Public Option Doesn't Fly

I just received the following email from an action group telling people to push back on the public option Pelosi has announced. This is far from over
___________________________________________________________________

Help Salvage Health Care Reform

Call Selected Congress Members. Call them now!

Demand a vote on Medicare-for-all

Demand the Kucinich Amendment to allow state single-payer plans

Today the House unveiled its healthcare reform package. And the news is all bad.

The Weiner Amendment, which would substitute the clean, clear language of HR 676 for the behemoth of a bill introduced, may not be given its vote in the House-in spite of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's promise.

The Kucinich Amendment, which would give the states a clear path for enacting their own single-payer legislation, was stripped from the bill. Since California is within one signature of having a state-wide, single-payer system, the Kucinich amendment is crucial to California.

We have a small window of opportunity to get the Kucinich Amendment back in the bill and to make sure that Speaker Pelosi follows through on her promise to allow a vote on single-payer-the first ever in the House.

Democratic House leaders can insert what is called a "Manager's Amendment" into legislation, even when it is closed to any other amendments. The managers are the majority and minority members who "manage" debate for the bill on each side.

Today, tomorrow, and beyond, call the "managers"listed below. Insist that the Kucinich Amendment is restored into the healthcare bill.We also need to urge these leaders to exert pressure on Speaker Pelosi-and exert it on her ourselves-to follow through on her promise to put the Weiner Amendment to a vote.

The "gang" that holds our future in their hands includes:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-4965; San Francisco office (415) 556-4862

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-4131; Greenbelt office (301) 474-0119; Waldorf office (301) 843-1577

Rep. Henry Waxman: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-3976; Los Angeles office (323) 651-1040

Rep. Charles Rangel: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-4365; New York office (212) 663-3900

Rep. George Miller: Washington, DC, office (202) 225-2095; Concord office (925) 602-1880; Richmond office (510) 262-6500; Vallejo office (707) 645-1888

It's crucial for everyone to make these calls, to make them more than once, and to tell others to make these calls. Act NOW!