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Domestic Weekly Update November 3, 2009

This is a historic moment for our nation and families. For nearly a century, leaders of every party and political philosophy have fought for health insurance reform.

— Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at the October 29 rally for the Affordable Health Care for America Act

New and Urgent in This Week’s Update

  • Call Representatives THIS WEEK and Tell Them to Vote YES on the House Health Reform Bill
  • Gearing Up for the Health Reform Floor Debates (November Action)
  • House Leaders Block Single-Payer Amendment

Latest from Washington, DC, and Beyond

  • RESULTS Outreach: Heading to Miami!
  • Fundraising Update
  • Quick News

Organizational Reminders and Updates

  • Announcements
  • Upcoming Events
  • RESULTS Contact Information

Call Representatives THIS WEEK and Tell Them to Vote YES on the House Health Reform Bill

On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-8) unveiled the merged House health bill, the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R.3962). While not perfect, the bill has some very encouraging changes around RESULTS’ 2009 priorities for health reform. They are:

  • The bill expands Medicaid to cover all persons at or below 150% of the federal poverty line (FPL). The expansion would take place in 2013. The original House bill, as well as the Senate Finance bill, went up to 133% of the FPL. The House determined that it is more cost effective to cover people in Medicaid that to offer subsidies to buy private insurance. RESULTS strongly supports this change. Please use the updated 150% FPL language when contacting Congress.
  • The Medicaid expansion is 100% financed by the federal government until 2015, then it drops to 91%. While this gives states 6 years to recover from the recession, because the expansion does not start until 2013, it is only two years of full federal financing. RESULTS will continue to work to see that additional federal financing is included in the final bill.
  • Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care (i.e., how much the government will reimburse providers for their services), will be increased to the same rates as Medicare by 2012. This will help ensure that more providers take Medicaid patients. RESULTS supports this much-needed change.
  • Community health centers are authorized to receive gradual funding increases, from $1 billion more in 2010 to $4 billion more in 2015. RESULTS supports these new investments in CHCs.
  • A public health insurance option is included in the bill. Only those who do not have employer-based coverage or are eligible for a government plan (Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP) are eligible. Reimbursement rates for the plan will be negotiated with providers in local areas. A stronger version that would have based rates on Medicare reimbursement rates plus 5 percent was not included. RESULTS supports the strongest version of the public option in the final bill.

To see RESULTS’ priorities as compared to the House and Senate bills, see our updated health reform chart on our Recent Developments on Health Reform page. You can also read details about other parts of the House bill at http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/10/affordable-health-care.shtml.

RESULTS coalition partners are enthusiastic about the bill. Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollock said, “The House health insurance reform bill sets the gold standard for legislation that deserves to be adopted this year.” The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) issued an analysis (PDF), saying that the House bill makes significant progress in the areas of expanding coverage, ensuring affordability, slowing the growth in health care costs, and reforming the health insurance market. It will reduce the number of uninsured by two-thirds by 2019 and reduce the budget deficit by $104 billion over ten years.

The House is could vote on the bill later this week or early next week. Because of certain procedural maneuvering, there will likely be no amendments allowed to the bill. Therefore, the vote in the House will be the vote for final passage.

RESULTS is urging volunteers to call members of Congress and urge them to vote YES to pass H.R. 3962. Based on our work on health reform this year, the bill is a major step forward. Passage of H.R.3962 will keep the process moving; not passing it will, for all intents and purposes, will kill health reform. If that happens, it could be years before we have another opportunity like this. Therefore, we have to make the most of this one.

However, even though we support passing H.R3269, this is not an endorsement of all aspects of this bill. As mentioned above, there are some very good changes that will help low-income individuals and families have better health care coverage and access, but there are also parts of the bill that need improvement. The lack of a robust public option, the delay in implementing the Medicaid expansion, the lack of full federal financing for the expansion beyond 2015 are a few of the provisions RESULTS wants to see changed or strengthened. Procedurally, we are also very disappointed that leadership has chosen not to allow a vote on the Weiner single-payer amendment (see below).

Fortunately, the process is far from over. The Senate must still debate and vote on their bill. The Senate process will be much different than the House (longer debate, many amendments). If the Senate passes a bill, the House and Senate must then working out a final bill in conference committee. Therefore, there are still opportunities for us to influence this process and change bills for the better. However, if things stall in the House, those opportunities will disappear. We cannot wait another year, another decade, another generation for a change in America’s health care. The time to act is now.

