Sen Gillibrand: Help Me Fight For A Public Option

[FourScore]

Help Me Fight For A Public Option
by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Thu Jul 23, 2009 at 07:31:12 AM PDT

As you know, there is a historic effort underway in Washington right now to finally address the health care crisis in this country, and I need your help...

...I believe that a robust not-for-profit public option must be a part of the health care reform package Congress passes this year. I feel that opening up a Medicare For All type system to everyone would lower costs and increase efficiency by injecting some much needed competition into the market.

I was very pleased to see the Senate HELP committee pass a bill out of committee last week that included a public option and I assure you, I am going to do everything in my power to ensure that a public option remains in the final bill. I feel that not only must the public option be national and accountable to Congress, but it must be made available to all Americans right away. We've kicked health care reform down the road for far too long already. As others have said -- I think rightly -- a public option has already been triggered.

We are at a critical time in the health care reform debate, which means we must keep the pressure on. That's where you come in. The online community has done so much already -- and trust me, those of us fighting for real reform feel encouraged by your advocacy and those who are opposed to it are feeling the pressure. Will you help me keep the pressure on? Please join me in advocating for a public option by signing my petition today. http://www.democratsenators.org/o/44/t/825/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=170
I truly believe that health care is a right, not a privilege, and that the time for real reform -- including a public option -- is now. As the President said last night, the status quo is NOT an option and with you at my side, I intend to continue to fight for the real reform that Americans deserve.

Thanks for all your hard work.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/7/23/755512/-Help-Me-Fight-For-A-Public-Option

[Lorax7844]

1. kick kick kick for this being an good thread worthy of attention.

[xultar]

2. DUers hate her so what she has to say means nothing here.

[babylonsister]

3. I don't hate her. She's fighting for this and against DADT. Sounds

good to me.

[xultar]

4. Me neither. I remember when it was between her and Caroline Kennedy...

man people wanted to claw home girls eyes out.

They were calling her all kinds of names. Insulting her mama and shit like that.

She's become a pretty good Senator from NY. I'm glad she's there my dayum self.

[FourScore]

6. I don't hate her either. she got some really bad press when

Patterson appointed her, and I was concerned at the time (she's my Senator). But I gotta say, I like what I see so far.

Her fight to repeal DADT and now this...if she keeps this up and I see some results then she'll get my vote in the next election.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. I agree. She's my Senator too. I was dubious as to her relationship with D'Amato and why

Paterson selected her in the first place. A large donation went to Paterson's war chest from her old law firm. That aside, she seems to be a great deal more Liberal than I thought she would be.

[FourScore]

8. Yep! n/t

[rvablue]

5. Well, that's just childish to hate someone just to hate them.

She's done good work for the people of NY and as a part of the Democratic caucus supporting President Obama's policy and reform agenda.

Can't ask for more than that, really.

If they're are some out there who still "hate" her, maybe it's time for them to put aside their first impression and take a look at the work she's doing NOW.

After all, people around here cheered Hagan on, and she almost caved to the corporate interests on health care reform until she was taken to task by the netroots and changed her mind.

Gillibrand didn't need any arm-twisting. She was on board with the public option from day one.

[PHIMG]

9. Blue Dog In Waiting Gillibrand aint fooling this New Yorker

She'll talk the talk, she might even vote the right way up until the election. But once she's a locked-in incumbent she'll be voting at every turn to stick the shiv into the progressive agenda. I hope Maloney or Tasini knocks her out in the primary.