Keep the Public Option on the Table

President Obama has announced three key principles that we must adhere to in order to bring about meaningful health care reform:

REDUCE COSTS — Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses, individuals and families and they must be brought under control.

GUARANTEE CHOICE — Americans must have the freedom to keep whatever doctor and health care plan they have, or to select a new doctor or health care plan if they choose.

ENSURE AFFORDABLE CARE FOR ALL — All Americans must have quality and affordable health care.

Last week, a new, "Co-op" health care proposal was announced and it may be gaining support in the Senate that could defeat the public option. The proposal would create a series of small, regional "co-op" insurance plans that would be weak and unable to truly compete with private insurers and bring down our costs. In addition, the "co-op" plans would mostly be privately run, and not accountable to voters or Congress.

We need a strong public health insurance plan that has the size and strength to reduce overhead, negotiate lower costs for drugs and treatments, and compete with national private health insurance plans. Small, regional co-op plans just won't cut it.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Call Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman today. They need to hear that voters want a strong, national public health insurance option. Ask that they please oppose the "co-op" proposal and any other half-measures.

Senator Chris Dodd
Phone: (202) 224-2823

Senator Joe Lieberman
Phone: (202) 224-4041

After you call Senators Dodd and Lieberman, sign the online pledge to Stand with President Obama on health care reform with a strong public option. If we are to succeed, members of Congress need to hear from us -- and often.

Thank you for all that you do.

Val McCall, State Chair
Organizing for Connecticut


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