PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Pass the Economic Recovery Act and Shore Up Our Health Care Safety Net
  1. Signatures
    68 out of 100
    Petitioning
    1. The U.S. Senate
  2. Created By
    Timothy Foley
    New York, NY
About this Petition Petition Letter

The Economic Recovery Act put forward by President Obama and largely adopted in the House version understands that part of stimulating the economy is shoring up our safety net, particularly for those who will lose their jobs and, with it, health care for themselves and their family.  As such, it commits:

*  COBRA subsidies for those who have recently lost their jobs (only 1 in 10 who are eligible for COBRA currently purchase it -- the rest can't afford it)
*  Increased federal funding for Medicaid to defray proposed cuts on the state level and to allow those who lost their jobs to obtain temporary eligibility for health care under Medicaid
*  $20 billion in investments to jump-start Health IT, creating jobs and improving our health care infrastructure
*  Further investment in community health centers (a bipartisan cause), and a down payment to begin training more primary care providers.

Now the fight for the Economic Recovery Act is in the Senate, where those opposed have an alternate plan:  $0 in health care spending, $0 to shore up our health care infrastructure, $0 to help those caught up in the economic downturn -- and billions more in tax cuts.

Write to your Senator.  Given skyrocketing costs and how devestating the impact of losing your job and your coverage in one fell swoop, we need the Economic Recovery Act to pass!

Recent Signatures

Pass the Economic Recovery Act

Dear Representative,

Faced with an economic downturn of historic proportions, I am writing to urge you not to let politics get in the way of doing the right thing for our nation.&nbsp; We need to stimulate the economy, provide jobs, and help shore up our safety net for those who are being buffeted by the state of our economy.&nbsp; The current version of the Economic Recovery Act does that.&nbsp; The alternatives that have been proposed do not.<br /><br />Nowhere is this contrast clearer than health care.<br /><br />When you lose your job, you lose your coverage, both for yourself and for your family.&nbsp; The current version of the bill takes decisive action through:<br /><br />*&nbsp; COBRA subsidies for those who have recently lost their jobs (only 1 in 10 who are eligible for COBRA currently purchase it -- the rest can&#39;t afford it)<br /> *&nbsp; Increased federal funding for Medicaid to defray proposed cuts on the state level and to allow those who lost their jobs to obtain temporary eligibility for health care under Medicaid<br /> *&nbsp; $20 billion in investments to jump-start Health IT, creating jobs and improving our health care infrastructure<br /> *&nbsp; Further investment in community health centers (a bipartisan cause), and a down payment to begin training more primary care providers that are so desperately needed.<br /><br />The alternate plans we&#39;ve read about call for $0 for those who have lost their coverage, $0 for community health center (a favorite project of Presidents Bush and Obama), $0 to create jobs and promote our health care infrastructure.<br /><br />The choice is clear.&nbsp; Please vote for the Economic Recovery Act.&nbsp; Otherwise, in their hour of need, you&#39;re giving the American people... well, nothing.<br /> <br />

[Your name]

Press Inquiries