Getting nervous about health care reform?

As Congress gets nearer to developing specific reform proposals, rumors are floating around about plans that may not provide enough help to low and moderate income people.  If benefits or eligibility get scaled back, it will be because Congress is hearing ceaselessly from special interests that oppose fair revenues or oppose cost savings.  And not hearing enough from constituents.

We have asked organizations to sign a statement calling for fair and responsible revenues to pay for health care and other vital priorities.  Hundreds of groups from every state in the nation have added their names, and the statement has now been sent to every Member of Congress. 

Now individuals are needed to tell their Senators and Representative the same thing:  that doing health care right requires more revenues from fair sources.  Please email this message to your Members of Congress:  http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/125/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27535

Learn more:

CHN's own Debbie Weinstein has a piece in the Huffington Post talking about why fair revenues are essential for health care reform:  (available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-weinstein/responsible-revenues-are_b_227150.html) Citizens for Tax Justice has reports showing the impact of two fair revenue sources:  reducing the value of itemized deductions for the wealthy, and changing the Medicare tax so it is higher for upper-income taxpayers, in part by applying the Medicare tax to income from investments.  The reports show for each state how these tax proposals would affect different income groups.  (See links to reports at http://www.ctj.org/payingforhealthcare.htm). 

We know you are probably feeling barraged by groups from Washington asking you to weigh in on health care and other issues.  We thank you for your patience.  But if you take a look at the Huffington Post piece, you'll read that some Congressional staffers are telling us we're being outgunned by all the well-connected lobbyists.  Only you can solve that problem.  Your emails and calls will make the difference.  Thanks.

From: "Coalition on Human Needs" chn@mail.democracyinaction.org
Subject: Who Wins on Health?  Special Interests or the Common Good?
Date: 8 июля 2009 г. 15:51

Editable Petition:

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Pay for Health Care Reform through Fair Taxes

As your constituent, I want you to know that I strongly support health care reform that results in comprehensive, secure, and affordable health coverage for all.  I also understand that adequate federal revenues will be needed to pay for this vital national priority, and urge you to support additional revenues raised in a fair and progressive manner.  Although reducing health care costs is also a key part of sustainable reform, it is not possible to provide the benefits we need without additional revenues.
 
For health care reform to work, the nation needs tax policies that will raise enough over time, collected fairly according to ability to pay, to sustain comprehensive reform without saddling future generations with burdensome levels of debt.  There are many fair options; just one example would make the Medicare tax more progressive and apply it to investment income (now only work is taxed).  Even after excluding the first $50,000/$100,000 in investment income for those 65 and over, such a tax would be highly targeted to upper-income households and would raise about $500 billion over a decade. 
 
In 2007, millionaires averaged $120,000 each from the tax cuts enacted between 2001 and 2006, while taxpayers at the bottom of the income scale received only $20.  Upper-income households can and should contribute more towards achieving health care reform. 
 
You are probably hearing from special interests opposed to one or another of the fair and responsible revenue sources Congress should be considering.  Please know that your constituents are counting on you to put the public interest first by voting for fair and adequate revenues to pay for the health care we need.

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http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/125/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27535