Congressman Murphy, stand firm for public option

Congressman Murphy is wavering on his previous commitment to support a public health insurance option as an integral part of health care reform. The “Blue Dog” caucus, comprising some 40 Democratic House members, has sent Speaker Pelosi a letter. Their goal is to slow down the momentum towards reforming our health care system. In theory, these 40 Democrats [joining with 100% of the Republican members of Congress] could stop real health care reform from taking place. Like1993 all over again we could see a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress fail in their attempt at meaningful health care reform. For the Democratic Party, it could very well be a case of 2 strikes and your out. And folks, they [we] would more than deserve it. That’s why Congressmen Murphy’s support and leadership on this important issue is needed more than ever. To be vacillating on the necessity of having a “Public Option” at this crucial stage in the process is a cause for great concern.

The Washington Post reports that the insurance industry has recently hired 350 new lobbyists, many of which are ex-Congressmen or ex- Congressional staffers, to stop the “Public Option” and at all cost up to 1.4 million dollars a day! The extent to which Congressmen Murphy has been influenced by this orgy of insurance industry lobbying is unclear. But make no mistakes about it, the very fact that his position on the “Public Option” is so murky means he will be one of their prime targets.

That’s why it’s crucial that those of us who volunteered for, or financially contributed to his campaign, make our voices heard loud and clear. I have prepared the following petition below to be sent to Congressmen Murphy. It states that those of us who actively supported his recent campaign request that he support President Obama’s goal to establish a public health insurance option. We want him to know that this particular issue is of prime importance to us and that his original support of the public option is one of the reasons we actively supported him. He should also know that we will be intently following his position on this issue.

Now is the time to request some pay back. Please sign the petition below by going to
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/pubopt09 . Both a INTERNET and PHYSICAL petition with the names of the signers will be sent to Representative Murphy.


PETITION



We are citizens who worked the telephone banks, went door to door, contributed money or voluntarily participated in all three endeavors in order to help insure your victory in the recent special election. During your campaign you signed the Health Care for America Now [HCAN] pledge to support real health care reform if elected to Congress. President Obama’s call for Americans to be allowed the choice of a public health insurance option was an essential cornerstone of the pledge you voluntarily agreed to, and a major factor in our support of you.

At present time the public option is under serious attack from the insurance industry and the members of Congress who do their bidding. It is also under fire from those on the ideological “right” who would like nothing better than to see our President fail. In other words they are the same people and institutions that bear much of the responsibility for our dysfunctional health care system. In contrast we think that President Obama is absolutely on the right track in calling for a new approach to our health care crisis. The public option is an integral part of this new approach.

Therefore, we who have been your loyal supporters are requesting that you honor your pledge and support the current tri committee House bill that contains a genuine public health insurance option. We also ask that you follow Senator Schumer’s example and be a leader in the fight to enact a public option. Our concern on this front is of such intensity that we will continue our engagement, and remain acutely cognizant of the stance our elected Representatives take, in this important matter until all Americans have a choice of selecting a public health insurance option.

Sincerely yours,