Urgent Support Health Care Reform Today: Write Your Representative (Again)!

I’ll make this brief. You do want the Health Care Reform Bill (Formally H.R. 4872, the Reconciliation Act of 2010) to pass. Depending on your luck and your health, it may benefit you greatly. If you are not certain of this, see my post below—Health Care Reform: Support It Today Because Of What’s In It For You.

If you do not know how to e-mail your Representative, here is a link that will take you to his or her e-mail form: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

If you have e-mailed them before, do it again. The vote is going to be very tight, and yes, your e-mail does help. All of our Representatives are up for election again this year, and they will want to be responsive. This is especially true of Democratic Representatives.

Below you will find two short sample letters, one for Democratic Representative and one for Republican Representatives. (Mine wrote back to tell me he doesn’t care what I think. I’ll write a third letter for any of you who has had this experience.

This will take very little of your time and effort. Please help pass this bill! (Sending slight variations Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning would be really great!)

To a Democratic Representative

Dear (Name):

I urge you to voting in favor of the health care reform legislation pending in the house (H.R. 4872, the Reconciliation Act of 2010). I believe that although flawed, this bill warrants your wholehearted support. The language is adequate to maintain the status quo in prohibiting the government funding of abortion, and the provisions in the bill will greatly benefit the American people. Let no pre-conceived notion of what should have been in the bill prevent you from voting for it. As I noted, it is far from perfect, but it is a substantial improvement in the health care system.

If you do not vote for this bill, you can count on me to support with my voice, my vote, and my donations anyone who runs against you in this year’s Democratic primary. You won’t have to wait for the Republicans to turn you out of office.

Sincerely,

(Your name)

To a Republican Representative

Dear (Name):

I urge you to voting in favor of the health care reform legislation pending in the house (H.R. 4872, the Reconciliation Act of 2010). I know voting for this bill would be contrary to what is expected by the leaders of the Republican Party, but you were not elected to represent them. I ask that you put the good of the country ahead of your party loyalty, and vote for this bill.

If you persist in towing the party line and voting against this bill, you can be assured that I will donate to and vote for any Democrat, Independent, or farm animal that runs against you in this year’s election.

Sincerely,

(Your name)

To a Republican Representative Who Has Already Demonstrated That He/She Doesn’t Care What You Think

Dear (Name—be respectful no matter how you feel),

I have written you before urging you to support the health care reform legislation pending in the house (H.R. 4872, the Reconciliation Act of 2010), and your response told me that you do not care what I think.

Nevertheless, I am writing to ask that you do the right thing. In your heart you know that passing H.R. 4872, the Reconciliation Act of 2010 is in the best interests of the American people and that voting against it is base partisanship. Please, put the good of the country ahead of your party loyalty, and vote for this bill.

If you persist in towing the party line and voting against this bill, you can be assured that I will donate to and vote for any Democrat, Independent, or farm animal that runs against you in this year’s election.

Sincerely,

(Your name)

I live in such a solidly conservative district, that I doubt my mis-Representative, Wally Herger, cares if he ruffles a few liberal feathers. But since I am asking you guys to write your Representatives, I will send the letter above to good old Wally.