Call to Action: May 19, 2017
TIME TO START OVER ON HEALTHCARE: IMPROVE—DON’T REPEAL—THE ACA!
Everyone knows how bad Trumpcare 2.0—which barely passed the House on May 4—really is http://politi.co/2qxlN7p. The CBO score is expected next week, but it is clear the AHCA will gut Medicaid, hurt people with pre-existing conditions as well as women and seniors, weaken essential benefits and give billions in tax breaks to the wealthy. But can the Senate be trusted to do better? We can’t count on it.
–Although they recently opened their meetings to other Republicans http://washex.am/2qwWNfX , the main Senate Health Care working group is 13 Republican men, including extremists like Ted Cruz committed to making Trumpcare even worse http://washex.am/2qyvjqI.
–Meanwhile, moderate Republicans have their own ideas—but some would take us backwards. http://bit.ly/2qwW6mF . SB 191—the so called “Patient Freedom Act” cosponsored by Susan Collins—would strip many popular ACA protections https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/191 . And some Dem’s have signaled a willingness to compromise http://politi.co/2pLt4kz .
Our Oregon MOC’s—except for Greg Walden–have insisted that any new proposal be as good as the ACA—or better.
Senator Merkley is holding a Portland Health Care event at 11:00 a.m. today at 121 SW Salmon in Portland.
WHERE’S WALDEN?!?
Let ALL our MOC’s know that Trumpcare can’t be fixed. They must start over and improve—not repeal—the ACA.
**ACTION 1: CALL SENATORS MERKLEY AND WYDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon. I want to thank Senator [–] for his opposition to attacks on our health care. Right now, it is imperative that any Senate plan scrap the disastrous AHCA, and improve—rather than repeal–the popular ACA. I am asking Senator [–] to say no to compromise, and make sure that no bill passes the Senate unless it is at least as comprehensive as the ACA.
**ACTION 2: CALL CONGRESSMAN WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon. I am appalled by Congressman Walden’s support for the disastrous ACHA bill which would have stripped health care from thousands of his own constituents. I would like Mr. Walden to show his constituents he cares about their health and their lives. He must call on his Senate colleagues to start over and improve—rather than repeal–the popular ACA.
**ACTION 3: CALL FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH REPUBLICAN SENATORS – PRIMARILY THOSE LISTED BELOW**
Tell them to pressure their Senators to start with the ACA and improve it, rather than starting over with a proposal that would strip their constituents of health care.
Lamar Alexander (TN) 202-224-4944 Bob Corker (TN) 202-224-3344
Shelley Moore Capito (WVa) 202-224-6472
Bill Cassidy (LA) 202-224-5824 Susan Collins (ME) 202-224-2523
Tom Cotton (AR) 202-224-2353 Jeff Flake (AZ) 202-224-4521
Cory Gardner (CO) 202-224-5941 Lindsey Graham (SC) 202-224-5972
Dean Heller (NV) 202-224-6244 Lisa Murkowski (AK) 202-224-6665
Rob Portman (OH) 202-224-3353
**OREGON MOC PHONE NUMBERS**
SENATOR MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: 202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
SENATOR WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 962-7691
CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
