27 Days Until The House Turns BLUE!
PROTECT HEALTH CARE—ACA
Democrats won the House largely because voters want affordable, accessible, good quality health care. Therefore, protecting the ACA must be their top priority.
While any Democratic legislation is unlikely to become law, the American people will know where MoCs stand by the health care laws they pass. The new House also can hold hearings to show exactly how the Trump administration is sabotaging our health care coverage.
Consider these signs of erosion after nearly two years of relentless attacks on the ACA by Trump and this Congress:
- Enrollment is down overall this open season after deep cuts in the advertising and navigator programs
- The number of uninsured children went up in 2017, compared to 2016
- The agency administering the ACA is planning to allow states to “experiment” with end-running guaranteed protections for people with pre-existing conditions—and using federal subsidies for plans that offer skimpier benefits
Once again, we need to let our Members of Congress know how we feel about health care. And, now that the midterms are behind us, we can help the ACA by publicizing ACA Open Enrollment (which closes December 15) widely on our networks.
Alice DiMicele
Healthcare is a Human Right!
Protect the ACA!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
“My name is [Name]. I am a constituent and I live in [town/city], ZIP code [number]. I am calling today because good health care is a vital issue for me. One of the reasons I worked so hard in the midterms is because I want comprehensive, affordable, and accessible health care for everyone.
Thank you for what you have done to protect the ACA and our safety net. Please work to stop the current Administration from sabotaging all federal healthcare programs, from Medicaid to Medicare to the ACA. I also ask that you promote ACA enrollment on all of your networks. Thank you.”
SENATOR RON 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) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR JEFF 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
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
“My name is [Name]. I am a constituent and I live in [town/city], ZIP code [number]. I am calling today because good health care is a vital issue for me. One of the reasons I worked so hard in the midterms is because I want comprehensive, affordable, and accessible health care for everyone. In the new Congress, I insist you work to expand health care instead of working to take it away. You were the architect of the ACA repeal which would have hurt so many. Now, and in the next Congress, you have the opportunity to put people before party and make up for your past attacks on our health care. Please seize that opportunity. Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: REMINDER – DEADLINE TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN OPPOSITION TO CHANGES IN PUBLIC CHARGE, MONDAY DECEMBER 10**
**ACTION FOUR: SAVE THE DATE! DECEMBER 13**
Make plans to attend the ORD2 Indivisible Holiday Gathering, Potluck & Non-perishable Food Drive. Join us for a fun-filled event on Thursday, December 13 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Paschal Winery, 1122 Suncrest Road in Talent.
