Domestic Weekly Update February 23, 2010-
New and Urgent in This Week’s Update
Latest from Washington, DC, and Beyond
Organizational Reminders and Updates
Call Congress TODAY and Tell Them to Maintain the Safety Net for Struggling AmericansThe safety net for jobless Americans is about to start failing in critical areas. Congress has yet to act to extend again unemployment insurance benefits (UI), as well as the COBRA health premium subsidy, for the long-term unemployed. The National Employment Law Project (NELP) states that nearly 1.2 million jobless workers will become ineligible for federal unemployment benefits at the end of this month unless Congress extends the unemployment safety net programs from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). By June, this number will swell to nearly 5 million unemployed workers nationally who will be left without any jobless benefits. Economic indicators demonstrate that aid for the unemployed like UI and COBRA must continue until the end of 2010. The Congressional Budget Office recently documented that jobless aid provides the most significant boost to the economy and job growth of any policy option being debated by Congress, creating $1.90 in economic activity for every $1 spent. For these reasons, Congress must enact immediately a continuation of these provisions. Also, Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans is at stake. As part of ARRA, states were given additional money to cover Medicaid costs for 2009–10. This was to prevent states, who share the costs for Medicaid, from cutting the program during the economic downturn. That additional funding is set to expire at the end of 2010, yet states will not be out of the woods by then. Taking action now in conjunction with this unemployment extension might well be the only real opportunity for Congress to extend ARRA’s increased federal Medicaid funding (called FMAP for “Federal Medical Assistance Percentage”). The urgency of this action is due to the fact that most states are drafting their FY 2011 budgets now. Absent a federal commitment now to extend ARRA’s Medicaid funding for six months (through June 2011), deficit-ridden states will act to cut Medicaid in the coming weeks and months. Millions of people who have turned to Medicaid for health coverage during the economic crisis could lose their coverage, benefits, or cost-sharing provisions if Congress does not act. FamiliesUSA’s report “Special Report: States in Need” provides more details on the fiscal crisis in the states. On top of this, states that cut Medicaid could hinder their economic recovery. As noted in our February Action sheet, Medicaid spending provides a significant boost to local economies that can lead to higher incomes and more jobs. If states are forced to cut the program, the gains their economies have made over the last year could be compromised. It is imperative that Congress act to prevent these unjust and job-killing cuts. TAKE ACTION: Join millions TODAY in telling Congress to act now and pass extensions of unemployment insurance benefits, COBRA and Medicaid’s FMAP increase. Citizens from around the country are contacting Congress today in support of these provisions. UI and COBRA should be extended through the end of 2010 and the FMAP for Medicaid should be extended another six months through June 2011. Congress must not neglect unemployed Americans and cash-strapped states, which need help now or face more hardship in the coming months. Use our online action alert to make your phone calls and send e-mails. President Releases His Proposal for Health Reform — Build Momentum for Reform in the MediaYesterday, President Obama released his proposal for health care reform in anticipation of his White House Health Summit on Thursday. Here are some of the highlights of his plan: Medicaid/CHIP:
Community Health Centers:
Other areas:
Revenue to pay for reform includes:
All the details have not been worked out but this is good news. President Obama’s proposal is a strong improvement over the Senate bill. RESULTS will continue to work in the coming weeks to see that the final health bill is as strong as possible. TAKE ACTION: Help us get over the finish line by sending a letter to the editor to your local paper, urging Congress to pass health reform now. It is time to do what it right for all Americans and not what is best for private insurance companies. Tell Congress to pass reform now! You can use our online alert to send a letter directly from the RESULTS website. Also, visit the White House health reform site, which has an interactive tool with state-by-state data on the benefits of health reform. And don’t forget to watch the White House Health Summit this Thursday, February 25 beginning at 10:00 am ET. It is expected that many cable networks and C-SPAN will carry the summit live; you can also watch it over the internet at WhiteHouse.gov/live. Call In to RESULTS’ Economic Opportunity Campaign Call TONIGHTThis evening, February 23, RESULTS Domestic staff will be hosting an Economic Opportunity campaign conference call. Our two major domestic campaigns for 2010 are Health Care for All (i.e. finishing reform) and Economic Opportunity for All. We recognize that despite your demonstrated expertise on the health care, many of us are not as familiar with the issue of low-income tax credits and asset development. This call is designed to help educate you more about these issues, so you can be better prepared when talking with members of Congress, the media, and your communities. TAKE ACTION: Please plan to join us on TONIGHT at 8:00 pm ET; the call-in number is (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262. We want your input and feedback as we move forward with this important campaign. NOTE: If you missed our website tour call last Thursday, you can listen to it online. New Data Shows Economic Benefits of Public Health Funding (February Action)Our actions this week a focused more on the issue of extending the safety net for Americans and pushing health reform in the media, but don’t forget to take the February Action if you have not done so already. Members of Congress still need to hear that health reform and low-income tax credits are means to boosting our economy. In fact, new data was released to bolster your argument. Last week, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported on a study showing that recent investments in community health centers (CHCs) have created enormous benefits for the economy. The study shows that the $1.85 billion given to CHCs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) last year has since generated $3.2 billion in economic activity. This activity resulted from CHCs expanding operations and hiring new health workers and support staff. In addition, the National Association of Community Health Centers estimates that the ARRA funds have funded health care for 1.6 million people including 900,000 uninsured. Considering that the House, Senate and White House proposals for health reform include significant increases in CHC funding, health reform will provide more care and create more economic benefits from these investments. TAKE ACTION: Take the February Action. Write a letter to your representatives