues with a vengeance to find out exactly what kind of anti-choice bill the NW biggest horse’s ass Goldy and the rest of you are now supporting.
re 10: Can you give us an example of a country where what you describe has happened? I don’t think you can.
It’s a gateway bill.
@11 re @10: Every time these rightwing fucks get their failures shoved back up their asses they fall back on the same thing: lying.