TAKE ACTION: Contact your representatives TODAY and urge them to vote YES on H.R.3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Simply say:

I am very pleased that the House has decided to help low-income Americans get quality, affordable health care by expanding Medicaid and funding to community health centers. This is an excellent step forward in providing health care for all. America cannot wait another generation for meaningful health reform. Passing the House health reform bill moves us one-step closer to real reform in 2009. Because of that, I want Representative _____________ to vote YES on H.R.3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Once the House passes the bill, I will follow up with your office on ways to make the bill even stronger in the conference committee.

In addition to your RESULTS group, please enlist your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and others you are in contact with and urge them to call their House members in support of passing the bill as well. See the November Action on identifying the grassroots and grasstops leaders in your community who share a desire to improve health care for all Americans, particularly low-income individuals, children, and families who need it most. We need as many people as possible calling this week to House members. Passage is not a foregone conclusion and it is up to us to force the reform process forward.

Gearing Up for the Health Reform Floor Debates (November Action)

As discussed above, the House floor debate is expected to be quick with no amendments to the final House bill. That is not the case in the Senate. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) sent his merged health care reform bill, the America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009, to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for a cost estimate. The Senate must wait for the CBO to finish its analysis before beginning debate. The CBO estimate will likely be completed later this week and debate could begin as early as next week. It is expected to be a tough fight in the Senate, where Republicans will likely oppose many parts of the bill and one Democratic caucus member, Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has threatened to join a Republican filibuster because of his opposition to the public health insurance option.

Unlike the House, there will be a long debate and many attempts to change the Senate health reform bill. The Senate bill that goes to the floor will not be as strong as the House bill (which we know needs improvement itself), therefore we have to be ready to support changes to the bill that will make it better. We also must be prepared to fight off amendments intended to weaken the bill or kill reform altogether.

The November Action focuses on preparing you to take action during the House and Senate floor debates. Phone calls to congressional offices will be vital during this process. RESULTS will track the process as it relates to our priorities, particularly Medicaid and children’s health, community health centers, a national health program, and the public option. When key amendments come up, we will contact you and urge you to make calls as soon as possible. We will provide talking points for each action whenever possible.

We know each local RESULTS group member will take action, but you may also have a larger network in your community that is willing to act as well. If you have such a network, contact them now. Give them the message from previous section for House members (since the vote is only days away) and also tell them that the Senate debate will start very soon. Let them know that you will be contacting them to make calls during the Senate debate as well. Plan to make the process as easy as you can — tell them you will provide what to say and phone numbers to use. And remind them as well that numerous calls may need to be made throughout the process. If you do not have such a network, read our new Activist Milestone, Create, Manage, and Activate a Community Action Network on how to start one. Also, don’t hesitate to engage family and friends as well. It is that important.

TAKE ACTION: Take the November Action. Plan to make calls to the House and Senate during floor debates on health reform. Designate “floor debate contact person” in your group and contact Meredith Dodson (dodson@results.org, (202) 783-7100, ext. 116) with that person’s name and contact information. We will funnel information to that person when needed who can then in turn send it out to your group and networks. Contact your local action networks now and remind them of the importance of making their voices heard. Plan to send your networks updates and alerts as you get them, urging them to call senators on amendments, procedural votes, or final votes.

Note: Most alerts and messaging for phone calls will be made via the weekly update, action alerts, and e-mails to the RESULTS listserv. However, in cases where specific members of Congress need to hear from volunteers, we will contact your group point person directly.

House Leaders Block Single-Payer Amendments

RESULTS and many of its members continue to view a national health program, such as Medicare for All, as the ideal way to provide quality, affordable health coverage to all Americans. We endorsed H.R.676 by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI-14). During the committee mark-ups of the House health care bill, Rep. Andrew Weiner (D-NY-9) offered an amendment that would substitute the language of the House bill with the language of H.R.676. In committee, he agreed to withdraw the amendment with assurances that he would be permitted to offer it during the floor debate. It now appears that House leadership will not allow a vote on an amendment on the House floor. Leadership is preventing any amendments to the bill as an effort to thwart attempts to pass “poison pill” amendments that would kill reform.

