Dede Goes to Washington... and more

Yes, I Got the Call..... and I'm going to the White House to Huddle about Federal Health Care Reform

Last week I got a call from the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs inviting me to consult with the administration on health care reform and how to get it through Congress.  I am going this week and will be meeting with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Presidential Advisor Valerie Jarrett, along with 30 other progressive state legislators from around the county who serve on Health Committees and have experience in this area.  What a thrill-- I have been waiting for leadership on this issue from the federal level for over a decade.  And they want to know what works-- and what does not-- out here in New Mexico, which has one of the lowest rates of insurance in the country.  ( We're second only to Texas.)

Here's where it's great to have a former State Senator in the White House.  Obama knows that states have been struggling with access and cost issues  for a decade. And people like me, Sen. Karen Keiser of Washington State, Sen. Sharon Treat of Maine, and Sen. Jack Hatch of Iowa   have been introducing bills to contain costs, use bulk purchasing, maximize medicaid and and expand insurance for children for years. So I'm viewing this invitation as a great opportunity.

I'll be sharing information (including how you can get involved and counter the huge number of lobbyists now descending on Washington) about the various options and versions of the bill as they go trough the US Senate and House.  The major issue right now is whether or how to incorporate a so called "public option," into the overall reform package.  The White House staffers, in subsequent conference calls have said the President wants this done by August.  
So now is when the rubber meets the road.  All hands on deck.

Here are some links to print and video resources on health care:

• Read about 4 models of health care around the world
  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/countries/models.html
• President Obama's Three Principles for Real Health Care Reform  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GggVSAPt-HY
• Examine the President's position on reforming health care. 
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/23/AR2008032301770.html
• Read what nobel laureate Paul Krugman says about healthcare
  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/opinion/05krugman.html
• View of Paul Krugman on Health care here
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ow9YDLliy8
• Real Issues: Health Care Costs
  http://www.onpointradio.org/2008/02/real-issues-health-care-costs

Challengers Win in Conservancy District Election

Adrian Oglesby and Karen Dunning are the newly elected members of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District from Bernalillo County, where all the incumbents were defeated.  THANKS to all of your who helped with the campaigns.  It's too early to see how the various alliances will form within the district, or who the Chairman will be.  There is a great opportunity for change if the newcomers stick together  or find consensus with others on important issues like the District's Water Bank, the Chief Engineer and the District's legal representation.  Recreation and levy issues may have to wait in the wings as "process" and administrative changes take center stage.

I know that both candidates have outstanding debts for services associated with mailings and would appreciate donations, however small. To donate to Adrian Oglesby go to http://WWW.ProtectTheValley.comand contribute through Pay Pal.
To donate to Karen Dunning send a check to Karen Dunning, 1004 Ortega Rd. N, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, 87114.

Comments

[Rawkngrl]

I Don't want My Tax dollars going to People who abuse the welfare system. I don't Like this new bill.

[Sara Manns]

Sen. Feldman, as I have told you in person:

Those of us who run the small businesses (<10 employees) that keep New Mexico working NEED the option to buy from the state or the feds. We don't need a handout, we need a way to buy into the working federal systems.

We can't afford to continue handing our profits over to the insurance industry, in exchange for lousy access to care and so-called 'benefits' that we need a lawyer to enforce.

The insurance companies hate the idea of competing with a public plan, because they know we'd rather buy into that for the premiums than their products.

You don't have to be an expert in this field, as you are, to see that the private health-insurance industry sells something that is impractical for individuals, families and small employers--due to the unbalanced power of the industry over our premiums and our benefits.

Many New Mexicans who are employed fall into these categories, so it's no wonder we have a low rate of 'insured'. Health insurance is a lousy deal for many of us.

We're counting on you to add some common sense to this debate, and fight for the majority of us who don't get a packet from HR explaining what great insurance we get along with a paycheck.

[pancheetah]

AND THERE BETTER BE A DAMN GOOD PUBLIC OPTION !!