Please support Rep. Weiner's single-payer amendment

Targeting: The U.S. House

Started by: HEALTHCARE-NOW

For the first time ever, single-payer legislation will be debated and voted on by Congress in September.

The day after thousands of grassroots activists rallied in Washinton, DC for national healthcare on Medicare's 44th birthday, Rep. Anthony Weiner (NY-9) introduced an amendment to President Obama's healthcare reform bill (HR 3200) to replace it with HR 676, the single-payer bill, and Speaker Pelosi pledged to bring it to a debate and vote on the full House floor in September.

Tell your Representatives that the Obama health plan is NOT enough and we want them to vote YES on single-payer. We need real health reform that will cover every American, provide real choice of doctors, and save the majority of Americans money.

Here's a full list of other ways you can help win single-payer healthcare this September.

Petition Text

Please support Rep. Weiner's single-payer amendment

Dear Representative

I write to urge your support for the Weiner Single-Payer Amendment to HR 3200, which will receive a floor vote in September.

The Weiner amendment would replace Division A of HR 3200 with the text of HR 676, the “U.S. National Health Care Act,” sponsored by Rep. John Conyers. This would effectively transform HR 3200 into single-payer legislation. Single-payer is a superior reform to HR 3200 in many ways:

* Single payer would provide universal and comprehensive coverage for all medically necessary services. Unamended, HR 3200 would leave millions uninsured or with skimpy coverage.

* Single payer allows patients free choice of doctor and hospital. Under HR 3200, insurance companies would continue to deny care and restrict access to services.

* Single payer pays for itself by eliminating $400 billion in insurance company administrative waste and redirecting it to care. HR 3200 requires $1 trillion in new revenue in the next decade.

* Single payer establishes proven and effective cost-containing mechanisms to ensure that benefits are sustainable over the long run. HR 3200 lacks effective cost controls.

The Weiner amendment presents an historic opportunity for Members to register their support for single-payer national health insurance as the best way to solve the U.S. healthcare crisis.  It additionally will provide a vote that Members can stand by when approached by constituents.

While we recognize the political imperative to pass healthcare reform, it is important to remember that the purpose of reform is to ease the burden for all Americans. Only single-payer healthcare meets that goal—both medically and economically. The Weiner Amendment deserves your vote.

[Your name]

Barbara McNamara Joppa, MD

Sent letter to Dutch Ruppersberger and Frank Kratovil

Nov 08, 2009
Bryan D. Freehling Lahaska, PA

Sent letter to Patrick Murphy

Nov 06, 2009
Evangelia Manthoyianni Athens, Greece

Signed letter

Nov 05, 2009
Richard Hollister Tucson, AZ

Sent letter to Gabrielle Giffords and Raul Grijalva

Nov 05, 2009
John Shepherd Austin, TX

Sent letter to Michael McCaul and John Carter

Nov 05, 2009
Christina Campbell Greensboro, NC

Sent letter to Howard Coble , Mel Watt and Brad Miller

Nov 05, 2009
Erin Gillitzer La Crosse, WI

Sent letter to Ron Kind

Nov 05, 2009
Kim Carter Van Wert, OH

Sent letter to Bob Latta

Nov 05, 2009
Ned Hamson Cincinnati, OH

Sent letter to Steve Driehaus

Nov 05, 2009
Elisabeth Kelly Washington, DC

Sent letter to Eleanor Norton

Nov 05, 2009