Dems press Republicans in Obama-friendly districts -- including Ros-Lehtinen -- to vote for the health care bill

Organizing for America is targeting 33 Republican congressional districts whose constituents voted for President Obama in 2008. E-mails to members encourage them to call the Republicans and "remind them that their constituents voted for change and urge their representative to do the same for health insurance reform as they move towards a vote today."

The targeted reps include Miami's Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and St. Petersburg's Bill Young. "Make sure (name of Rep) hears from you and gets a reminder that their district voted for change just 12 months ago," the e-mail says. "With the big vote happening in as little as a few hours, there's not a moment to lose."

No Republicans are expected to vote for the House bill -- and two Florida Dems -- Orlando's Suzanne Kosmas and Monticello's Allen Boyd -- have said they'll vote against it.

And don't bother calling Ros-Lehtinen, she's already said she will vote against the bill.

Organizing for America is targeting 33 Republican congressional districts whose constituents voted for President Obama in 2008. E-mails to members encourage them to call the Republicans and "remind them that their constituents voted for change and urge their representative to do the same for health insurance reform as they move towards a vote today."

The targeted reps include Miami's Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and St. Petersburg's Bill Young. "Make sure (name of Rep) hears from you and gets a reminder that their district voted for change just 12 months ago," the e-mail says. "With the big vote happening in as little as a few hours, there's not a moment to lose."

No Republicans are expected to vote for the House bill -- and two Florida Dems -- Orlando's Suzanne Kosmas and Monticello's Allen Boyd -- have said they'll vote against it.

And don't bother calling Ros-Lehtinen, she's already said she will vote against the bill.

From Ros-Lehtinen:  "We all agree that real health care reform is a necessity. In South Florida we have far too many families living underinsured or completely uninsured. The Pelosi 1.3 trillion dollar bill is not the answer because it cuts Medicare programs for our seniors, taxes small businesses that are already struggling and leaves a staggering debt for our grandchildren. The price of healthcare will not stabilize, it will not go down, and we will all see the cost either in more taxes or premium increases.  Congress should have worked together in a bipartisan way to help the uninsured while not putting additional economic burdens on hard working families at a time when unemployment is over 10% nationally. 

"Among other things, what’s needed in a healthcare reform package is the end to doctors’ fears of frivolous and expensive lawsuits and the practice of defensive medicine; the forcing of insurance companies to compete nationally for your business; the use of refundable tax credits to increase affordability and not penalize America’s small businesses. Our vital small business owners are already straining to not cut jobs and wages.

"My mother is 83 and suffers from Alzheimer’s. When I see the Pelosi bill taking benefits away from seniors like her, I worry tremendously. Medicare helps countless seniors in our community live longer and healthier lives. The Pelosi bill makes $170 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage causing 3 million seniors to lose their current coverage. The Pelosi bill will increase Medicare prescription drug premiums by over 20 percent, a rate unaffordable to seniors. The Pelosi bill also has cuts to Home Health Care programs, hospice care, and the prescription drug care program.  All Americans deserve access to affordable health care, but reducing quality and quantity of care for one group to pay for another is a sacrifice that our seniors should not be forced to make.

"I am a proud new grandmother, and the Pelosi 1.3 trillion dollar bill will leave a legacy of debt to my granddaughter, Morgan Elizabeth. In Congress’ rush to get any kind of bill passed, regardless of its cost or impact, they have taken the wrong approach. Congress should find common-sense and practical ways to fix what is broken in the system without destroying what works.

"We need competition and market place reforms that will bring high quality and low prices. This bill was simply the wrong medicine for America’s health care problems. We must let Americans decide for themselves what is best for their families.  Everyone deserves healthcare treatment, everyone deserves access to healthcare insurance, and everyone deserves both at an affordable cost. We can, we must, do better.

"The Pelosi bill found creative ways to hide healthcare costs in new taxes, mandates and cuts that make no sense for families and seniors, no sense for small businesses, and no sense for future generations.”

Comments

[Hannah]

Bag Pelosi is destroying America...the power monger has just begun...trillions being strapped to the backs of middle class. Job market will on the verge of complete collapse.
2010...

[wawoo]

No, actually a big step in the right direction. It is too complex and too pandering to the wrong special interests. It should have been Medicare with more flexible reimbursement rates for the "Public Option" and closely regulate the health insurance industry per France, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan for the insurance industry reforms. Ros-Lehtinen is bought and paid for so anything she says has to be viewed in that context.

[Alex Marquand]

These Floridian lawmakers are a shame to their constituents,Ros-Lethinen and Lincoln Diaz Balart,voted against "because of such much money involved" in their saying. For them all the billion of dollars given to the banking industry and the million to their executives was "even poor money" given to them,and had their enthusiastic support. I know them very well and I´ve never voted for them but I am hopefully their fellows supporters in real need of a Health Care benefit wake up and in the future elections take them out of the Office.

[Jose J Rivero Sr]

Dear All: The "progresive" crowd that voted for "a change" will have it...
There is no "free lunch" as "there is no "Santa Klaus". The monies required to implement all these changes will come from taking "something" from "somebody" & in this case that will be from seniors & small business somehow. People should not be so ingenuous or so stupid to disregard this very basic principles. God help us until future elections...

[Jose J Rivero Sr]

Dear All:
I forgot to add to my previous post that Lincoln Diaz Balart is the Federal Representative for my 21st district.
I voted for him & will keep voting for him in future
elections. The same concepts of honesty, high morals & patriotism I have for Ileana Ros-Lethinen & Mario
Diaz Balart, whom I will HIGHLY recommend...
DOWN with the elected populist jerks that are destroying this country!!!