You want everyone in America to have access to affordable health care? Then it's time to make some calls.
We need to know which members of the Texas congressional delegation support the public option for universal health care, and which ones don't. The reason is simple, as Chris Bowers wrote, "Let’s Get Some Answers On The Public Option" --
For years, candidates for, and members of, Congress told us that we needed to elect and re-elect them in order to lower health care costs and provide universal coverage. And so, for years, we dutifully worked our collective asses off, delivering wide majorities for Democrats--who said they would lower health care costs and provide universal coverage--in both branches of Congress.
Now, when it comes time for them to deliver on health care by providing a public option--the care minimum required to reduce costs and provide universal coverage--what we are getting instead are backroom deals, flip-flops, and cop-outs.
Enough.
Everyone is on board with this plan. Health Care for America Now, Democracy for America, and dozens of progressive bloggers around the country are joining forces to ask Congress these simple questions:
Do you support a public healthcare option as part of healthcare reform?
If so, do you support a public healthcare option that is available on day one?
Do you support a public healthcare option that is national, available everywhere, and accountable to Congress?
Do you support a public healthcare option that can bargain for rates from providers and big drug companies?
TX Democrats: Congressman Chet Edwards and Congressman Gene Green have not issued any comment about the public healthcare option. All other Texas Democrats have said "yes" -- that they support the public healthcare option.
TX Republicans: Not one member of Texas' Republican delegation -- including Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn -- have said anything about whether or not they support a public healthcare option.
Folks, its time to make some phone calls.
Follow this link to find out where each member of the Texas Congressional delegation stands. (I've also copy and pasted the information below the fold for those members of Texas' Congressional delegation that have not yet announced their position). That link also has phone numbers and e-mail addresses for each member of Congress -- write them or call them with the questions listed above, and then let us know what they said.
You can respond in the comments with any answers you get, or e-mail me privately at phillip@burntorangereport.com.