and senators urging them to pass health reform and expansions to low-income tax credits in 2010. Remind them that these investments will help millions of individuals and families struggling in poverty, help create jobs, and revive our economy. Find links to background information on Health Care for All and Economic Opportunity on the RESULTS website, including brief PowerPoint presentations on our work on health reform and low-income tax credits. See RESULTS Domestic’s Meredith Dodson on CNN and in California This WeekThis week, RESULTS Director of Domestic Campaigns Meredith Dodson will be making her way over the airways and across the country. This Thursday, February 25, Meredith will be appearing on CNN’s new series “Broken Government” at 9:30 am ET. She will be a guest with author, activist, and spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson on the CNN morning newsroom anchored by Kyra Phillips. Be sure to tune and see her on the show. After the CNN appearance, Meredith will travel to Los Angeles to present at the Sister Giant seminar. The seminar, which was created by Williamson, is designed to explore leadership opportunities and empowerment for woman in today’s society. One focus of the seminar will be looking at ways to end childhood hunger. RESULTS founder Sam Daley-Harris will also be speaking at the conference. While in California, Meredith will take the opportunity to meet with several of our southern California RESULTS groups. On February 26 at 4:30 pm PT, she will help host an outreach meeting with out San Gabriel Valley (Diamond Bar) group. Then on February 28 at 4:00 pm PT, she will help host an outreach meeting with the San Fernando Valley (Northridge). Both meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to invite anyone you know in these areas to attend. For more details about the meetings, please contact Meredith at dodson@results.org or (202) 783-7100, x.116. Congratulations, Meredith! We look forward to seeing you on CNN and hearing about your successful trip. Quick NewsSingle-Payer Advocates to Hold Sidewalk Health Summit. Single-payer advocates will gather outside the White House on Thursday to hold its own “Sidewalk Health Summit” to coincide with the president’s health summit that day. Physicians for a National Health Program and the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care are having the summit to raise awareness of a national health program, which is not on the agenda for the White House summit. RESULTS has endorsed a national health program as the long-term vision for U.S. health care and supports these efforts. Show you support by contacting with White House through our online action alert, telling President Obama to put single-payer on the table as part of the health reform debate. Public Option Getting Some New Life. The public health insurance option, a government-administered health insurance plan was thought to be dead once the Senate passed its health reform bill without one. However, it is now getting some new life. As Congress works to pass a final health reform bill, which is likely to include a “budget reconciliation” bill that needs only 51 votes in the Senate, public option proponents are urging Congress to pass a public option in that reconciliation bill. Sen. Michael Bennett (D-CO) is gathering signatures from Democratic senators who support passing a public option in reconciliation. To date, there are 24 signatories. RESULTS supports including a public option in health reform. Sen. Bennett has an online letter citizens can sign onto in support of the public option at http://savethepublicoption.com/. RESULTS also has a Public Option Outreach Action sheet you can use to take action on this issue. New IRS Data Makes Case for Robust Estate Tax. The IRS recently released tax data on America’s 400 richest taxpayers and the data is startling. The data from 2007 (the latest year available) shows that these taxpayers had an average income of $345 million, up 31 percent from 2006. Yet, they paid an average tax rate of only 16.6 percent, the lowest since 1992 (the year the IRS began collecting data). This data is a stark reminder of why we need a strong and progressive estate tax. These top earners would benefit the most from an estate tax cut or repeal. Without the tax, wealthy families would be able to pass on their wealth tax free, even though estimates show that many of the assets in these estates have capital gains that have never been taxed. In a struggling economy with rising deficits, high unemployment, and a weakened social safety net, this data confirms that U.S. tax policy needs a major course correction. Help right the ship by urging Congress to reinstate the estate tax at a fair and just level. AnnouncementsDon’t Forget to Finish Group Planning and Submit Your Forms. Please remember schedule a specific time this month for your group to do annual group planning. Go to the RESULTS Group Resources page to find the RESULTS 2010 Group Planning Materials. Use the forms available to help with your planning. Once you have completed your Group Planning Form, please be sure to e-mail, mail of Fax a copy to Meredith Dodson at the RESULTS DC office. As always, if you have any questions or need help with your planning, please contact Meredith or Jos Linn. Listen to the RESULTS Website Tour Online. Last Thursday, RESULTS staff did a conference call tour of the new RESULTS website. Participants found it very helpful and encouraged us to make it available to listen to online, which we have now done. Listen to the call from the RESULTS website; you can also find the link to the call on our Multimedia Resources page. Don’t forget to use our online Laser Talks. To help in your advocacy work, RESULTS staff keeps up-to-date laser talks online for you to use. You can find our current laser talks at the bottom of our U.S. Poverty Actions and News page. Donations Always Welcome. RESULTS and RESULTS Education Fund always welcome your financial contributions. Your support helps us do the work we do. Use our easy, breezy online donation form to make your contribution. Upcoming Events(Click to see a complete calendar) February 23: Economic Opportunity for All conference call, 8:00 pm ET. This call is designed to help educate you more about low-income tax credits and asset building, so you can be better prepared when talking with members of Congress, the media, and your communities. Call (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262. March 13: RESULTS Domestic National Conference Call, 12:30 pm ET. June 20–22, 2010: RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund International Conference, Washington Marriott Hotel, Washington, DC. RESULTS Contact InformationMain Office: (p) (202) 783-7100, (f) (202) 783-2818, 750 First Street NE, Suite 1040, Washington DC 20002. Domestic Legislative and Grassroots Support Staff: Meredith Dodson, x116 (dodson@results.org); Alan Gold, x106 (gold@results.org); Jos Linn, (515) 288-3622 (jlinn@results.org). The RESULTS Domestic Update is sent out every Tuesday over e-mail to RESULTS volunteers and allies all over the country. The purpose of these updates is to inform and activate RESULTS activists to take action on our domestic campaigns. |