Today’s call-to-action is dedicated to the thousands of ordinary Americans who flooded town hall meetings across the US this week to protest the Trump agenda and support the ACA. Taking a page from the Indivisible Guide, people have been fighting hard—in person—to make it clear to their MOC’s that eliminating their health care will have serious political consequences.
In spite of ongoing efforts to label the ACA an unpopular failure, it has extended insurance to more than 20 million, and 54% of Americans approve of it http://nyti.ms/2kR5KQ9 . By contrast, the Republican plan—outlined in a policy “white paper” last we—would cut coverage for millions of middle class Americans, as well as those in nursing homes or living in poverty. Folks with pre-existing or expensive illnesses are not even mentioned. http://nyti.ms/2lcM2Lq .
In response to this week’s outpouring of ACA support, many Republicans have distanced themselves from their party’s plan, including Oregon Rep. Greg Walden. Given that Trump recently stated that the goal of any replacement plan should be “insurance for everybody,” http://wapo.st/2lBJKpg perhaps more MOC’s in both parties should support current proposed legislation (HB 676) http://bit.ly/2l5nBha that would fulfill Trump’s promise through Medicare expansion.
**ACTION 1: CALL Senators Wyden and Merkley**
Sample script
“My name is [–] and I’m a voting constituent from [city], Oregon, zip code (–). I am calling to THANK the Senator for speaking out against Republican plans to repeal the ACA without a replacement that can be at least as successful. I am also asking the Senator to support legislation in support of President Trump’s own stated goal of “insurance for everybody.”
**ACTION 2: CALL Representative Greg Walden**
Sample Script
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon, zip code (–). I am calling to urge Representative (–) to listen to fight all efforts to dismantle the ACA, which has extended health coverage to millions of Americans, including Oregonians in rural areas, in nursing homes, and with pre-existing conditions. I am asking (him or her) to go a step further and support House Bill 676 which would fulfill Trump’s promise to provide “insurance for everybody.”
**ACTION 3: CALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN OTHER STATES**
Urge them to use our scripts with their own Members of Congress
**PHONE NUMBERS**
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
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
CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN
Medford (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408
LaGrande (541) 624-2400
DC (202) 225-6730
https://www.washingtonpost.com/…/d6c49a9e-f976-11e6-be05-1a…