Also in doubt is an amendment by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH-10), which was accepted in the Education and Labor Committee mark-up in July. The Kucinich Amendment would allow a small number of states to enact statewide single-payer health care systems. On Monday, RESULTS faxed a letter in support of the Kucinich amendment to House leaders. We urged that they include the Kucinich provisions in the version of the bill that goes to the House floor.

TAKE ACTION: Show support for a national health program as the long-term goal for U.S. health care. Urge members of Congress to cosponsor single-payer legislation. Tell representatives to cosponsor H.R.676 and tell senators to cosponsor S.703.      

RESULTS Outreach: Heading to Miami!

Last May, Domestic Outreach Organizer Jos Linn traveled to Miami, FL to start a new RESULTS Domestic group there. With the help of RESULTS Miami Global group, nearly 30 people turned out for the group start meeting and a new Domestic group was started. Already the RESULTS Miami Domestic group has had an op-ed and two letters to the editor published and have met with aides from the offices of Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Rep. Ileana Ros Lehtinen (R-FL-18) about health care reform. Jos is returning to Miami this month to revisit the group and hopefully enlist new members to join them. The group is hosting a potluck dinner and RESULTS presentation, where Jos will provide an update on our health care work and how involvement in RESULTS can make a difference on issues like hunger and poverty.

In addition, Director of Domestic Campaign’s Meredith Dodson is traveling to Chicago this weekend for the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness where she will be presenting on the importance of legislative advocacy. She will also be meeting with members of the RESULTS Domestic Chicago group while there.

TAKE ACTION: If you know persons in the Miami area, please invite them to attend the potluck meeting with the RESULTS Miami Domestic group and Jos. The meeting is Saturday, November 21 at 5:00 pm ET at home of RESULTS volunteer Helene Dudley, 2151 SW 17th St, Miami, FL. RSVP to Helene at helenedudley@yahoo.com for directions and details on what to bring.

Fundraising Update

Howdy Partners! I know many of you are in the midst of your fall fundraising madness! Thanks for all you are doing! Your support is allowing millions of people to escape the devastating effects of poverty everyday! Thank you for bringing dignity and hope to all.

Check Out the Latest Advocate and our New Annual Report! Back by popular demand our Advocate will be mailed out to donors in the next few weeks! Get a sneak peak and check it out online! Use our mini annual report in your fundraising letter or at your event! It fits perfectly into a business-sized envelope! Thanks to Lesley Reed — this is a great marketing and fundraising piece for us! Just e-mail Cynthia Stancil in the RESULTS office to get your copies — cstancil@results.org. Check out the full Annual Report for 2008. Please forward this to donors or others who may be interested — it’s not just about our financials, it really tells the story of what we do, how we do it, and who benefits most from the work of our volunteers and staff! It’s a must read — great for new partners too!

Fall Fundraising Campaign — Help Us Reach Our Goal of $50,000. Once your group has decided to do some kind of fundraising activity, here’s what you’ll want to do next:

  • Set your goals.
  • Let your regional coordinator know what your plan is
  • Begin drafting your letter or organizing for your house party. Here the RESULTS office can help you. For friends and family campaigns, we can send you return envelopes & mini-annual reports for your letters. And here’s a hint: pre-stamp your return envelopes; it makes it much easier and quicker for people to return their donations. If you are doing a house party, we can send you fact sheets and mini-annual reports. Just call Cynthia Stancil at the RESULTS office.
  • Once you’ve got everything ready to go, start sending out those letters.
  • And as always, please contact Stacy Carkonen, our grassroots fundraising manager (scarkonen@results.org or call (206) 715-4986). You can call for help, questions, support, counseling, jokes, or fashion advice. She is happy to help you in any way she can.

Looking for tools for your House Party or Friends and Family Letter writing campaign? Look no further. We have lots of support documents to help you and your group have a successful fundraising event. See our House Party Toolkit and Letter Writing Toolkit.

You’ve had your party and now you want to thank your guests? Perfect! We have just the thing for you! Super cute, RESULTS/REF thank you cards in black and white or color.

Other Opportunities. Make the most of the fundraising opportunities offered with the Combined Federal Campaign. Each year from September through December federal government employees are encouraged to make charitable contributions through a workplace giving program called the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Millions of dollars are raised for thousands of participating organizations including RESULTS Educational Fund. Each year we raise approximately $5,000 from this campaign. Volunteers David Burns from New Jersey and Bob Dickerson from Washington State have both used this model in the past. David as a federal employee and Bob working through events organized by federal employees.

