Call to Action: Thursday, April 27, 2017
URGENT CALLS TO MOCS! TRUMPCARE 2.0 POSSIBLE HOUSE VOTE FRIDAY!
#ProtectOurCare
On Monday we called for opposition to the latest version of the Trump-GOP attack on our health care: the amended AHCA (American Health Care Act), aka Trumpcare 2.0. We were hoping that the vote would be delayed pending a full debate and CBO score, particularly with everything else going on this week. Instead, the new plan (if enough votes are garnered through back room deals) is to RUSH this disastrous bill to a House vote tomorrow! To recap what is at stake:
–Trumpcare 2.0 keeps the worst Trumpcare components: gutting Medicaid, increasing consumer costs, and using those funds to give billions in tax breaks to the wealthy and health corporations.
–The new Meadows-MacArthur Amendment (http://politi.co/2pARFbj)—endorsed by the far right “freedom caucus”—allows states to “opt-out” from requiring private insurers to provide essential benefits AND from mandating inclusion of folks with pre-existing conditions, who will instead be herded into underfunded “high risk pools,” where their main option will be medical bankruptcy (http://ampr.gs/2pjaWxJ).
–The authors know how bad the bill is–they included language to EXEMPT THEIR OWN HEALTH COVERAGE from the changes.
Oregon US Representative Earl Blumenauer (District 3) is calling for action today, and we must respond as well. We need calls to support our Oregon MOC’s in this fight, but ESPECIALLY from constituents of Oregon’s lone proponent of Trumpcare: Greg Walden. AND we are adding specific actions you can take today to PRESSURE THE MODERATE REPUBLICANS who will decide the outcome of this vote.
Where’s Walden!
**ACTION 1** CALL OUR US REPRESENTATIVES (even if you are not in their district):
The most effective calls include a personal story about how this issue affects you. Or, adapt our scripts:
SCRIPT FOR EVERYONE BUT WALDEN: “My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon. I am proud to be part of a state with US Representatives such as Rep [–] who I can count on to vote no on the disastrous amended AHCA which may come to a floor vote as early as Friday, with no debate or CBO score. I am asking the Congressperson to do more than vote NO: I’m asking [her/him] to speak out loudly and publicly on this issue, to make [her/his] moderate GOP colleagues understand the devastating effects of this bill on their constituents.”
SCRIPT FOR GREG WALDEN: “My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon. I am appalled by Congressman Walden’s past support for AHCA repeal and replace plan. I demand that he stand up for us—his constituents whose lives are at stake—and vote NO on the amended bill. The bill may be coming to a house vote as early as Friday, despite no debate or CBO score, which is unacceptable. I’m asking the Congressman to vote NO and to urge his fellow lawmakers to do the same.
**ACTION 2** Call, text, or email this action to friends/family in the following moderate republican districts. Or, flood the same GOP House members with tweets, even if you are not in their district. Use this link: https://trumpcaretoolkit.org/ Since Walden is not considered a moderate republican, he is not on this list. Please specifically ask your non-ORD2 friends/family to contact him as well.
CONGRESSWOMAN SUZANNE BONAMICI [D1]
DC: (202) 225-0855, OR: (503) 469-6010
CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN [D2]
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER [D3]
DC: (202) 225-4811, OR: (503) 231-2300
CONGRESSMAN PETER DEFAZIO [D4]
DC 202-225-6416, Eugene: (541) 465-6732,
Roseburg: (541) 440-3523, Coos Bay (541) 269-2609
CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER [D5]
DC: (202) 225-5711, Salem (503) 588-9100,
Oregon City (503) 557-1324
http://www.vanityfair.com/…/the-new-gop-health-care-plan-is…