Do you know anyone working for the government? Let them know they can support RESULTS Educational Fund through the Combined Federal Campaign — our CFC #10683 is all they need to find us.

Fundraising Support. In need of some support? Please contact Stacy Carkonen to commiserate, cajole, plan, scheme, yell, scream, or sing about your fundraising needs. scarkonen@results.org.

Quick News

RESULTS Supports Maintaining Quality Health Care for Children. The House health care bill provides a major boost for children’s health. Because of the Medicaid expansion, the bill would make approximately 2.2 million additional children eligible for the comprehensive Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefits to which all children in Medicaid are entitled. However, the House bill ends the Children’s Health Care Program (CHIP) in 2013; CHIP-enrolled children would then be insured through the new health insurance exchange. As Children’s Defense Fund says this should not happen “until it can be shown to provide coverage that is at least as good as what children have now — but preferably better.” Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other members of the Children’s Health Group are urging Congress to include safeguards to assure that children are not worse off than they are today. Also, Congress also needs to act to eliminate state administrative barriers that prevent eligible children getting the coverage to which they are entitled. RESULTS will join Children’s Health Group members in working to assure quality health care for all children.

Startling Figures on Children and Hunger. A new study states that nearly half of all American children, including 90 percent of African American children, will receive SNAP benefits (aka food stamps) at some point during childhood. “This is a real danger sign that we as a society need to do a lot more to protect children,” says author of the study Mark Robert Rank, Professor of Social Welfare at Washington University in St. Louis and author of One Nation, Underprivileged (a must read for anti-poverty advocates). Use this new data to send a letter to the editor urging Congress to do more about child nutrition and hunger. Also, USDA is soliciting comments and suggestions from the public on meeting President Obama’s goal of ending childhood hunger in the United States by 2015. This new study reinforces the need to reach this goal on or ahead of schedule. Share your views by going to http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/17fb9g40b44 and registering for one of the webinars. In addition, you can send a message to Congress urging passage of child nutrition reauthorization from our website.

Announcements

Check out the RESULTS blog! Did you know that RESULTS has blog on our new website? You should check it out. At any given moment, RESULTS staff and activists around the world are busy working with their elected officials, local media, or working within their communities to realize a world without poverty. Hear their stories! http://www.results.org/results_blog/

New Activist Milestones Now Online! Part of RESULTS’ work to create the political will to end poverty includes providing you, the advocates, the tools necessary to be effective in your advocacy work. For years, we have had a set of “Activist Milestones” available on our website that provide a step-by-step process on various actions you can take. Actions are available for people brand new to advocacy and those who have been doing it for years. In conjunction with our new website, we have updated and added to the milestones to provide more tools in your advocacy toolbox. You can check out our new and improved Activist Milestones at http://www.results.org/skills_center/activist_toolkit/. Let us know what you think!

Updated Outreach Action Sheets Now Available. We have updated our Medicaid and Public Option Outreach Action Sheets. Use them or others on our website to engage others in your community in action around health reform. These are one-page Word documents you can distribute at events, forums, rallies, conferences, communities of faith, or other places you choose.

Upcoming Events

(Click to see a complete calendar)

October-November New Activist Orientation: This session will be a repeat of the August-September training. The first call took place on  October 26. Remaining calls are scheduled for November 2, November 9, and November 16. To sign up, contact Lisa Marchal (lmarchal@results.org).

November 14: Monthly National Domestic Conference Call, 12:30 pm ET.

November 17: 2010 Domestic Campaign Conference call. Plan to join us for a discussion of possible 2010 Domestic legislative campaigns. We want your input on what issues we should work on next year. If you have ideas now that just can’t wait, contact Meredith Dodson. Save the Date! Tuesday, November 17, at 7:00 pm ET, (218) 486-1611, passcode 2883622#. Also, if you already have ideas about possible 2010 Domestic Campaigns, please e-mail Meredith Dodson (dodson@results.org) with your ideas.

December 12: RESULTS Combined Global and Domestic Monthly Conference Call, 2:00 pm ET.

June 20–22, 2010: RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund International Conference, Washington Marriott Hotel, Washington, DC.

RESULTS Contact Information

Main 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).

Grassroots Fundraising Support: Stacy Carkonen, (206) 715-4986 (scarkonen@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.